Cristal innov

What Cristal innov does

Cristal Innov is a French public-private R&D platform and producer of high-performance piezoelectric crystals, founded in 2011 and piloted by Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, with a production facility at the Alpespace technology park in Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac and administrative management through UCBL's subsidiary EZUS Lyon. The company runs the full technological value chain — synthesis (hydrothermal, Czochralski, Bridgman, VLS, solution growth), precision cutting (diamond wire saws, ultrasonic drilling, laser micro-machining), and metrology/characterization (interferometry, X-ray diffraction, surface profiling) — for strategic materials including Pure Premium Quartz achieving Q×f values of ~9×10¹² and langatate (LGT) crystals rated for operation above 500°C.

The business combines hardware production with a collaborative innovation platform. Revenue is generated through (a) sales of quartz crystals, langatate substrates, and 100mm wafers (with a 150mm roadmap), (b) fee-based technology services (synthesis, cutting, characterization), (c) R&D hosting on its 2,000 m² technology platform including clean-room pilot lines and €2M of pooled equipment, and (d) CRYSTALITE-branded synthetic gemstones for the luxury/watchmaking sector. Pricing is quote-based, project-driven, and multi-year — typical of B2B enterprise procurement.

The company serves four primary verticals: defense (DGA, missile guidance/radar/navigation systems), space/aerospace (CNES, ultra-stable satellite clocks), aeronautics (high-temperature sensors), and healthcare (lead-free ultrasonic probes, biosensors), plus the luxury sector through CRYSTALITE. Named enterprise customers include the French defense procurement agency DGA, CNES, ONERA, and Frec|n|sys (SOITEC group) for telecom SAW/5G filters. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification (since December 2022) and operates within a network of 50+ partner laboratories, SMEs, and industrial manufacturers.

Name

Cristal innov

Legal name

Cristal-innov

Website

https://cristal-innov.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cristal Innov is a French public-private R&D platform that designs and produces high-performance piezoelectric crystals (Pure Premium Quartz and langatate), serving defense, aerospace, healthcare, and luxury customers with crystal products, technology services, and an R&D hosting platform.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Piezoelectric Crystal Manufacturing

NAICS

Glass and Glass Product Manufacturing (32721)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Industrial Instruments For Measurement, Display, And Control (3823)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Testing, Inspection, Certification & Commissioning (TICx) Technical Services (BPAHAIAL)

Keywords

• Piezoelectric crystal manufacturing
• Synthetic quartz production
• Crystal synthesis services
• Precision crystal cutting
• Crystal characterization services

Headquarters

HQ city

Sainte-hélène-du-lac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Crystal and component products: Sale of high-performance piezoelectric crystals (quartz, langatate) and components including wafers, resonators, and substrates for space, defense, and healthcare applications
2. Technology services: Cutting, characterization, and technology services for materials processing including precision cutting, surface preparation, and quality characterization
3. R&D hosting and collaboration platform: Providing R&D environment, laboratory spaces, equipment access, and collaborative innovation project support for partners and clients
4. CRYSTALITE luxury sector products: Synthetic crystals (diamonds, rubies, sapphires, amethysts) for luxury and watchmaking industry through the Crystalite cluster

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cristal Innov designs, synthesizes, and produces high-performance piezoelectric crystals (quartz, langatate, sapphire) and provides crystal-related technology services including synthesis (growth), precision cutting, and characterization. The company serves defense, aerospace, medical, telecommunications, and luxury/watchmaking sectors from its production platform in Sainte-Hélène-du-Lac, France, operating as a public-private R&D platform led by Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1.

Product overview

Cristal innov operates as a dual-activity organization: (1) Industrial production of high-performance piezoelectric crystals and components including Quartz (Pure Premium Quartz for SAW resonators, 100mm wafers), Langatate (LGT) for high-temperature applications (>500°C), and related substrates/components; and (2) A collaborative technology platform offering R&D hosting services, synthesis/cutting/characterization technology services, and facilitating innovation through the CRYSTALITE sub-brand for luxury applications. The platform covers TRL 4 to 9, providing state-of-the-art technological resources from crystal synthesis through shaping to characterization, serving aerospace, defense, health, and luxury markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CRYSTALITE: French crystal cluster, supplier of excellence to the luxury trades, embracing values of Corporate Social Responsibility. Provides synthetic gemstones, quartz jewelry, and design decoration products for luxury, watchmaking, and fashion sectors.

