Czechia: 75 Years of Innovation and Global Leadership in Electron Microscopy
How a small Central European country became a world leader in one of the most technologically sophisticated industries.
On World Science Day, 10 November 2026, Czechia has a remarkable achievement to celebrate. Seventy-five years have passed since the development of the first commercially available Czechoslovak electron microscope in Brno. Today, Czechia is the world's largest individual-country exporter of non-optical microscopes and diffraction apparatus.
According to World Bank data derived from UN Comtrade, Czech exports in this highly specialised category reached US$1.51 billion in 2025. By comparison, the Netherlands exported US$569 million, Japan US$426 million and Germany US$302 million. Exports from the United States amounted to approximately US$101 million.
For a country with fewer than 11 million inhabitants, these are extraordinary figures, particularly when compared with some of the world's largest industrial and technological economies.
The origins of this success stretch back to the early 1950s.
In 1951, the Tesla BS 241 was developed in Brno, becoming the first commercially available Czechoslovak electron microscope. Among the pioneers was Professor Armin Delong, whose work helped establish Brno's longstanding tradition of electron microscopy.
Czechoslovak scientific achievements soon attracted international recognition. In 1954, the Tesla BS 242 benchtop electron microscope was developed, with serial production beginning at Tesla Brno in 1956. This model won a gold medal at the Brussels World Expo in 1958. More than 1,000 instruments were subsequently manufactured and exported to approximately 20 countries.
Tesla BS 242 – a pioneering Czechoslovak electron microscope developed in Brno. This model won a gold medal at the 1958 Brussels World Expo. Photograph: Bjoertvedt / Wikimedia Commons.
Following the Velvet Revolution in 1989, this accumulated scientific and engineering expertise provided the foundations for a new generation of technology companies.
Rather than disappearing during the restructuring of Czechoslovak industry, Brno's specialist knowledge was preserved, commercialised and expanded into international markets.
Three Companies at the Centre of a Technology Cluster
Today, three major manufacturers form the backbone of Brno's electron microscopy industry.
Thermo Fisher Scientific, the American scientific-instrument company, operates a major research, development and manufacturing centre in Brno. Its sophisticated electron microscopes are used by universities, research institutions and industrial customers worldwide.
TESCAN, founded in Brno in 1991, has developed into an internationally recognised manufacturer of scanning electron microscopes. In July 2026, Japan's Shimadzu completed its acquisition of TESCAN for approximately US$711 million, demonstrating the considerable international commercial value of Czech-developed technology.
Delong Instruments, established in 1992, continues the city's historical tradition by specialising in compact transmission electron microscopes.
Together, these companies form part of a much wider ecosystem of universities, research institutions, specialist suppliers and innovative start-ups.
According to Brno Tech Region's 2026 industry report, the three principal manufacturers generate approximately €1.5 billion in annual revenue, employ more than 2,900 people and invest over €82 million annually in research and innovation.
The report also estimates that approximately one-third of the world's electron microscopes are manufactured in Brno, although this industry estimate of production share should be distinguished from independently compiled international trade statistics.
Why Electron Microscopy Matters
Electron microscopes allow scientists to examine structures far smaller than those visible using conventional optical microscopes.
Their applications extend well beyond academic research.
In semiconductor manufacturing, they help engineers investigate microscopic defects and develop increasingly sophisticated chips. In materials science, they support research into batteries, advanced alloys and new industrial materials. In medicine and biotechnology, they enable researchers to investigate cells, viruses and biological structures in extraordinary detail.
These technologies therefore contribute to several of the most important industries shaping the modern global economy.
Brno's position in this field is particularly significant because its companies are not merely assembling products designed elsewhere. The region has accumulated valuable capabilities in research, engineering, precision manufacturing and product development.
The Economic Value of Specialised Knowledge
Czechia's success in electron microscopy illustrates a broader economic principle: small countries can achieve global leadership by developing deep expertise in specialised industries.
The competitive advantage of an established technology cluster extends beyond individual factories. It includes experienced engineers, scientific institutions, skilled suppliers, intellectual property and long-standing relationships with international customers.
Such capabilities can take decades to develop and are difficult for competitors to reproduce quickly.
Foreign ownership does not diminish the significance of this achievement. Indeed, the substantial investments made by Thermo Fisher Scientific and Shimadzu demonstrate the international value placed on the expertise concentrated in Brno.
Nevertheless, export statistics require careful interpretation. The relevant customs category includes non-optical microscopes and diffraction apparatus, while gross export values do not measure domestic value added or the ultimate ownership of profits.
A Czech Success Story Worth Celebrating
Seventy-five years after the pioneering work of Czechoslovak scientists, Brno has evolved into one of the world's most important centres for electron microscopy.
Its success reflects a rare combination of scientific tradition, technical education, entrepreneurial initiative and international investment.
For Czechia, the lesson extends well beyond microscopes. In an increasingly competitive global economy, long-term prosperity depends not simply on producing more, but on developing knowledge and capabilities that the rest of the world values.
Brno's electron microscopy industry demonstrates that a relatively small country can compete successfully with the world's largest economies in some of the most technologically demanding industries.
Sources and Further Reading
- World Bank WITS / UN Comtrade: International exports of non-optical microscopes and diffraction apparatus, HS 901210, 2025. International trade statistics
- Brno Tech Region: Data Report 2026 – Electron microscopy, employment, research and investment. Brno Tech Region
- Shimadzu Corporation: Acquisition of TESCAN, July 2026. Shimadzu
- Institute of Scientific Instruments, Czech Academy of Sciences: History of electron microscopy and the development of the Tesla BS 241 and BS 242. Institute history
- Technical Museum in Brno: History of electron microscopy and the Tesla BS 242 award at Expo 58. Technical Museum
- Wikimedia Commons: Tesla BS 242 historical photograph, Bjoertvedt, CC BY-SA 3.0 licence.
AKRO investiční společnost, a.s. | November 2026
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