INO

What INO does

INO (Institut national d'optique), now operating as Luqia following its 2024 merger with CRIM (Computer Research Institute of Montréal), is a Canadian not-for-profit industrial research laboratory founded in 1988 and headquartered in Quebec City. The organization operates as a contract R&D and industrialization partner, providing customized optical, photonic, AI, and quantum technology solutions to equipment suppliers, manufacturers, research centres, and government agencies across medical devices, aerospace, manufacturing, life sciences, and infrastructure verticals.

The core technology portfolio spans specialty optical fibers and gain modules (FastFBR Yb-doped fibers, LaserNGN), uncooled microbolometric infrared and terahertz imaging cameras (MICROXCAM-384i-THz, MICROXCAM-384i-MLWIR, HDISCC), precision optomechanical positioning systems (patented QuickCTR autocentering and QuickPOZ mounts achieving 5 µm precision), lidar and hyperspectral systems, and AI-enabled industrial inspection platforms (AxomAcu, COMET). Supporting infrastructure includes 300 m² of reconfigurable production space with ISO Class 100/1,000/10,000 cleanrooms and microfabrication facilities, with all operations certified under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 for medical device manufacturing.

INO generates revenue through three streams: (1) contract R&D and consulting services following a five-step methodology from requirements analysis through prototyping and scale-up, typically structured as multi-year engagements; (2) industrialization and manufacturing services including pilot production, small-batch runs, and technology transfer using compliant facilities; and (3) off-the-shelf hardware sales of cameras, fibers, optomechanical components, and lidar systems. Pricing is quote-based across all streams with no publicly disclosed rates. Customer relationships are anchored by named enterprise engagements including Cerus Corporation (blood safety illuminators), Eikon Therapeutics (drug discovery laser modules), Tornado Spectral Systems (Raman probes), Intellijoint Surgical (FDA-certified 3D surgical navigation), EarthDaily Analytics (space-qualified infrared cameras), and Flyscan Systems (pipeline monitoring), with additional revenue support from government of Quebec/Canada partnerships and corporate membership programs.

Name

INO

Legal name

Institut national d'optique

Website

https://ino.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

INO (now Luqia) is a Canadian not-for-profit industrial research laboratory specializing in customized optics, photonics, AI, and quantum technology solutions for medical device, aerospace, manufacturing, and infrastructure clients, delivering contract R&D, industrialization services, and off-the-shelf photonic products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Optical and Photonic Solutions

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812), Electromedical & Electrotherapeutic Apparatus (3845)

akta.pro primary industry

Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF), Systems Integration & Implementation Services (BPAEAAAB)

Keywords

• Optical photonics solutions
• Contract research development
• Infrared imaging systems
• Custom medical devices
• Industrial innovation laboratory

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamilton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Contract Research and Development Services: Custom R&D and consulting services for developing innovative optical and photonic solutions tailored to specific client needs. Follows structured project methodology from requirements analysis through prototyping to scale-up.
2. Industrialization and Manufacturing Services: Pilot manufacturing, small-batch production, and scale-up services with ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 compliant facilities including cleanrooms. Includes product engineering, production engineering, and technology transfer.
3. Off-the-Shelf Products: Sale of standardized optical and photonic components and systems including terahertz cameras, infrared cameras, fiber optics, lidar systems, and optomechanical mounts.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

INO is a Canadian industrial innovation laboratory that develops custom optical and photonic solutions, conducts contract R&D, and manufactures specialized products for industrial clients. The organization offers off-the-shelf photonic components (fibers, cameras, optomechanical mounts), AI-enabled intelligent vision systems, and provides end-to-end industrialization services from prototyping to commercial-scale manufacturing. It bridges academic research and industrial application across medical, aerospace, manufacturing, and other verticals.

