Cie Usnc

What Cie Usnc does

CIE-USNC (the U.S. National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination) is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based non-profit membership organization, founded in 1913 and operating as the official U.S. representative to the Vienna Convention-based International Commission on Illumination. Its core function is to facilitate U.S. industry and government participation in the development of international technical reports, standards, and scientific publications covering light and lighting, color and vision, photobiology, and image technology. It does not develop proprietary technology products; instead, it curates access to the consensus outputs of CIE International and convenes the U.S. expert community that contributes to those outputs.

The organization generates revenue through three streams: individual professional memberships at $99 per year (providing discounted publications, reduced event fees, technical-committee eligibility, and a complimentary annual publication), a five-tier corporate sponsorship program ranging from $500 (Sustaining) to $10,000 (Platinum), and publication sales through the CIE Webshop at a 66.7% member discount. Its customer base comprises U.S. lighting, display, and color-science professionals across industry (Apple, Samsung Display, LG, Dolby, Signify, Lutron, Nichia, Intertek, Datacolor, Labsphere, and others), academia, and government (notably NIST), supplemented by individual expert members. Distribution occurs via direct membership sales, the CIE Webshop, and an events program (tutorials, workshops, and joint conferences with CORM, CNC/CIE, and other national committees).

Operationally, CIE-USNC is governed by a volunteer Executive Committee led by President Craig Bernecker, Ph.D., with senior leadership drawn from NIST, lighting/color consulting firms, and academia. The organization is currently investing in a digital infrastructure upgrade — a new website with member login, online payment processing, and a stakeholder blog launching April 2026 — suggesting a stabilization or modernization phase following a period of reduced activity. Its strategic posture centers on maintaining the U.S. seat in international lighting standards governance rather than pursuing scale or commercial expansion.

Name

Cie Usnc

Legal name

The U.S. National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination

Website

https://cie-usnc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Short description

CIE-USNC is the official U.S. National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination, a non-profit that convenes U.S. experts and corporate sponsors to influence international standards in light, lighting, color, vision, and image technology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Standards Development Organization

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

International Standards Development & Standardization Bodies (BPADANAA)

Keywords

• Lighting standards development
• Color science publications
• Membership association
• Corporate sponsorship programs
• Technical committee governance

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Individual membership at $99 USD annually provides access to CIE governance participation, technical committee membership eligibility, discounted publications, reduced event fees, and complimentary annual publication selection.
2. Sponsorship Programs: Corporate sponsorship at multiple tiers (Platinum $10,000, Gold $5,000, Silver $3,000, Bronze $1,000, Sustaining $500) provides recognition, bundle memberships, and organizational influence in USNC governance.
3. Publication Sales: CIE technical reports, international standards, and technical notes are available for purchase via the CIE Webshop. Members receive 66.7% discount on all publications.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The U.S. National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination (CIE-USNC) operates as the official U.S. representative to the CIE, facilitating U.S. industry and government participation in the development of international lighting, color, vision, and image technology standards. It sells individual memberships and tiered corporate sponsorships, distributes CIE technical publications and international standards via the CIE Webshop, and hosts educational events including tutorials, workshops, and conferences on light and lighting topics.

Product overview

CIE-USNC is the United States National Committee of the International Commission on Illumination, offering a membership-based platform focused on light, lighting, color, vision, and image technology. The organization provides individual memberships and corporate sponsorships (Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, and Sustaining tiers), CIE Publications (Technical Reports, International Standards, and Technical Notes) covering photometry, radiometry, road lighting, and visual appearance, and hosts educational events including tutorials, workshops, and conferences. The 2026 launch of a new website with member login, online payments, and a blog enhances member engagement and access to publications and technical resources.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CIE-USNC Individual Membership
• Corporate Sponsorship Programs
• CIE Publications
• CIE Educational Events

