8-K

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 29, 2004

BRUKER BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)	000-30833 (Commission File Number)	04-3110160 (IRS Employer Identification No.)
40 Manning Road Billerica, MA 01821 (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (978) 663-3660

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

On April 29, 2004, Bruker BioSciences Corporation announced the closing of its public offering of 17,250,000 shares of its common stock, of which 3,450,000 shares were sold by the Company and 13,800,000 shares were sold by four selling stockholders at $4.50 per share. The total shares sold include 2,250,000 shares of common stock (450,000 shares from the Company and 1,800,000 shares from the selling stockholders) sold pursuant to the underwriters' over-allotment option at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount.

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1	Bruker BioSciences Corporation press release dated April 29, 2004.

The information provided in this Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 attached hereto, is being furnished and shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall such information be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	BRUKER BIOSCIENCES CORPORATION (Registrant)
Date: April 29, 2004	By:	/s/  LAURA FRANCIS Laura Francis Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Exhibit Index

Number	Description
99.1	Bruker BioSciences Corporation press release dated April 29, 2004.

QuickLinks

Item 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.

SIGNATURES
Exhibit Index

EX-99.1

QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

Exhibit 99.1

BRUKER BIOSCIENCES ANNOUNCES

CLOSING OF COMMON STOCK OFFERING AND

UNDERWRITERS' EXERCISE OF OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION

Billerica, Massachusetts—April 29, 2004—Bruker BioSciences Corporation (Nasdaq: BRKR) today announced the closing of its public offering of 17,250,000 shares of its common stock yesterday, of which 3,450,000 shares were sold by the Company and 13,800,000 shares were sold by four selling stockholders at $4.50 per share. The total shares sold include 2,250,000 shares of common stock (450,000 shares from the Company and 1,800,000 shares from the selling stockholders) sold pursuant to the underwriters' over-allotment option at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount.

The Company anticipates using the net proceeds from this offering for general corporate purposes, potential acquisitions and possibly for the repayment of debt, although no potential debt has been targeted for repayment. The Company did not receive any of the net proceeds from the sale of the common stock by the selling stockholders.

Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. and UBS Securities LLC acted as the joint book-runners and SG Cowen acted as co-manager for this offering. A copy of the final prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., Prospectus Department, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179 and from UBS Securities LLC, ECMG Syndicate, 299 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10171.

A registration statement relating to these securities has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

ABOUT BRUKER BIOSCIENCES

Bruker BioSciences Corporation, headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, is the publicly traded parent company of Bruker Daltonics Inc. and Bruker AXS Inc. Bruker Daltonics is a leading developer and provider of innovative life science tools based on mass spectrometry. Bruker AXS is a leading developer and provider of life science and advanced materials research tools based on X-ray technology.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements contained herein are based on current expectations, but are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. The factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's reorganization strategies, integration risks, failure of conditions, technological approaches, product development, market acceptance, cost and pricing of the Company's products, changes in governmental regulations, capital spending and government funding policies, FDA and other regulatory approvals to the extent applicable, competition, the intellectual property of others, patent protection and litigation. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in our filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended

December 31, 2003, our most recent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our current reports on Form 8-K. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

Contact:	Laura Francis, Chief Financial Officer Tel: (978) 663-3660
	Email: ir@bruker-biosciences.com

QuickLinks

BRUKER BIOSCIENCES ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF COMMON STOCK OFFERING AND UNDERWRITERS' EXERCISE OF OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION