What Cimel Electronique does

Cimel Electronique is a French manufacturer of meteorological and atmospheric observation systems headquartered in Paris, operating for more than 50 years as the industrial link between the scientific research community and operational atmospheric monitoring. The company designs, manufactures, and sells ground-based and (as of 2026) spaceborne remote sensing instruments — notably the CE318-T Sun/Sky/Lunar Photometer (the exclusive standard of NASA's AERONET network), the CE376 micro-LiDAR, the CE710 Raman LiDAR, and the CE312 thermal infrared radiometer — alongside integrated solutions such as the AAMS (Automatic Aerosol Monitoring Solution) and proprietary data processing software (iAAMS, AUSTRAL).

The technical platform combines field-proven, autonomous hardware engineered for harsh environments with advanced retrieval algorithms (notably GRASP integration) to deliver standardized, WMO-traceable atmospheric observations for aerosols, clouds, water vapor, and thermal radiation. Cimel instruments are deployed across 600+ permanent stations in 80+ countries and are integrated into every major global atmospheric observation network (AERONET, ACTRIS, LALINET, AEROCAN, RIMA, ATMOSUD, EMME-CARE).

The business model is direct enterprise sales of high-value scientific instruments and integrated systems to space agencies (NASA, ESA, CNES, NOAA, JAXA), national meteorological services (Météo-France, AEMET, BMKG, ASECNA), research institutions (CNRS/LOA, LATMOS, University of Lille, TROPOS, Cyprus Institute), and commercial customers (Boeing, ICAO, EDF, ISAGRI). Revenue is generated through hardware sales, calibration services, firmware updates, and technical support tied to the installed base, supplemented by an exclusive Italian channel partner (XEarPro Srl) and bilateral cooperation/government procurement missions.

Name

Cimel Electronique

Legal name

Cimel Electronique

Website

https://cimel.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cimel Electronique is a French manufacturer of ground-based and spaceborne atmospheric remote sensing instruments — photometers, LiDARs, and radiometers — serving space agencies, meteorological services, and research institutions. Its CE318-T is the exclusive NASA AERONET network standard, with 600+ units deployed in 80+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Atmospheric Remote Sensing Instrumentation

NAICS

Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Other Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing (336419)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Remote Sensing & Geospatial Vision (satellite/drone imagery) (HDAAAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Space Payloads & Instruments (Sensors, Comms, EO/IR) (IMABACAD), Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Remote Sensing & Geospatial MRV (Satellite, Aerial, LiDAR, SAR) (EUABACAF)

Keywords

• Atmospheric remote sensing
• Aerosol monitoring instruments
• Lidar instrumentation
• Sun photometers manufacturing
• Meteorological observation systems

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Atmospheric Remote Sensing Instruments: Cimel generates revenue primarily through the design, manufacture, and sale of specialized atmospheric monitoring instruments (photometers, LiDARs, radiometers) to scientific institutions, space agencies, and national meteorological services. Instruments are sold as perpetual hardware products with embedded software, with pricing determined by configuration complexity and customization. The company also provides associated consumables, calibration services, and firmware updates.
2. Technical Support and After-Sales Services: Revenue is generated through technical support contracts, firmware updates, calibration services, and spare parts supply for installed instruments. The company maintains a dedicated technical support function and FAQ resources, indicating a service revenue stream tied to its installed base of 600+ instruments globally.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Cimel Electronique designs, manufactures, and sells ground-based atmospheric remote sensing instruments — sun/sky/lunar photometers (CE318-T), compact and Raman LiDARs (CE376, CE710), and thermal infrared radiometers (CE312) — for aerosol, cloud, gas, water vapor, and radiation monitoring. Instruments are sold as configurable hardware integrated with proprietary software (AAMS/iAAMS, AUSTRAL) to space agencies, national meteorological services, universities, and research institutions globally. Recurring revenue is generated through calibration services, firmware updates, technical support, and spare parts for an installed base of 600+ AERONET-standard photometers across 80+ countries.

