Ein schlankes Eulen-Logo, das zenCELL repräsentiert und Weisheit und Innovation in Gesundheit und Wohlbefinden symbolisiert.
Flexible Financing

zenCELL owl –
Lease instead
of buy

No large capital investment. Monitor your cell cultures from the first month – with full functionality, free software updates and flexible contract terms from 6 to 36 months.

€290
per month from
6–36
months term
€1
buy option at 36 Mo
Monthly rates at a glance
Try & Buy (3 months)€690 / month
6 months€590 / month
12 months€490 / month
24 months Popular€390 / month
36 months€290 / month
All plans include software updates and technical support. Purchase option for €1 from 36 months. No deposit required.
€290
per month from
4
contract lengths
€1
buy option from 36 months
No
deposit required
DFG
grant compatible
Why lease instead of buy

Full capability –
from month one

A capital investment of €14,000 requires budget approval, procurement processes and ties up funds. Leasing eliminates all of this.

Direct purchase – the challenges
—€14,000 single payment requires capital budget approval
—Academic labs: procurement process 3–6 months
—Budget tied up – less flexibility for consumables and personnel
—Risk: device unused if project ends early
—DFG / BMBF grants: capital equipment purchase not always eligible
Leasing – the advantages
+Monthly operating cost – no capital budget required
+PI decision under €500/month – no procurement department
+Budget remains flexible – cancel after term if needed
+Return device at end of project – no sunk cost
+DFG / BMBF: billable as operating costs from third-party funds
Pricing

All plans –
transparent and complete

All plans include the full zenCELL owl device, software, technical support and free updates. No hidden costs.

Short Term
€590
per month · 6 months minimum
Total: €3,540
Purchase option: price minus paid rates
—Full zenCELL owl device
—Free pick & return within Germany
—Software updates included
—Technical support included
—Suited for short projects
Starter
€490
per month · 12 months minimum
Total: €5,880
Purchase option: €8,000 after term
—Full zenCELL owl device
—Free pick & return within Germany
—Software updates included
—Technical support included
—Annual project compatible
Popular — Best Value
€390
per month · 24 months
Total: €9,360
Purchase option: €4,000 after term
—Full zenCELL owl device
—Free pick & return within Germany
—Software updates included
—Technical support included
—DFG project compatible
Long Term
€290
per month · 36 months
Total: €10,440
Purchase option: €1 after term
—Full zenCELL owl device
—Free pick & return within Germany
—Software updates included
—Technical support included
—Lowest monthly rate
Try & Buy – 3 months test

Not sure yet? Test zenCELL owl for 3 months at €690/month – fully non-binding. If you decide to purchase, all 3 monthly rates (€2,070) are credited toward the purchase price. If you return it, there are no further obligations. Contact us to arrange a Try & Buy trial.

Publication bonus – earn free months

Publish your results using zenCELL owl and receive free months credited to your contract: 1 free month for an application note, 3 free months for a peer-reviewed publication. Maximum 3 free months per 12-month contract period. zenCELL owl and innoME GmbH must be named. Full details on the university page.

Calculate your best option

Buy or lease –
what suits your lab?

Select your lease term and see instantly how buy vs. lease compares for your specific situation.

Direct purchase
€14,000
one-time payment
Immediate ownership – device is yours from day one
No monthly obligations after purchase
Lowest total cost if used for 3+ years
Asset on your balance sheet
No contract term restrictions
Large upfront capital required
Budget approval process at universities
Full risk if project ends early
Not fundable from DFG operating budgets
Best for
Labs with capital budget, long-term projects (3+ years), commercial research companies
Leasing – select a plan above
—
choose a plan to compare
No large upfront payment – start immediately
Opex – fundable from project or DFG budgets
Return device if project ends – no sunk cost
Purchase option at end of term
Software updates free throughout term
Higher total cost vs. direct purchase
Device not owned until purchase option exercised
Minimum term commitment required
Best for
Universities, DFG-funded labs, project-based research, labs testing before committing
Academic institutions

For universities
and research institutes

Leasing is specifically designed for the budget structures of academic research – compatible with DFG, BMBF and EU project funding.

Budget
Operating costs – not capital investment
Monthly leasing rates are operating expenses (Opex) – billable directly from project funds, DFG grants or institute budgets without capital approval.
Approval
PI decision under €500/month
Most universities allow principal investigators to approve operating costs below €500/month independently. Our 24-month plan at €390/month and 36-month plan at €290/month both fall below this threshold.
DFG / BMBF
36 months matches DFG project duration
Standard DFG Sachbeihilfe runs 36 months. Our 36-month plan at €290/month = €10,440 total is designed to align exactly – start at project begin, return or purchase for €1 at project end.
Flexibility
Return if project ends early
If your project ends early or funding changes, you can return the device after the minimum term. No long-term risk, no unused capital equipment.
DFG-compatible wording for grant applications

You can include zenCELL owl leasing in your DFG application under "Other costs" as: "Live cell imaging system rental for continuous cell culture monitoring, €290/month × 36 months = €10,440 total." Both 24-month (€390/Mo = €9,360) and 36-month plans are fully compatible with DFG Sachbeihilfe funding. Full university ordering guide →

Purchase order for university procurement

We provide all documents required by university procurement departments: formal leasing contract, SEPA mandate, device specifications sheet and VAT invoice. Downloadable as PDF below or on request.