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Apple Inc.minorOthersCorporate sponsor at the Platinum, Gold, Silver, or Bronze level, receiving recognition on CIE-USNC website and bundled individual memberships for staff.
• Illuminating Engineering SocietycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey industry partner and sponsor, sharing overlapping membership base in lighting engineering and standards development.
• Ushio America, Inc.minorOthersCorporate sponsor providing lighting technology industry representation.
• Council for Optical Radiation Measurements (CORM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint conference co-host with CIE-USNC and CNC/CIE for optical radiation, light, lighting, and vision topics. Shared organizational mission in optical radiation standards.
• Current LightingminorOthersCorporate sponsor in the lighting industry.
• DatacolorminorOthersCorporate sponsor in color calibration and measurement technology.
• DolbyminorOthersCorporate sponsor in display and imaging technology.
• GAMMA SCIENTIFICminorOthersCorporate sponsor specializing in light measurement instrumentation.
• IntertekminorOthersCorporate sponsor providing testing and certification services.
• LabsphereminorOthersCorporate sponsor in optical coating and measurement technology.
• LG ElectronicsminorOthersCorporate sponsor in display and lighting technology.
• LutronminorOthersCorporate sponsor in lighting control and automation.
• Musco LightingminorOthersCorporate sponsor in large-area lighting systems.
• Nichia America CorporationminorOthersCorporate sponsor in LED lighting technology.
• Parsons School of DesignminorOthersAcademic sponsor from design education sector.
• Radiant Vision SystemsminorOthersCorporate sponsor in vision testing and display measurement.
• Samsung Display America LabminorOthersCorporate sponsor representing display technology research.
• SignifyminorOthersCorporate sponsor (formerly Philips Lighting) in connected lighting systems.
• SunChemicalminorOthersCorporate sponsor in color materials and pigments.
• VEKTREXminorOthersCorporate sponsor in electronic components for lighting.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey government partner through NIST Sensor Science Division; Senior Vice-President Yoshi Ohno is affiliated with NIST; maintains U.S. standards measurement infrastructure role.
• International Commission on Illumination (CIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent international organization. CIE-USNC is the official U.S. National Committee of CIE, dedicated to worldwide cooperation and exchange of information on science and art of light and lighting, color and vision, and image technology.
• Optical Society of AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated organization advancing optics and photonics science and professional development.
• CNC/CIE (Canadian National Committee of CIE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint conference co-host with CORM and CIE-USNC covering optical radiation, light, lighting, and vision topics. Active collaboration in North American standards coordination.
• INRiM (National Metrology Institute of Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for CIE Workshop on Future Topics in Road Lighting; national metrology institute supporting measurement standards.
• CIE NC Italy (Italian National Committee of CIE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Future Topics in Road Lighting workshop.
• ASSIL (Italian Association of Lighting Manufacturers)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Future Topics in Road Lighting workshop representing lighting industry.
• AIDI (Italian Lighting Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Future Topics in Road Lighting workshop.
• CIE NC KoreaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of CIE Tutorial on Monte Carlo Method for Uncertainty Analysis in conjunction with NEWRAD 2026 conference.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• International Commission on Illumination (CIE): Parent international organization of CIE-USNC, operating under the Vienna Convention; technically the upstream body producing the technical reports, standards, and publications CIE-USNC distributes, making it the closest functional analog and content source.
• DarkSky International: Advocacy organization combating light pollution and promoting responsible outdoor lighting; shares topical overlap with CIE-USNC's road-lighting and exterior-applications work (Division 4) and is listed as a related organization.

Emerging players

• International Color Consortium (ICC): Organization that develops the ICC color management profile specification; directly overlaps with CIE-USNC's color science remit and is listed as a related organization.

Broad incumbents

• ASTM International: Major U.S.-originated international standards organization covering a wide range of technical domains including light, lighting, color, and materials; overlaps with CIE-USNC's lighting and color standards portfolio.
• International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC): International standards body for electrotechnology, including lighting equipment (IEC TC 34) and lamp/LED performance standards; CIE coordinates with IEC on photometry and lighting, making IEC a close functional peer in adjacent scope.
• American National Standards Institute (ANSI): The overarching U.S. national standards body that coordinates U.S. participation in ISO and IEC and accredits standards developers; CIE-USNC's role as the U.S. conduit to CIE sits within ANSI's broader U.S. standards-coordination framework.
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO): The largest international standards development body, including TC 274 (Light and lighting) and adjacent technical committees; competes for governance attention and competes with CIE on overlapping lighting and color standards.

Direct peers

• Council for Optical Radiation Measurements (CORM): U.S.-focused organization advancing optical radiation measurement, with which CIE-USNC co-hosts the Joint CORM/CIE-USNC/CNC-CIE Conference and shares sponsor and member overlap in measurement-intensive segments.
• Illuminating Engineering Society (IES): The principal U.S.-based professional society for lighting engineering and design; overlaps heavily with CIE-USNC's member base (lighting engineers, researchers, and sponsors), and is explicitly listed as a key industry partner and sponsor.
• Optical Society of America (Optica): Major international scientific society for optics and photonics, including vision and color science; serves an overlapping U.S. technical community and is listed as a strategic related organization for CIE-USNC.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cie-usnc---the-us-national-committee-of-the-cie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cie Usnc