Product overview

INO (now Luqia Industrial Innovation Laboratory following merger with CRIM) offers a portfolio of photonic and imaging products organized around three main categories: specialty optical fibers and laser components (FastFBR Yb-Doped Fibers, LaserNGN Fiber Gain Modules), advanced imaging systems (terahertz, infrared, hyperspectral, and lidar cameras), and precision optomechanical positioning equipment (QuickCTR, QuickPOZ). These products are complemented by AI-enabled intelligent vision solutions (AxomAcu, COMET) for automated industrial inspection. The company also provides microfabrication and photonic chip foundry services (TFLN), enabling customers to move from prototype to production-scale manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FastFBR Yb-Doped Fibers
• LaserNGN Fiber Gain Modules
• MICROXCAM-384i-THz Terahertz Camera
• Microxcam-384i-MLWIR Infrared Camera
• HDISCC High-Definition Infrared Space Camera Core
• Aeromap Full Waveform Lidar
• Hyperspectral Imaging Station
• QuickCTR Autocentering System
• QuickPOZ Optomechanical Mounts Patented self-positioning optomechanical mounts providing precision, repeatability, and vibration resistance for optical components in laser and imaging systems.
• AxomAcu Intelligent Vision Solution
• COMET Industrial Inspection System
• TFLN Photonic Chip Foundry Services
• Microfabrication Services
• Industrialization and Scale-Up Services
• Contract Research and Development Services

Quantifiable outcome

• $4.6 billion+ in direct economic impacts generated between 2014–2015 and 2023–2024
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Computer Research Institute of Montréal (CRIM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024CRIM merged with INO in 2024 to form Luqia, creating the largest industrial innovation laboratory in artificial intelligence and photonics in Canada. The merger combines expertise in optics, photonics, AI, and quantum technologies under a single organization.
• Canada Economic Development for Quebec RegionscoreOthersGovernment partner and ex-officio board member providing major financial support enabling Luqia's activities as key innovation laboratory in Quebec.
• Government of QuebeccoreOthersGovernment partner and ex-officio board member as major financial partner making Luqia's activities possible.
• Ville de Québec (City of Quebec)supportingOthersGovernment partner supporting Luqia's activities as member organization.
• ABBsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Luqia interested in playing an active role in the optics and photonics innovation ecosystem.
• EarthDaily AnalyticssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member partnered with Luqia to deploy space-qualified infrared camera for satellite constellation. Produced HDISCC cameras for Earth observation.
• CorActivesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company of INO and current corporate member specializing in specialty optical fibers.
• ThalessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Luqia with interests in optics and photonics innovation ecosystem.
• EXFOsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Luqia; Michel Leblanc serves on Luqia's board as R&D Director at EXFO.
• CienasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Luqia interested in playing an active role in the optics and photonics innovation ecosystem.
• TeraXion (Indie)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company of INO and current corporate member specializing in optical components.
• OPTELsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpin-off company of INO and current member specializing in optical instrumentation.
• Gentec-eosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Luqia focused on optical and photonic solutions.
• Doric LensessupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Luqia; spin-off company of INO specializing in microlenses.
• LeddarTechsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate member of Luqia; spin-off company of INO specializing in solid-state LiDAR technology.
• ESA (European Space Agency)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerLuqia's uncooled infrared detectors will be used in ESA's Earthcare mission for climate monitoring and forecasting.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Hamamatsu Photonics: Large Japanese photonics manufacturer offering IR detectors, cameras, and optical components that overlap with INO's MICROXCAM and HDISCC product lines.
• Coherent Corp: Global laser and photonics company (formerly II-VI/Coherent) producing fiber lasers, optics, and IR imaging components. Directly adjacent to INO's fiber laser and IR camera portfolio.
• MKS Instruments: US instrumentation company serving photonics, semiconductor, and industrial markets with lasers, optics, and motion control — overlapping with INO's optomechanical positioning products.
• Thorlabs: US-based broad-line photonics components and instrumentation vendor. Comparable in optomechanical and fiber optics categories where INO sells off-the-shelf products.
• Jenoptik: German photonics and optical systems company active in industrial metrology, laser material processing, and aerospace optics — overlapping segments with INO's measurement and aerospace work.

Direct peers

• National Research Council Canada (NRC): Canadian federal R&D organization with photonics, aerospace, and industrial programs. Domestic peer sharing similar mandate, government funding base, and customer segments.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch contract research organization with photonics, space, and industrial instrumentation programs. Comparable not-for-profit applied-research structure and client base.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research institute operating in photonics, quantum, and industrial measurement. Closely comparable in mandate, scale, and revenue mix.
• CSEM (Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology): Switzerland's applied R&D center offering contract research, prototyping, and small-batch production in photonics, micro-optics, and MEMS. Closest peer to INO in mission and operating model.
• Fraunhofer Society (IOF, IZM, HHI institutes): Germany's applied research organization running Fraunhofer IOF (photonics), IZM (microelectronics packaging), and HHI (optical networks). Comparable public-funded applied-research model serving industrial clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/inocanada

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments1 record

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about INO