Institut de la Vision

What Institut de la Vision does

Institut de la Vision is a Paris-based non-profit research foundation (Fondation Voir & Entendre) co-located with the Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital in the 12th arrondissement. It operates as one of Europe's largest integrated vision-research platforms, employing 298 collaborators across 18 research units and 9 technology platforms, and running 129 ongoing research projects with partners in 18 countries. The institute's work is organized around four patient-oriented axes: understanding vision, preserving sight, restoring sight, and evaluating therapeutic benefit.

Its scientific portfolio spans four modality pillars — gene therapy (including AAV vectors and CRISPR/Cas9 approaches for inherited retinal diseases), cell therapy (iPSC-derived retinal organoids and pigmented epithelium under xeno-free conditions), artificial vision (photovoltaic subretinal implants using semiconductor nanowires and nanocrystalline materials, plus optogenetics), and advanced imaging (AOSLO at cellular resolution and optoretinography). The IP estate comprises 98 active patent families, and research outputs are published in top-tier journals including Nature, Science, Cell, and Brain Communications.

The business model is non-commercial: revenue is generated through a combination of competitive project funding (French agencies such as ANR and France 2030, the European Union's Horizon Europe and ERC, plus the NIH and Wellcome), corporate mécénat (Optic 2000, Fondation Groupama, Richard Mille Fund, QRT, Crédit Agricole d'Ile-de-France), individual donations, and Carnot-labeled collaborative research services with industry. The institute operates IHU FOReSIGHT (a hospital-university translational program coordinating 13 winning projects), a wholly-owned subsidiary called Streetlab for technology valorization, and a joint clinical relationship with the Hôpital des 15-20. Leadership is anchored by Director Serge Picaud and IHU FOReSIGHT Director Christophe Baudouin.

Name

Institut de la Vision

Legal name

Institut de la Vision - Fondation Voir & Entendre

Website

https://institut-vision.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Institut de la Vision is a Paris-based non-profit research foundation co-located with the Quinze-Vingts National Eye Hospital, employing 298 collaborators across 18 research units and 9 technology platforms to develop gene, cell, and artificial-vision therapies for patients with inherited and age-related eye diseases.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ophthalmology and Vision Science Research

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Surgical & Medical Instruments & Apparatus (3841)

akta.pro primary industry

Ophthalmology Gene Therapies (HLAAACAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Ophthalmic Regeneration (cornea/retina) (HLAAAGAK), Rare Ophthalmology Disorder Therapies (HLAIAIAK), Ocular Imaging & Diagnostic Testing Centers (HLAKAKAN)

Keywords

• Vision research
• Ophthalmology research
• Gene therapy
• Retinal implants
• Stem cell therapy

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Individual and family donations, regular giving programs, bequests, and life insurance donations to support research activities.
2. Corporate Sponsorship (Mécénat): Corporate partnerships providing financial support with tax benefits (60% tax reduction on donations up to 20,000 euros or 0.5% of turnover), including project sponsorship and equipment funding.
3. Government and Institutional Grants: Funding from French agencies (ANR, Investir l'Avenir, France 2030), European Union (Horizon Europe, ERC), and international bodies (NIH, Wellcome).
4. Carnot Label Research Services: Research services and technology platforms offered to external partners under the Carnot label, providing revenue through collaborative research agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Institut de la Vision conducts fundamental and translational research in ophthalmology and vision science, focusing on understanding, preserving, and restoring sight. It offers nine state-of-the-art technological platforms and 129 active research projects spanning gene therapy for inherited retinal diseases, cell therapy with iPSC-derived retinal organoids, artificial vision (photovoltaic subretinal implants and optogenetics), and advanced imaging/photonics (AOSLO). Research outputs are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, technology licensing, clinical translation with hospital partners, and educational programs.