Product overview

Cimel Electronique is a French manufacturer of meteorological and atmospheric observation systems with over 50 years of experience. The company produces a portfolio of ground-based remote sensing instruments for aerosol, atmospheric, and climate monitoring applications. The core product line includes the CE318-T Sun Sky Lunar Photometer (the exclusive standard for NASA's AERONET network), the CE376 Compact LiDAR for vertical aerosol profiling, the CE710 Raman LiDAR for advanced multi-spectral atmospheric measurements, and the CE312 thermal infrared radiometer for satellite validation. These instruments are offered both individually and as the integrated AAMS (Automatic Aerosol Monitoring Solution) system, which combines LiDAR and photometer capabilities through AUSTRAL software for comprehensive atmospheric characterization. Cimel's solutions serve diverse applications including air quality monitoring, satellite calibration/validation, climate science, meteorology, aviation, and solar energy, with deployments across global research networks and scientific campaigns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CE318-T Sun/Sky/Lunar Multispectral Photometer An autonomous sun/sky/lunar multispectral photometer that provides standardized, WMO-traceable measurements of aerosol optical depth (AOD), water vapor content, particle size distribution, sky radiance, and ocean color. Designed for space agencies, meteorological services, atmospheric research institutions, and AERONET network operators for climate, air quality, satellite CAL/VAL, and aviation safety applications.
• CE710 Raman LiDAR A high-power, multi-spectral Mie-Raman-Fluorescence LiDAR providing up to 15 detection channels for profiling aerosol backscatter, depolarization, fluorescence, water vapor, trace gases, and temperature. ACTRIS-ready for European research infrastructure and used by ACTRIS-affiliated atmospheric research institutes for advanced multi-wavelength atmospheric characterization.
• CE376 Micro LiDAR A compact dual-wavelength depolarization elastic micro-LiDAR (532 nm and 808 nm) providing continuous high-resolution vertical profiles of aerosols and clouds, with a polarization channel for particle shape/size classification. Designed for autonomous continuous operation, portable deployment, and mobile platforms including stratospheric balloons, for atmospheric research institutions, air quality networks, and satellite CAL/VAL programs.
• CE312 Thermal Infrared Radiometer A robotized multispectral thermal infrared radiometer providing high radiometric accuracy and excellent thermal stability, with automated multi-angle observations for Temperature-Emissivity Separation (TES) and Land Surface Temperature (LST) satellite CAL/VAL. Supports TIRCalNet and CNES calibration missions; targeted at space agencies (CNES, ESA) and atmospheric and land-surface research institutions.
• AAMS — Automatic Aerosol Monitoring Solution An integrated photometer-LiDAR monitoring solution combining the CE376 micro-LiDAR (vertical profiling) and CE318 photometer (column observations) under iAAMS proprietary software for automated real-time characterization, location, identification, and quantification of aerosol layers 24 hours/day. Deployed by atmospheric reference observatories, regional air-quality networks (e.g., ATMOSUD), and ACTRIS-affiliated super sites for air quality, boundary layer dynamics, and atmospheric process studies.

Quantifiable outcome

• CIMEL CE318-T instruments achieve WMO-traceable AOD differences of less than 0.01 compared to GAW-PFR reference standards at 440, 500, and 870 nm channels (>92-98% of data meeting WMO traceability requirements)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers24 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

