What LEMTA does

LEMTA (Laboratoire d'Énergétique et de Mécanique Théorique et Appliquée) is a public research laboratory affiliated with CNRS and Université de Lorraine, founded in 1973 and headquartered in Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France. The laboratory conducts fundamental and applied research across energy, fluid mechanics, thermal science, rheology, materials characterization, acoustic engineering, and NMR/MRI engineering, organized into three departments — Energy Carriers, Fluid Matter & Rheology, and Energy & Transfer — plus a cross-cutting MRI for Engineering program. With 51-100 staff including teacher-researchers, CNRS researchers, engineers, doctoral students, and postdocs, LEMTA operates nine experimental research platforms: laser diagnostics for non-intrusive flow measurement (LIF, PIV, PDA, Raman, TCSPC); NMR/MRI engineering systems including a 14 T (600 MHz) vertical and 2.4 T (100 MHz) horizontal imager; high-temperature thermal characterization up to 1800°C via Flash method; rheology benches for complex fluids and polymer composites; acoustic characterization; fire science; soil mechanics; hydrogen and electrochemical systems; and a multi-vector microgrid. The platforms are certified under Institut Carnot ICEEL.

The laboratory is funded through a mix of public grants (ANR, FEDER, EURATOM, Horizon 2020, France 2030, CPER, Marie Skłodowska-Curie), institutional allocations from CNRS and Université de Lorraine, and contract research for industrial partners. Documented industrial collaborators include ArcelorMittal, EDF, AIRBUS, SAFRAN, SAINT-GOBAIN, General Electric, Schneider Electric, AIR LIQUIDE, Verkor, and Enersens, alongside French public research bodies (CEA, ONERA, INERIS, INRAE, ASNR, ITER, JRC). LEMTA participates in EERA joint programs on materials and hydrogen/fuel cells and the EURECA-PRO university alliance for doctoral mobility.

The laboratory has no commercial pricing model and does not distribute products. Research outputs are diffused via the HAL open archive, scientific conferences (including the 34th French Thermal Congress hosted in Nancy in June 2026), the Université de Lorraine website, and LinkedIn. Revenue flows from grants and contracts are project-based rather than recurring, with major active programs including MATICS (battery thermal safety, France 2030), MPMRI (nuclear MRI, EURATOM), SMILE (soft matter + AI), DeNAMISE (nuclear energy), and Stock'NRJ (energy storage).

Name

LEMTA

Legal name

LEMTA - Laboratoire d'Énergétique et de Mécanique Théorique et Appliquée

Website

https://lemta.univ-lorraine.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LEMTA is a public research laboratory affiliated with CNRS and Université de Lorraine, conducting fundamental and applied research in energy, thermal science, fluid mechanics, rheology, and NMR/MRI engineering, serving industrial partners and public institutions via nine experimental platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Energy and Mechanics Research Laboratory Services

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (54171), Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Scientific & Laboratory Reference (Chemistry, Biology, Physics; Methods & Protocols) (EDAGAGAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Test & Measurement Equipment (Oscilloscopes, DAQ, signal analyzers, calibration benches) (IMAGAFAC), Industry & Sector Research (Syndicated/Custom) (BPAHALAE)

Keywords

• Energy research laboratory
• Thermal characterization services
• Fluid mechanics research
• Materials science testing
• Applied energetics research

Headquarters

HQ city

Vandoeuvre-lès-nancy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LEMTA is a public research laboratory that conducts fundamental and applied research in energy, fluid mechanics, thermal sciences, rheology, acoustics, and engineering materials. It operates nine specialized experimental platforms (laser diagnostics, thermal/optical characterization, MRI for engineering, hydrogen systems, fluid rheology, solid rheology, soil mechanics, fire science, multi-vector microgrid) and delivers collaborative R&D, contract research, and technology transfer services to industrial partners and academic institutions.