Product overview

The Institut de la Vision is a world-leading research institute in ophthalmology and vision science, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of research services and scientific infrastructure rather than commercial products. The institute provides nine technological platforms for advanced research, coordinates 129 ongoing research projects (national, European, and international), and operates subsidiary initiatives including IHU FOReSIGHT (strategic research structure), Streetlab (technology transfer), and the Carnot-certified research label. Educational offerings include podcasts, Web TV, newsletters, and training programs. The institute's core activities span gene therapy, cell therapy, artificial vision systems, and advanced imaging/photonics technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Technological Platforms

Quantifiable outcome

• 129 ongoing research projects spanning national, European, and international levels
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• InsermcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench National Institute of Health and Medical Research - primary institutional partner and founding member providing fundamental research infrastructure and personnel support.
• Sorbonne UniversitécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor research university - academic partner providing research faculty, graduate programs, and collaborative research in vision sciences.
• CNRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench National Centre for Scientific Research - fundamental research partner contributing scientific expertise and research infrastructure.
• 15-20 Hôpital de la Vision PariscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational ophthalmology hospital - primary clinical partner enabling translational research, clinical trials, and patient access for research.
• Koç University (Turkey)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational research collaboration on photovoltaic subretinal implant development (MESHOPTO project) led by Sedat Nizamoglu's team.
• StreetlabcoreTechnology or IntegrationTechnology platform organization developing standardization tools for vision research and clinical applications.
• IconeusmajorTechnology or IntegrationFrench company specializing in neurofunctional ultrasound imaging technology, collaborating on advanced preclinical imaging solutions.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Wilmer Eye Institute (Johns Hopkins): Johns Hopkins' flagship ophthalmology research and treatment center, conducting bench-to-bedside research across retinal degenerations, gene therapy, and imaging. Comparable scale of researchers, technology platforms, and clinical-translation capabilities.
• Doheny Eye Institute (UCLA): UCLA-affiliated nonprofit vision research institute with major programs in retinal imaging, AMD, and inherited retinal disease research. Operates a similar nonprofit foundation model with industry collaboration, making it a direct structural and scientific peer.
• UCL Institute of Ophthalmology (Moorfields): A leading UK-based ophthalmology research institute co-located with Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Mirrors Institut de la Vision's integrated research-clinical model with major programs in retinal disease gene therapy, cell therapy, and ocular imaging.
• Bascom Palmer Eye Institute (University of Miami): Consistently top-ranked US ophthalmology institution with strong research programs in retinal diseases, vision imaging, and emerging therapeutics. Directly comparable integrated research-clinical structure and international scientific reputation.
• Massachusetts Eye and Ear (Harvard): Harvard Medical School-affiliated specialty hospital and home to the Schepens Eye Research Institute. A premier US vision research center advancing gene therapy, regenerative medicine, and artificial vision in retinal diseases, directly comparable to Institut de la Vision's portfolio.

Regional players

• Lions Eye Institute: Perth-based not-for-profit medical research institute focused on ophthalmology, including retinal disease research and clinical trials. Operates a similar nonprofit foundation model with industry partnerships, though at smaller scale than Institut de la Vision.
• Singapore Eye Research Institute (SERI): Singapore's national eye research institute with extensive programs in Asian ophthalmic disease epidemiology, gene therapy, and imaging. Comparable research-platform structure but serves Asia-Pacific populations primarily, complementing rather than overlapping Institut de la Vision's European base.
• Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA): Australia's leading eye research institute affiliated with the University of Melbourne, with active programs in gene therapy, stem cells, and artificial vision. Comparable disease focus (retinal degenerations, AMD) and integrated hospital-research model, but geographically distinct.

Emerging players

• Retina Foundation of the Southwest: US nonprofit focused specifically on inherited retinal diseases and pediatric vision disorders, with active research programs in gene therapy and diagnostics. Smaller and more disease-narrow than Institut de la Vision, but operates on a similar translational research and donor-funded model.

Broad incumbents

• National Eye Institute (NIH/NEI): The US federal government's primary vision research body, funding and conducting intramural research across ophthalmology. While much larger and government-funded, it addresses the same disease areas (AMD, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma) and competes for scientific talent and international collaborations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/133542633507385
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-de-la-vision

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institut de la Vision