Products and services

• Quartz (High-Performance Piezoelectric)

Quantifiable outcome

• Pure Premium Quartz achieves Q×f product of approximately 9×10¹², enabling potential to exceed 10¹³ barrier
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Frec|n|sys (SOITEC group)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership for development and production of 100mm quartz substrates. Frec|n|sys tested initial wafers showing state-of-the-art performance in Qf values. Enables industrialization of quartz wafer production for SAW devices and telecom filters including 5G applications.
• SENSIX Project ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Project co-financed by France Relance, developing French supply chain for SAW sensors without batteries. Cristal Innov developing and industrializing 100mm quartz substrates, targeting 150mm. Partners include SOITEC, universities, and regional stakeholders.
• Institut Lumière Matière (iLM)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021CNRS-University Lyon 1 research unit specializing in crystal synthesis. Develops processes and grows monocrystals in various formats (fibers, ribbons up to 1 meter, massive crystals). Key partner in CRYSTALITE cluster for luxury applications.
• RSA Le RubismajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Over 80-year specialist in sapphire crystal manufacturing for watchmaking. CRYSTALITE cluster member. Mastery of Verneuil method and modern growth technologies for white and colored crystals.
• ARNANOmajorTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2021CEA-Grenoble/LETI spin-off specializing in microscopic engraving using microelectronics technologies. Develops decorative pieces for high-end watchmaking, sapphire discs for ultra-long-term information storage, and anti-counterfeiting holography solutions. CRYSTALITE cluster member.
• Laboratoire des Multimateriaux et Interfaces (LMI)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 202150 researchers specializing in material sciences and chemistry of molecules and materials. Designs, develops, and characterizes molecules, materials, and multimaterials. CRYSTALITE cluster member.
• Ingénierie@Lyon Carnot InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Carnot-labeled institute grouping 13 laboratories in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Provides research support for innovative materials and machines, supporting luxury and design sector innovation.
• AlpyXminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Company founded 2015 dedicated to high-quality X-ray optics. Cristal Innov provided process development for innovative Bragg monochromators using crystal diffraction properties.
• Zadient TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Savoy-based company developing innovative silicon carbide (SiC) synthesis process. Cristal Innov provides R&D support and hosts development activities at Alpespace facility. Zadient raised €35M Series A in November 2025.
• Agence de l'Innovation de Défense (AID)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Defense innovation agency created September 2018, coordinates defense innovation initiatives. Continued DGA's quartz technology maturation project support.
• Diam ConceptmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016First French laboratory diamond producer, founded by Alix Gicquel. Produces ethically grown diamonds for jewelry using plasma CVD process. 100% traceable and environmentally friendly. CRYSTALITE cluster member.
• IRICE CRYSTAL INSIDE ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016UCBL-led project with €1,068,000 regional subsidy since 2016, co-financing 50% of R&D investments. Acquired synthesis equipment, micro-pulling down systems, and prototyping tools for SMEs.
• DGA (Direction Générale de l'Armement)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014French defense procurement agency initiated the quartz maturation technology project in 2014 with €1.87M budget. Supported revival of French high-quality synthetic quartz production for defense applications.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Shin-Etsu Chemical: Leading global supplier of high-purity synthetic quartz and silicon wafers for semiconductor and electronics applications. Closest materials-level comparable for high-purity quartz production technology.
• Saint-Gobain: French specialty materials conglomerate with deep crystal, ceramics, and high-purity materials capabilities. Comparable as a much larger European incumbent operating across Cristal Innov's adjacent materials spaces.
• TDK: Major electronic components group with significant piezoelectric, SAW/BAW, and frequency-control product lines. Relevant incumbent comparator across Cristal Innov's defense, telecom, and sensor end markets.
• Kyocera: Diversified electronic components manufacturer with a major piezoelectric and crystal device portfolio serving automotive, telecom, and industrial markets. Comparable on the piezoelectric device side and as a large-scale crystal consumer.
• NDK (Nihon Dempa Kogyo): Japanese incumbent producing synthetic quartz crystals, oscillators, and SAW/BAW devices for telecom, automotive, and consumer electronics. Directly comparable on quartz crystal materials and frequency-control components.
• Murata Manufacturing: Global leader in ceramic and piezoelectric components including SAW filters and quartz devices. Comparable as a downstream user of high-purity quartz and as a benchmark for piezo-component scale economics.

Direct peers

• Swarovski: Global leader in precision-cut synthetic crystals for luxury, jewelry, and design applications. Comparable to Cristal Innov's CRYSTALITE cluster, which similarly leverages synthetic crystal production for luxury and watchmaking customers.
• Frec|n|sys (SOITEC group): Frec|n|sys, owned by SOITEC, manufactures SAW filters on quartz substrates and is Cristal Innov's strategic partner for 100mm/150mm quartz wafers for 5G. Closest direct counterpart in RF piezoelectric substrates.
• CTS Corporation: US-based designer and manufacturer of frequency-control products, piezoelectric components, and crystals for defense, aerospace, and telecom. Comparable as a smaller-scale specialist in piezo crystals serving defense/industrial customers.
• Gooch & Housego: UK-headquartered specialist in synthetic crystal growth (including langatate, sapphire, and other electro-optic crystals) and acousto-optic devices. Highly comparable on specialty crystal materials, langatate production, and aerospace/defense customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/crystal-innov-tech-center

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 Cristal innov