Product overview

LEMTA (Laboratoire d'Énergétique et de Mécanique Théorique et Appliquée) is a university research laboratory at Université de Lorraine, France. It operates as a consortium of specialized research platforms rather than a commercial product company. The laboratory offers a portfolio of research platforms including: (1) Metrology in Fluids and Laser Diagnostics for non-intrusive optical measurements; (2) Thermal and Optical Characterization for materials properties; (3) MRI for Engineering for NMR-based analysis; (4) Hydrogen and Electrochemical Systems for fuel cell and battery research; (5) Fluid and Solid Rheology platforms for material characterization; (6) Fire Science and Soil Mechanics platforms. LEMTA also coordinates major research projects including Stock'NRJ (energy storage), MATICS (battery safety), DeNAMISE (nuclear energy), and the SMILE group (soft matter and AI). The laboratory collaborates with industrial partners and participates in European research programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Metrology in Fluids, Laser Diagnostics Platform Platform developing optical measurement techniques based on laser interaction with matter and light scattering by particles. Provides non-intrusive characterization of velocity, temperature, concentration fields, and particle size distribution in two-phase flows for industrial and academic research partners.
• Thermal and Optical Characterization of Materials and Systems Platform CARNOT platform equipped with spectrometers, microscopes, laser sources, infrared cameras, fast multispectral cameras, black bodies, DSC calorimeter, and characterization benches for measuring optical and thermal properties of materials and systems. Supports industrial and academic partners across multiple temperature ranges from cryogenic to high temperature.
• MRI for Engineering Platform Cross-disciplinary research platform using nuclear magnetic resonance methods to study systems and phenomena in engineering sciences. Provides structural and dynamic information from molecular scale (NMR spectroscopy) to millimeter scale (MRI imaging), including imaging of concentrations, MRI velocimetry, MRI thermometry, diffusion measurements, and flows in porous media.
• Hydrogen and Electrochemical Systems Platform Platform for detailed study of local phenomena in open electrochemical systems including fuel cells, membrane electrolyzers, flow batteries, direct borohydride cells, and electrochemical hydrogen compression. Provides experimental services for industrial and academic partners in hydrogen and electrochemical energy research.
• Fluid Rheology Platform Rheology platform equipped with DHR-3 rheometer for characterizing complex fluids including gels, granular media, emulsions, particle suspensions, and biological objects. Also includes vibrating cell for powder rheology, light scattering bench, and micro-PIV device for local velocity measurements.
• Solid Rheology of Polymers and Composites Platform Platform for mechanical characterization of polymers and composites featuring DMA spectrometry (traction, compression, flexion, shear), multi-axial testing (tension-torsion), temperature-controlled testing, fatigue studies, and relaxation/creep tests. Includes 3D image correlation for deformation localization and IR camera for fatigue self-heating measurements.
• Soil Mechanics Platform Platform for soil mechanics and energy geo-structures research, featuring high-temperature thermal characterization capabilities including Flash method for thermal diffusivity measurement using continuous CO2 laser (100W/150W max) with vacuum tube furnace (20°C–1800°C) and EM-CCD infrared camera. Includes parallel hot-wire method (20°C–1000°C), heat capacity measurements with 3D drop sensor and hf-DSC.
• Fire Science Platform (PROMETHEI and ATHENAI) Platform for fire safety research including acoustic characterization of wall facings in industrial rooms, hearing loss simulation platform, FEM modeling of the ear, audibility evaluation for hearing-impaired people with hearing aids, and impulse noise impact assessment on auditory system. Supports industrial and academic partners in fire safety and acoustic research.
• MATICS - Battery Thermal Innovation Research Applied research project developing innovative inter-cell materials to prevent thermal runaway propagation in battery modules. LEMTA provides heat transfer expertise, thermal characterization, and modeling services for the consortium of industrial partners.

