XLIM

Name

XLIM

Legal name

XLIM (UMR CNRS n°7252)

Website

https://xlim.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Institute

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Analog & Mixed-Signal ICs (HDAHAAAD), Clocking, Timing & Synchronization ICs (PLL/Oscillators) (HDAHAIAE)

Keywords

• Multidisciplinary research institute
• Micro nanofabrication services
• RF microwave research
• Photonics fiber research
• Technology platform services

Headquarters

HQ city

Limoges

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Primary funding as a Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR CNRS 7252) jointly operated by CNRS and the University of Limoges, supplemented by the University of Poitiers and regional/national research programs (LABEX Σ-LIM)
2. Industrial Partnerships: Revenue from industrial partnerships (partenariats industriels), common laboratories (laboratoires communs), and research collaborations with industry
3. Platform Services (PLATINOM & PREMISS): External services and feasibility studies via technology platforms (PLATINOM for micro/nano fabrication; PREMISS for modeling and simulation), open to academic and industrial partners; delivered through conventions and contractual agreements, including access via the RENATECH+ network and GSO tech network
4. Competitive Research Grants: Funding from competitive research grants including ERC Starting Grant (Benjamin Wetzel, 2025), IUF Junior membership, CIFRE theses (e.g., Balt Extrusion partnership), and EUR TACTIC graduate school mobility funding
5. Start-up Spin-offs: Spin-off companies emerging from research activities, generating equity/licensing revenue

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

XLIM is a multidisciplinary public research institute (UMR CNRS 7252, jointly operated by CNRS and the University of Limoges with the University of Poitiers) that conducts fundamental and applied research across RF/microwave systems, fibre photonics and coherent sources, mathematics/information security/image synthesis, and bio-health. It operates two open-access technology platforms — PLATINOM (micro/nanofabrication, printed electronics, optics and microwave instrumentation) and PREMISS (modelling and simulation of systems) — that deliver contract-based R&D services and feasibility studies to industrial and academic partners.

Product overview

XLIM is a multidisciplinary research institute (UMR CNRS n°7252, joint research unit between CNRS and the Université de Limoges / Université de Poitiers) organized as a federation of research axes and teams operating around two core technology platforms — PLATINOM (technology and instrumentation for optics and microwaves, including micro/nanofabrication clean-room, organic optoelectronics, printed electronics, MEMS RF) and PREMISS (modeling and simulation of systems) — together with the EMIS preclinical experimentation platform and the Scientibus 2.0 itinerant science laboratory for outreach. Its research is structured into four poles (Electronics with Systèmes RF, RF-ELITE and Systèmes & Réseaux Intelligents; Fibre Photonics and Coherent Sources; Mathematics, Computer Science and Image with ASALI and Icones teams; Bio-Santé), plus the LABEX Σ-LIM strategic axis, and runs programs such as the ERC Starting Grant STREAMLINE (intelligent photonic sources) and the TIPITCH hospital-university program on intracerebral haemorrhage, with valorization through industrial partnerships, joint laboratories and start-ups.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• PREMISS: Plateforme REgroupant les outils de ModélIsation et de Simulation de Systèmes — a research platform for modelling and simulation of systems, open to academic and industrial partners.
• PLATINOM

Products and services

• PLATINOM Technology Platform Open-access research platform providing technology and instrumentation for optics and microwaves, including micro/nanofabrication clean-room facilities, organic optoelectronics, printed electronics, RF MEMS, antennas, microfluidics, photovoltaic cells, sensors and innovative materials; delivered under contractual conventions to academic and industrial partners.
• PREMISS Modelling and Simulation Platform Open platform grouping modelling and simulation tools for systems, supporting XLIM's research in RF, electronics, photonics and signal processing; open to academic and industrial partners for collaborative projects and services.
• EMIS Preclinical Experimentation Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 22nd edition of CEM2026 conference drew 210 registrants, 72 accepted papers, 13 industrial exhibitors and 15 oral sessions — a 30%+ increase in contributions vs prior editions.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