26 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• GRASP EarthflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 February 2026CIMEL joined the GRASP Earth group through a strategic alliance announced on February 5, 2026. The alliance integrates CIMEL's expertise in high-precision atmospheric instrumentation with GRASP's advanced satellite data processing algorithms and GAPMAP polarimeter constellation. CIMEL will extend its industrial expertise to manufacture satellite-borne polarimeters in its Paris facilities. Both companies will continue current operations while collaborating on end-to-end atmospheric data chains from surface to orbit.
• AGORA-Lab (LOA/CNRS - University of Lille)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020AGORA-Lab is a joint research laboratory established in 2020 between CIMEL and the Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique (LOA), a joint unit of CNRS and the University of Lille. The lab develops advanced remote sensing technologies combining LiDARs and photometers, including the CE710 LILAS Raman LiDAR and next-generation instruments. CIMEL's CIEL (CIMEL-LATMOS joint lab, predecessor) also contributed to this collaboration.
• NASAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA serves as the primary federation partner for AERONET, the global aerosol observation network for which CIMEL provides the CE318-T as the exclusive standard instrument. More than 600 CIMEL photometers permanently run in AERONET. Collaboration spans satellite CAL/VAL, shipborne campaigns (Marion Dufresne, TRANSAMA), and joint research programs including FIREX-AQ.
• CNRS / PHOTONS Service National d'ObservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS, through the PHOTONS National Observation Service, operates the French component of AERONET in collaboration with CIMEL since 1990. The partnership delivers high-end remote sensing solutions and aerosol products worldwide, with LOA managing approximately 100 photometers distributed across France, Africa, Europe, and Asia.
• Météo-FrancecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMétéo-France collaborates with CIMEL and LOA to manage and maintain a network of atmospheric monitoring solutions linking LiDARs and CIMEL photometers for accurate data in support of aviation safety, volcanic ash detection, and operational meteorology. CIMEL provides instrument synergies through iAAMS software for automated aerosol analysis.
• XEarPro Srl - ItalyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorXEarPro Srl is Cimel's exclusive business partner for Italy, with 20 years of experience in environmental monitoring. The partnership contributes to the development of applications and solutions for the Italian scientific community in aerosol remote sensing instruments, providing local sales, support, and system integration.
• LALINET (Latin America Lidar Network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLALINET is a Latin American LiDAR network created to understand aerosol distribution over South America. CIMEL provides CE376 micro-LiDAR and CE710 LILAS instruments to network members and participates in annual WLMLA workshops to foster cooperation and future LiDAR research projects.
• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerESA collaborates with CIMEL on satellite CAL/VAL programs including PICASSO mission data support, ESA QA4EO project for AOD traceability, TIRCalNet thermal infrared calibration network, and upcoming TRISHNA mission preparation. CIMEL instruments contribute to ESA's European calibration infrastructure.
• CNEScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNES collaborates with CIMEL on multiple projects: Stratéole-2 BECOOL stratospheric balloon program, La Crau CE312-T CAL/VAL site for satellite validation, ROSAS BRDF calibration station, and general satellite mission support. CIMEL contributes instruments and expertise to CNES's calibration and validation strategy.
• WMO (World Meteorological Organization)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWMO provides the framework for CIMEL instruments to serve as reference standards within global atmospheric monitoring networks. CIMEL AOD measurements are traceable to WMO standards maintained at the World Optical Depth Research and Calibration Center (WORCC, Davos), meeting WMO criteria for aerosol optical depth traceability.
• AEMET - Spain (Izaña Atmospheric Research Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAEMET's Izaña Atmospheric Research Center collaborates with CIMEL on the development of the Triple photometer and operates CE376 LiDAR and CE318-T photometers for Saharan dust monitoring and atmospheric research in the Canary Islands. CIAI (Izaña) serves as a key calibration facility for RIMA-AERONET photometers.
• ACTRIS (European Research Infrastructure for Aerosols, Clouds, and Ozone)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACTRIS is the European research infrastructure for atmospheric observations. CIMEL's CE710 LiDAR is ACTRIS-ready, meeting all current and future ACTRIS Quality Assurance guidelines. LOA serves as ACTRIS Quality Assurance and Control Lead. CIMEL instruments are integrated into ACTRIS monitoring stations across Europe.
• LATMOS (CNRS/UPMC/IPSL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLATMOS collaborated with CIMEL on the Stratéole-2 BECOOL balloon program through the joint CIEL laboratory, developing micro-LiDAR prototypes for stratospheric deployment. The program involves placing CIMEL micro-LiDARs aboard hot-air balloons flying at up to 20km altitude.
• IPEN - Brazil (Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPEN hosted the XII WLMLA (LALINET workshop) in São Paulo, Brazil in April 2024. CIMEL participated and presented LiDAR technology. IPEN serves as a Brazilian research partner in atmospheric studies.
• NOAAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNOAA collaborates with CIMEL on AERONET-MAN (Maritime Aerosol Network) shipborne campaigns including the Marion Dufresne Atlantic campaign. CIMEL CE318-T photometers are adapted for shipborne deployment, contributing to ocean aerosol observations and satellite validation over marine regions.
• EMME-CARE (Cyprus Institute)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEMME-CARE (Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East - Climate And atmosphere Research) is a project of The Cyprus Institute's CARE-C center. CIMEL's CE376 LiDAR has been operating continuously at the Cyprus Institute since late 2021, supporting advanced atmospheric research and real-time environmental monitoring as part of this regional center of excellence.
• ATMOSUDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerATMOSUD operates a network of long-term atmospheric reference sites in Southern France. CIMEL's AAMS solution (CE376 LiDAR + CE318 photometer) plays a key role at Marseille-Longchamp and other super sites, providing continuous, high-quality observations for air quality and atmospheric process studies.
• TROPOS (Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTROPOS deployed a CIMEL CE318-T photometer aboard the Polarstern icebreaker during the MOSAiC Arctic expedition (September 2019 - October 2020), the world's largest polar research mission, for atmospheric measurements supporting Arctic climate research.
• CANDAC / AEROCAN - CanadaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCANDAC (Canadian Network for Detection of Atmospheric Change) operates PEARL and OPAL Arctic observatories within AEROCAN. CIMEL CE318-T photometers record long-term AOD and water vapor measurements at high Arctic locations (Eureka, Nunavut at 80°N), supporting satellite CAL/VAL and climate studies.
• University of Valladolid / GOA-UVa (RIMA Network)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Group of Atmospheric Optics of the University of Valladolid manages the RIMA (Red Ibérica de Medida fotométrica de Aerosoles) network, a Spanish-Portuguese aerosol monitoring network federated to AERONET. Calibration is carried out at Izaña CIAI (AEMET) in collaboration with PHOTONS. CIMEL provides the photometers and calibration traceability.
• BMKG - IndonesiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBMKG (Badan Meteorologi, Klimatologi, dan Geofisika), Indonesia's national agency for meteorology, climatology, and geophysics, engaged with CIMEL during the France-Vietnam Presidential Mission (May 2025) to explore collaboration on atmospheric observation and extreme weather monitoring in the context of the Just Energy Transition Partnership.
• Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVAST engaged with CIMEL during the France-Vietnam Presidential Mission (May 2025) to discuss cooperation in aerosol monitoring, dust events, and solar radiation measurements, building on existing scientific partnerships in atmospheric research.
• Stockholm University / ACTRIS SwedenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStockholm University and Lund University (CEC) engaged with CIMEL during the Sweden Presidential Mission (January 2024) under ACTRIS Sweden. CIMEL discussed aerosol monitoring network development across Europe and demonstrated its solutions for air quality and climate applications.
• University of São Paulo - BrazilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of São Paulo hosts CE318-T photometer sites and engaged with CIMEL during the Brazil Presidential Mission (March 2024). The collaboration covers remote sensing research, space applications, and atmospheric monitoring, with joint meetings at the Business Forum.
• CNES/ESA - Gobabeb, NamibiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Gobabeb station in Namibia (CNES/ESA) hosts a BRDF calibration station for satellite surface reflectance validation. CIMEL instruments contribute to this reference station alongside La Crau (France) and ROSAS (France) in the global BRDF network.
• OBS4CLIM / TAAFminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOBS4CLIM is a French project in which a CE376 lidar is being set up aboard the RV Marion Dufresne to record regular mobile measurements during rotations from La Réunion to the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), extending aerosol observation coverage over Indian and Atlantic Oceans.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• BIRA-IASB (Royal Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy): Belgian space research institute operating atmospheric LiDARs and photometers within ACTRIS and other European networks. While primarily a research institution rather than a commercial peer, BIRA-IASB develops and operates LiDAR and photometer systems that overlap with Cimel's products and competes for the same European research infrastructure funding.