Quantifiable outcome

• MPMRI project develops Multi-Phase Magnetic Resonance Imaging for nuclear research applications
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ArcelorMittalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Major industrial partner collaborating with LEMTA on research projects including energy efficiency and thermal management in steel industry. Akshay Bansal from ArcelorMittal Maizières presented at SFT Congress 2026 on zero-emission future and high-temperature energy efficiency challenges.
• EDFcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Long-standing industrial partner in energy research, particularly in hydrogen technologies, nuclear energy, and thermal systems. Collaborates through various ANR and institutional research programs.
• AIRBUS / SAFRANcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Aerospace industry partners collaborating on thermal management, hydrogen fuel systems for aviation, and high-temperature materials research.
• SAINT-GOBAINcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in MATICS project for innovative battery thermal management materials. Saint-Gobain Recherche is the consortium lead developing and constructing innovative inter-cell materials for battery safety.
• General Electric (GE Vernova)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Industrial partner collaborating on electrical compression services decarbonization and electrification, with Lionel Durantay from GE Vernova presenting at SFT Congress 2026.
• Schneider ElectriccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Partner in electrical systems and energy efficiency research collaborations.
• CEAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, key institutional partner in nuclear energy research through DeNAMISE project and hydrogen technologies. Co-develops MRI techniques for nuclear applications via MPMRI project.
• ASNRcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de la radioprotection - French Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Authority, partner in DeNAMISE project for nuclear energy innovation and training.
• ITERcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026International nuclear fusion research project, expert partner in DeNAMISE project launch event, collaborating on nuclear energy training and innovation.
• EPFLcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, expert partner in DeNAMISE nuclear energy project, bringing international academic perspective to research and training initiatives.
• JRCcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Joint Research Centre (European Commission), expert partner in DeNAMISE project contributing to nuclear energy research and policy support.
• ONERAcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026French aerospace research center, privileged institutional partner collaborating on aeronautical materials and thermal management research.
• CSTBcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Scientific and Technical Center for Building, privileged institutional partner in building thermal research and sustainable construction.
• INRScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026National Research and Safety Institute for the prevention of occupational accidents and diseases, with whom LEMTA shares two mixed research themes including acoustic research on hearing protection.
• Institut Carnot ICEELcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LEMTA is a member of Institut Carnot ICEEL, providing a recognized quality label for industrial partnerships and research contracts.
• EERA (European Energy Research Alliance)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026LEMTA is active in two EERA joint programs: AMPEA (Advanced Materials and Processes for Energy Applications) and Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, coordinating European research efforts in energy transition.
• Axelera / TenerrdiscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2026Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes competitiveness clusters. MATICS project is labeled by Axelera and Tenerrdis for innovative battery technologies.
• Montanuniversität LeobencoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Austrian university partner in EURECA-PRO alliance. Doctoral researcher Jose-Carlos Martinez-Rosales conducted PhD mobility focusing on hydrogen production research, exploring methane pyrolysis methods.
• GRASP Laboratory (University of Liège)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Co-founds SMILE international research group with LEMTA researcher Sébastien Kiesgen de Richter. Nicolas Vandewalle, GRASP director, co-leads the group on soft matter research combining AI and experiments.
• TU Graz (Institute of Bioproducts and Paper Technology)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026International academic partner in MRI for engineering research, contributing to the interdisciplinary research team studying systems and phenomena in engineering sciences.
• Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University (Ukraine)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ukrainian university international partner in academic research collaborations, supporting global research partnerships.
• INRAEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment. LEMTA MRI platform collaborates with INRAE platforms (AgroResonance, OPAAL) on NMR applications in agronomy and food science.
• IFPENcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026IFP Energies nouvelles, national research partner in MRI engineering platform, collaborating on fluid systems and porous media research.
• CEA Joliot (IR4M)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Medical and Multi-Modal Magnetic Resonance Imaging laboratory, national partner collaborating on MRI methodology development and applications.
• HEALTHIScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Medical device MRI safety and compatibility testing laboratory, industrial partner of MRI for engineering platform.
• RD2DcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Company designing and manufacturing high-performance magnetic resonance electronic devices, collaborating on MRI platform equipment development.
• IJL (Institut Jean Lamour)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Materials science institute, co-develops DeNAMISE nuclear energy project with LEMTA researchers, bringing expertise in materials for nuclear applications.
• PERSEUScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ergonomic and social psychology laboratory, partners in DeNAMISE project bringing human factors and innovation pedagogy expertise to nuclear energy research.
• EURECA-PRO AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026European university alliance supporting doctoral mobility. LEMTA participates through EURECA-PRO enabling researcher exchanges with partners including Montanuniversität Leoben.
• AIR LIQUIDEcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Industrial gas company, long-standing partner in hydrogen research and energy applications.
• ValeocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Automotive supplier partner in thermal management and energy efficiency research collaborations.
• ValloureccoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Industrial pipe manufacturer partner in energy sector research.
• VerkorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Electric vehicle battery manufacturer participating in MATICS project to develop battery modules with innovative materials preventing thermal runaway propagation. LEMTA provides thermal expertise and characterization.
• EnersenscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Innovative company specializing in high-performance aerogel-based insulation materials, partner in MATICS project for battery thermal safety solutions.
• INERIScoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024French public institute for industrial environment and risks, partner in MATICS project providing expertise on thermal runaway and safety assessment for battery systems.
• University of ExetercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018UK university coordinating GeoRes project (RISE Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions), focused on geomaterials from waste to resource, with LEMTA as project partner.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IFP Energies nouvelles (IFPEN): French public industrial research organization focused on energy transition, including hydrogen, batteries, and thermal systems. Closely comparable to LEMTA as a French public-sector R&D actor serving overlapping industrial partners (Total, EDF, etc.) with complementary expertise in electrochemical systems and fuels.
• INERIS: French public institute for industrial environment and risks, already a LEMTA partner on MATICS. Similar public-research structure, with shared competencies in fire safety, thermal runaway, and industrial risk assessment targeting same industrial client base.
• ONERA: French aerospace research center and existing LEMTA partner. Comparable as a public applied research lab with deep AIRBUS/SAFRAN partnerships and overlapping thermal-management and high-temperature materials research.