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

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS is the principal tutelle (governing research institution) of XLIM as a Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR CNRS n°7252). The CNRS logo appears on the XLIM website footer alongside the universities. CNRS also pilots the RENATECH+ national micro/nanotechnology network of which XLIM is a member and co-sponsors XLIM events such as FRIGATES 2026.
• University of Limoges (Université de Limoges)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-tutelle of XLIM as a Unité Mixte de Recherche. Hosts XLIM's headquarters at 123 avenue Albert Thomas, Limoges, and co-organizes events including the CEM2026 colloquium at ENSIL-ENSCI. President Vincent Jolivet serves as publication director of the xlim.fr website.
• University of Poitiers (Université de Poitiers)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-tutelle of XLIM as a Unité Mixte de Recherche. University of Poitiers is the host for the ASALI research axis and joint doctoral defenses at the IFMI amphitheatre on the Futuroscope campus, Chasseneuil-du-Poitou.
• Balt ExtrusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIFRE industrial partner of Guillaume Renedo's PhD at XLIM BioSanté group (directed by Prof. Aymeric Rouchaud). The thesis focuses on numerical simulation of intraparenchymal hemorrhage and the development of an innovative endovascular device to limit hematoma growth in hemorrhagic stroke patients — within the TIPITCH hospital-university research program.
• Keysight TechnologiescoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner for the March 26, 2026 Road Tour technical day at XLIM on RF measurement innovations for active antennas, multi-transceiver coherent phase tests, and noise factor characterization methods — relevant to 5G/6G, radar and IoT. Also a financial sponsor of the FRIGATES 2026 workshop.
• LAAS-CNRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the CNRS-piloted RENATECH+ micro/nanotechnology network and coordinator of the regional GSO tech consortium that links XLIM's PLATINOM platform with other technology platforms in the Greater South-West of France, enabling joint responses to industrial and academic solicitations.
• IIT Madras (India)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner in the FRIGATES 2026 Franco-Indian Research Bridge workshop on GaN HEMTs and electronic switches (held July 7–9, 2026 at XLIM Brive). Prof. Nandita DasGupta from IIT Madras delivered an invited talk. The workshop aims to build on existing Franco-Indian research collaboration and identify new areas for academic and industrial cooperation.
• Old Dominion University (ODU), Frank Reidy Bioelectricity Research InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration hosted XLIM doctoral student Lionel Michard (summer 2024), under the direction of Chunqi Jiang, on a reflectometry-based method and device for impulse current measurement in the context of pulsed electric field medical applications (e.g., pulsed field ablation for cardiac arrhythmia). Mobility co-funded by EUR TACTIC graduate school.
• CHU de LillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoordinator of the TIPITCH ("Transforming the Prognosis of Intracerebral Haemorrhage") hospital-university research program (launched June 2024), in which XLIM BioSanté group (under Prof. Aymeric Rouchaud) coordinates the work package on hemorrhage expansion mitigation, in collaboration with Balt Extrusion.
• AirmemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner working with PLATINOM platform's Ingénieur d'études Cyril Guines on technological process R&D under daily collaboration conventions.
• NovaeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner working with PLATINOM on technological process R&D under daily collaboration conventions.
• CEAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic research partner working with PLATINOM on technological process R&D under daily collaboration conventions.
• MACOMminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal/international industrial financial sponsor of the FRIGATES 2026 workshop on GaN HEMTs and electronic switches (Brive-La-Gaillarde, July 7–9, 2026).
• PRÂNAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustrial financial sponsor of the FRIGATES 2026 workshop on GaN HEMTs and electronic switches.
• TeledyneminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustrial financial sponsor of the FRIGATES 2026 workshop on GaN HEMTs and electronic switches.
• UMSminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial financial sponsor of FRIGATES 2026; Dr. Eric Leclerc from UMS led an interactive forum on RF/microwave measurement coherence.
• WUPATECminorGTM or Marketing PartnerIndustrial financial sponsor of the FRIGATES 2026 workshop on GaN HEMTs and electronic switches.
• Dassault SystèmesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner invited to Kariny Nunes Maia's PhD thesis jury on RF power amplifiers; also referenced in other thesis juries.
• SafranminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner invited to XLIM PhD thesis juries on RF power amplifier predistortion (Léo Giosa and Kariny Nunes Maia theses).
• Thales Alenia SpaceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner with Optical Designer Specialist Nicolas Tetaz invited to the PhD jury of Abhishek RAI (mid-infrared spectrometer thesis).
• CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic research partner with Ingénieure Marion Costella invited to the PhD jury of Abhishek RAI on mid-infrared nonlinear spectrometer.
• RécréasciencesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-organizer of the Nuit de la Recherche in Nouvelle-Aquitaine alongside the University of Limoges, with deployment also in Creuse and Corrèze.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss applied research and technology transfer centre covering micro/nano fabrication, photonics, RF and biomedical systems, with a similar public-research-plus-industry-services model to XLIM but operating at significantly larger commercial scale.
• IMEC: Much larger Belgian microelectronics and nanotechnology research centre covering overlapping domains (RF, photonics, biomedical devices) but with industrial-scale infrastructure and global commercial reach that XLIM's PLATINOM platform aspires to be a French counterpart of.
• CEA-Leti: French CEA applied research institute with comparable micro/nano fabrication, photonics, RF and biomedical device activities, and explicit industry-platform partnership model. Larger scale but broadly overlapping technology footprint.
• Fraunhofer IAF (Institute for Applied Solid State Physics): German Fraunhofer applied research institute covering GaN/III-V RF semiconductor devices, photonic components and high-frequency electronics — directly comparable technical focus but with much larger industrial contract research portfolio.

Direct peers

• Tyndall National Institute: Irish deep-tech research institute covering photonics, micro/nano fabrication, RF and semiconductor systems. Directly comparable on photonic sources and micro/nano platform activities, and a former host of ERC grantee Benjamin Wetzel.
• III-V Lab: Joint industrial R&D lab of Nokia, Thales and CEA focused on III-V semiconductor components (GaN, GaAs, InP) for RF, photonics and defense. Directly comparable to XLIM's GaN HEMT and III-V semiconductor research lines.
• IMS Laboratory (Laboratoire de l'Intégration du Matériau au Système): CNRS UMR (UMR 5218) at Université de Bordeaux covering electronics, RF, photonics, materials and bioelectronics. Direct comparable to XLIM in research axis structure and industry partnership model.
• LAAS-CNRS: CNRS UMR (UMR 8001) in Toulouse with overlapping micro/nano, RF and information science research, and explicit co-membership with XLIM in the GSO tech platform consortium and RENATECH+ network.
• IEMN (Institut d'Electronique, de Microélectronique et de Nanotechnologie): French CNRS UMR (UMR 8520) covering micro/nanoelectronics, RF/microwave, photonics and micro-nanosystems — the closest structural peer to XLIM in terms of UMR status, research scope and platform-based industry partnerships.
• FEMTO-ST (Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique Thermique et Optique): CNRS UMR (UMR 6174) in Besançon covering photonics, RF, micro/nano fabrication and time-frequency systems. Comparable to XLIM's PLATINOM platform activities and home to Benjamin Wetzel's earlier postdoctoral research.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/xlim
• Xx.com/institutxlim

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about XLIM