The application provides a device (10) for the controlled release of a predefined quantity of a substance and a method for controllably releasing a predefined quantity of a substance from a compartment. The device comprises a matrix arrangement of compartments (20) in a substrate, each compartment being closed by at least one release mechanism, at least one first electrode (40) and at least one second electrode (50) being assigned to each compartment, the device comprising a plurality of row selection lines (60) and a plurality of column selection lines (70) and a plurality of column selection lines, the number of compartments exceeding the sum of the number of row selection lines and the number of column selection lines, each first electrode being electrically connected directly to one of the plurality of row selection lines and each second electrode being electrically connected directly to one of the plurality of column selection lines.