Direct peers

• LICOR Biosciences: LICOR is a US-based manufacturer of scientific instruments including the LI-1800 spectrometer and gas analysis systems used in atmospheric and environmental research. LICOR overlaps with Cimel in providing precision optical measurement instrumentation to atmospheric research and Earth observation programs.
• Raymetrics: Greece-based manufacturer of atmospheric LiDAR systems (Raman, depolarization, elastic backscatter) for aerosol and cloud profiling. Raymetrics is a direct peer to Cimel's CE376 and CE710 LiDAR products, serving the same ACTRIS, EARLINET, and national meteorological service customers in Europe.
• Campbell Scientific: US-based manufacturer of environmental measurement instruments and data loggers serving atmospheric research, meteorology, and air quality monitoring. Campbell Scientific competes directly with Cimel in supplying research-grade atmospheric monitoring stations, including photometers, LiDARs integration, and data acquisition for global observation networks.
• Droplet Measurement Technologies: US-based manufacturer of aerosol and cloud measurement instrumentation, including single-particle soot photometers, cloud probes, and aerosol spectrometers. Droplet is a direct peer to Cimel in the atmospheric aerosol measurement instrumentation market, supplying NASA, NOAA, and university atmospheric research programs.

Broad incumbents

• OTT HydroMet (Lufft): OTT HydroMet (incorporating Lufft and other legacy brands) provides a broad suite of meteorological and hydrological sensors, including aerosol/atmospheric monitoring instruments targeting the same national weather service and research institution customers as Cimel, though its portfolio extends well beyond Cimel's narrow photometer/LiDAR focus.
• Vaisala: Finland-based global leader in weather, environmental, and industrial measurement instruments. Vaisala is a broad incumbent in meteorological and atmospheric observation, with a far larger product portfolio and global commercial reach than Cimel, but overlaps with Cimel in ceilometers, lightning detection, and ground-based atmospheric sensing for national meteorological services.
• Teledyne Technologies (Teledyne FLIR/Teledyne Princeton Instruments): Teledyne is a large diversified industrial conglomerate whose subsidiaries supply scientific imaging, sensing, and atmospheric measurement instruments. While not a direct AERONET competitor, Teledyne's instruments serve overlapping aerospace, defense, and atmospheric research customers with adjacent remote sensing and calibration capabilities.

Emerging players

• Handix Scientific: Handix Scientific is an emerging player in atmospheric LiDAR technology, providing portable and research-grade LiDAR systems for boundary layer and aerosol profiling. While smaller in scale than Cimel, Handix overlaps with Cimel's CE376 micro-LiDAR offering for ACTRIS-related and field campaign deployments.
• Heitronics Infrarot Messtechnik: Heitronics is a German manufacturer of precision thermal infrared radiometers and pyrometers used in atmospheric and surface temperature measurement. Heitronics is an emerging peer to Cimel's CE312 thermal infrared radiometer product, serving satellite CAL/VAL, climate research, and industrial process monitoring applications.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cimel_fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cimel Electronique