Terms & conditions

All conditions –
transparent and complete

No hidden clauses. All terms are defined here – shipping, wear, return, cancellation and more.

01
Shipping – outbound

Within Germany: innoME covers outbound and return shipping (Pick & Return service – free of charge). Outside Germany: outbound and return shipping costs are borne by the customer. All shipments are insured and tracked. Delivery within Germany: 2–4 working days. EU: 5–7 working days. Outside EU: via local distributor.

Free within Germany
02
Shipping – return

Within Germany: return shipping is included in the Pick & Return service – innoME arranges collection at no cost. Outside Germany: return shipping is at the customer's expense. The device must be returned insured (declared value: €14,000) in original or equivalent protective packaging. Return notice required 4 weeks before end of term.

Free within Germany
03
No deposit required

zenCELL owl leasing requires no deposit from any customer – academic or commercial. No upfront security payment is required. The lease begins with the first monthly rate after contract signature.

No deposit – for anyone
04
Normal wear & tear

Normal wear and tear is free of charge. This includes minor surface scratches and normal optical wear from standard brightfield imaging use. The device must be returned clean and functional.

No charge
05
Cleaning fee

If the device is returned without cleaning, a flat €150 cleaning fee applies. Standard cleaning: wipe with 70% isopropanol on all surfaces. The customer documents the condition with photos before return shipment.

€150 flat rate
06
Damage

Damage beyond normal wear is charged at cost. Examples: damaged USB-C cable (€80), broken housing (€400), multiple camera failure (€300–600), water damage (€2,000–4,000). Full damage catalogue available on request.

At cost
07
Insurance

The customer is required to include the device in their laboratory insurance for the full declared value of €14,000. Proof of insurance is required before device dispatch. Total loss or theft is covered by the customer's insurance.

Customer's obligation
08
Early termination

Early termination is possible with an exit fee of 50% of remaining monthly rates. Example: terminating 12 months early on a 36-month contract at €290/month = €290 × 12 × 50% = €1,740 exit fee.

50% of remaining term
09
Technical defects

If the device develops a technical defect without fault of the customer, innoME will repair or replace it within 10 working days. A loan device is provided where available. The lease term does not pause during repair.

10 working days
10
Software updates

All software updates are included free of charge for the full duration of the lease. Hardware upgrades are not included – the device remains in the version delivered. New device generation can be requested at contract renewal.

Free included
11
Payment

Two options: (A) Monthly SEPA direct debit – automatic on the 1st of each month. (B) Biannual invoice – for universities and research institutions that require payment by bank transfer. Example: €390 × 6 = €2,340 per invoice. After 2 missed payments: 14-day grace period, then contract termination.

SEPA or biannual invoice
12
Purchase option

36-month plan: purchase for €1 at end of term. 24-month plan: purchase for €4,000 at end of term. 12-month plan: purchase for €8,000 at end of term. 6-month plan: purchase at list price (€14,000) minus all paid rates. The purchase option must be exercised in writing 4 weeks before end of term.

€1 from 24 months
Frequently asked questions

Everything you need
to know before signing

Who owns the device during the lease? +
innoME GmbH remains the legal owner of the device throughout the entire lease term. Ownership transfers to the customer only if the purchase option is exercised at the end of the term – for €1 on the 36-month plan, €4,000 on the 24-month plan, €8,000 on the 12-month plan, or list price minus paid rates on the 6-month plan.
Can I lease multiple devices? +
Yes. Multiple devices can be leased under a single contract or separate contracts. Volume discounts are available from 3 devices. Contact us for a custom quote.
Is leasing available outside the EU? +
Direct leasing from innoME is currently available within the EU only. For customers in the USA, Japan, Korea, UAE and other countries, leasing is arranged through our local distributors. Contact us and we will connect you with your regional partner.
What happens after the lease term ends? +
You have three options: (1) Exercise the purchase option – €1 (36-month plan), €4,000 (24-month plan), €8,000 (12-month plan), or list price minus paid rates (6-month plan). (2) Return the device – no further obligations. (3) Extend the lease – new contract at a reduced rate for continuing use.
Is the lease tax-deductible? +
For most research institutions, monthly leasing rates are immediately and fully tax-deductible as operating expenses in the year of payment. This is more favourable than depreciation of a purchased device over several years. Please consult your institution's accounting department for your specific situation.
Can I use the leased device for commercial research? +
Yes. The device may be used for academic and commercial research, drug discovery, quality control and all standard cell biology applications. Use outside of normal laboratory conditions (e.g. outdoor environments, extreme temperatures) is not permitted.
How quickly is the device delivered after signing? +
After contract signature, the device is dispatched within 5 working days. Delivery within Germany: 2–4 working days. EU: 5–7 working days. Total time from contract to first image: approximately 2 weeks. No deposit required before dispatch.

Start monitoring your cells
from month one

Request a leasing quote tailored to your lab's needs. We respond within 24 hours with a formal offer including all contract documents.

No commitment until contract signed Response within 24 hours Made in Germany DFG grant compatible