Broad incumbents

• Fraunhofer Institute (e.g., ISE, ICT, IFAM): Germany's largest applied research organization, directly comparable as a multi-institute applied research network with deep industrial R&D partnerships in energy, materials, and thermal sciences. Competes with LEMTA for EU funding and large industrial contracts.
• SINTEF: Norway's largest independent research institute, operating much like LEMTA across energy, materials, and process industries with significant EU and industrial funding. Comparable in multidisciplinary applied research model and European consortium leadership.
• TNO: Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research; comparable in mission (applied research for industry and government) and in competing for EU energy-transition programs. Both organizations monetize research via contract research and public-private partnerships.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives): French public research giant and existing LEMTA partner (DeNAMISE, MPMRI). Operates at much larger scale, but shares the French public R&D model, nuclear/energy mandate, and overlap with LEMTA in hydrogen, thermal, and electrochemical systems.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finland's applied research center with strong energy, hydrogen, and materials science programs. Directly comparable in multidisciplinary research model, EU funding participation, and industry-contract research monetization.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) firm relevant as a commercial counterpart to LEMTA's thermal and acoustic characterization services. While LEMTA operates pre-commercial, Bureau Veritas represents the scaled commercial model for the same underlying capabilities.

Emerging players

• Schlumberger / SLB Research: Large energy-services company with internal R&D in thermal management, NMR logging, and reservoir characterization. Adjacent to LEMTA's NMR-for-engineering and porous-media platforms, representing a potential industrial acquirer of similar capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laboratoire-lemta
• Xx.com/Labo_Lemta

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 LEMTA