Miltenyi Biotec

The story of Miltenyi Biotec is a journey that began not in a sprawling corporate campus, but from the inventive mind of a physicist. In 1989, Stefan Miltenyi, the company's founder, developed a groundbreaking technology in a humble workshed on the outskirts of Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany. This invention was Magnetic-Activated Cell Sorting, or MACS® Technology, a revolutionary method for separating specific cells from complex biological samples. This deceptively simple yet powerful technique, which used antibodies attached to tiny magnetic beads to isolate target cells, was destined to become a cornerstone of biomedical research. With an initial capital of just 10,000 Deutsche Marks, Stefan Miltenyi founded the company that bears his name, driven by a vision to translate scientific discovery into practical tools for researchers and clinicians.

From these modest beginnings, Miltenyi Biotec embarked on a path of remarkable growth, fueled by a commitment to innovation and a deep understanding of the scientific community's needs. The company quickly expanded beyond its German roots, establishing its first U.S. subsidiary in 1992 and steadily opening offices across Europe, Asia, and Australia. What started as a four-person operation has blossomed into a global enterprise with over 5,000 employees worldwide. The product portfolio, which began with the foundational MACS technology, has expanded dramatically to encompass a comprehensive suite of integrated solutions for the entire cell and gene therapy workflow. This includes instruments and reagents for sample preparation, cell separation and analysis, flow cytometry, cell culture, molecular analysis, and clinical applications. Today, Miltenyi Biotec stands as a pivotal player in the advancement of cellular therapy, empowering scientists and physicians to tackle some of the most challenging diseases of our time, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases, and making the promise of personalized medicine a tangible reality for patients around the globe.