Press Release

ZEISS invests in new digital platform for on-demand additive manufacturing services

Joint venture with Siemens Energy and financial/venture capital investors

1 March 2022

Berlin/Oberkochen, Germany | 1 March 2022 | ZEISS Group

Additive manufacturing is increasingly becoming a part of the industrial production chain in many different industries like medical technology, aerospace, energy or automotive. ZEISS supports this trend with quality assurance solutions across the complete additive manufacturing process and has already established collaborations with leading suppliers for manufacturing solutions to further improve additive manufacturing processes. Now ZEISS is expanding its activities in this area with its investment in the start-up MakerVerse.

MakerVerse is a joint venture initiative between industry-leaders Siemens Energy, ZEISS and financial/venture capital investors, including 9.5 ventures. The new company combines cutting-edge industry expertise with profound knowledge in digital venture-building. The new venture is creating a one-stop fulfillment platform that connects industrial clients with a global network of certified additive manufacturing suppliers for projects like design prototypes and producing on-demand spare parts. MakerVerse covers the full technological service spectrum, starting with core 3D printing/additive manufacturing technologies in the initial launch phase and expanding into further relevant on-demand technologies such as CNC and injection molding in the near future. The platform offers features including instant quoting, automated manufacturability checks, streamlined supplier and quality management, and industrial-level quality assurance. MakerVerse will be based in Berlin, with its initial focus on the European market. The public launch of the platform is planned for early-mid 2022.

ZEISS is a technology and innovation leader in the Industrial Quality & Research area. While putting increasing strategic focus on collaborations and eco-systems, ZEISS follows the strategy to bring metrology, quality assurance and research know-how and customer offerings closer to and into production and manufacturing.

Further information

Press contact Jörg Nitschke

Head of Corporate Brand, Communications and Public Affairs
ZEISS Group

About ZEISS

ZEISS is an internationally leading technology enterprise operating in the optics and optoelectronics industries. The ZEISS Group generated annual revenue totaling more than 7.5 billion euros in its four segments Industrial Quality & Research, Medical Technology, Consumer Markets and Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology (updated: 30 September 2021).

For its customers, ZEISS develops, produces, and distributes highly innovative solutions for industrial metrology and quality assurance, microscopy solutions for the life sciences and materials research, as well as medical technology solutions for diagnostics and treatment in ophthalmology and microsurgery. The name ZEISS is also synonymous with the world's leading lithography optics, which are used by the chip industry to manufacture semiconductor components. There is global demand for trendsetting ZEISS brand products such as eyeglass lenses, camera lenses and binoculars.

With a portfolio aligned with future growth areas like digitalization, healthcare and Industry 4.0 as well as a strong brand, ZEISS is shaping technological progress and, through its solutions, is extending the horizon of the world of optics and associated areas. The company's significant, sustainable investments in research and development lay the foundation for the success and continued expansion of ZEISS' technology and market leadership. ZEISS invests 13% of its revenue in research and development work – ZEISS has a long tradition of high expenditure in these areas. This also represents the company's investment in the future.

With over 35,000 employees, ZEISS operates in almost 50 countries worldwide, with around 60 sales and service companies, 30 production sites and 27 development sites. Founded in 1846 in Jena, the company is headquartered in Oberkochen, Germany. The Carl Zeiss Foundation, one of the largest foundations in Germany committed to the promotion of science, is the sole owner of the holding company, Carl Zeiss AG

Further information at www.zeiss.com

About Siemens Energy

Siemens Energy is one of the world’s leading energy technology companies. The company works with its customers and partners on energy systems for the future, thus supporting the transition to a more sustainable world.

With its portfolio of products, solutions and services, Siemens Energy covers almost the entire energy value chain – from power generation and transmission to storage. The portfolio includes conventional and renewable energy technology, such as gas and steam turbines, hybrid power plants operated with hydrogen, and power generators and transformers.

More than 50 percent of the portfolio has already been decarbonized. A majority stake in the listed company Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) makes Siemens Energy a global market leader for renewable energies. An estimated one-sixth of the electricity generated worldwide is based on technologies from Siemens Energy. Siemens Energy employs around 91,000 people worldwide in more than 90 countries and generated revenue of €28.5 billion in fiscal year 2021. www.siemens-energy.com.

About Ninepointfive

Ninepointfive is a European venture capital fund that partners with corporates to invest in tech based (corporate) startups from pre-seed funding to maturity. Today, the fund has 35 Mio EUR under management and has a portfolio of 7 start-ups across Europe. Their investments are always managed independently and accelerated by an equity partnership between Ninepointfive and the corporate partner. The leadership of Ninepointfive consists of a driven team of entrepreneurs, visionaries, and analysts, with a wealth of expertise gained in startups and mid to large-sized companies. They wield a hands-on approach that always comes with a smile and an intrinsic drive to outperform.

About MakerVerse

MakerVerse is a one-stop shop platform for on-demand manufacturing services. The multi-sided platform connects industrial makers who require industrial grade high-quality parts with a distributed network of certified producers. MakerVerse is an independent legal entity and joint venture initiative between Siemens Energy, ZEISS, and financial/venture capital investors including 9.5 ventures, combining cutting-edge industry expertise with profound knowledge in digital venture building. The start-up was founded in 2022 and is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. For more information, please go to our website www.makerverse.ai