Institut Jean Lamour

What Institut Jean Lamour does

Institut Jean Lamour (IJL) is a public materials science research laboratory operating as a joint research unit (Unité Mixte de Recherche, UMR 7198) of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and Université de Lorraine, founded in 2009 and headquartered on the Artem campus in Nancy, France. The laboratory is organized into four scientific departments (Physics of Matter and Materials; Chemistry and Physics of Solids and Surfaces; Science and Engineering of Materials and Metallurgy; Nanomaterials, Electronics and Living) comprising 25 research teams, with a total headcount of approximately 449 personnel including 167 researchers and teacher-researchers, 177 doctoral students, and 105 support staff drawn from 60 nationalities.

IJL's core technology platform consists of approximately 600 scientific instruments across eight technical competence centers, including 1,087 m² of classified cleanrooms for micro and nanofabrication, the 70-meter D.A.U.M. ultrahigh vacuum tube with 28 connected chambers for nanomaterial deposition and analysis, aberration-corrected transmission electron microscopes, an electron beam melting furnace for metallic alloy elaboration, and the SPEKTRE magnetic confinement fusion plasma experiment. These platforms support materials characterization (electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy, tomography), thin film deposition, thermal property measurements (2–1,700 K, up to 7T magnetic fields), ultra-fast imaging at up to 2 million fps, and microfabrication services. The lab produces over 300 peer-reviewed articles annually and averages 32 thesis defenses per year.

IJL's commercial activity is operated through a Technology Transfer Office and generates revenue from four streams: research contracts and CIFRE industrial PhD theses with industrial partners; fee-for-service characterization and testing for external clients; customized corporate training; and base public funding from CNRS and Université de Lorraine supplemented by European (FEDER), national, and regional grants. Service pricing is quote-based and eligible for the French Research Tax Credit (Crédit Impôt Recherche). Named industrial customers span aerospace and defense (Dassault Aviation, Safran, Snecma/Airbus, LISI Aerospace, CNES, ESA, Nexter, Thales), steel and metallurgy (ArcelorMittal, Ascometal, Industeel), automotive (Renault, PSA), energy (EDF, CEA, Schneider Electric), and industrial gases (Air Liquide, Saint-Gobain-PAM). IJL also hosts five spin-off companies (APREX Solutions, CareMoSim, Cryoscan, O2M, ProViSys Engineering) developed in conjunction with the Incubateur Lorrain and SATT SAYENS.

Name

Institut Jean Lamour

Legal name

Institut Jean Lamour

Website

https://ijl.univ-lorraine.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Institut Jean Lamour (IJL) is a joint CNRS–Université de Lorraine materials science research laboratory in Nancy, France, operating four scientific departments, eight technical competence centers, and approximately 600 instruments. It serves industrial clients across aerospace, steel, automotive, and energy with characterization services, contract research, and customized training.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Materials Science Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Testing Laboratories and Services (54138)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

Metrology & Scanning Services (Inspection Labs, On-Site Measurement) (IMAAAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Additive Manufacturing Research & Innovation Labs (IMAAAJAA)

Keywords

• Materials characterization services
• Thin film deposition
• Electron microscopy analysis
• Metallurgy research
• Micro nanofabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Nancy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Research Contracts: Collaborative R&D agreements with industrial partners through contracts and CIFRE theses
2. Fee-for-Service Characterization and Testing: Paid materials characterization services including electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, thermal measurements, and spectroscopy for external clients
3. Customized Training: Technical training courses for companies in materials science techniques
4. Government/Public Funding: Base funding from CNRS and Université de Lorraine, with additional project funding from European, national, and regional sources

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Institut Jean Lamour (IJL) is a joint CNRS-Université de Lorraine materials science research laboratory that delivers fee-based scientific services to industrial clients, including materials characterization (electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy), thin film deposition and analysis using its 70-meter ultra-high vacuum tube, thermal and magnetic property measurements, micro/nanofabrication, and customized technical training. The laboratory operates 8 technical competence centers serving as platforms for both its own research and for industrial R&D contracts, CIFRE theses, and direct service agreements managed through its Technology Transfer Office.

Product overview

The Institut Jean Lamour (IJL) is a joint CNRS-University of Lorraine research laboratory specializing in materials science. Rather than a unified software product, IJL offers a portfolio of scientific services and technical platforms: materials characterization services (electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopy), thin film deposition via the D.A.U.M. ultra-high vacuum tube, thermal measurements, ultra-fast imaging, and micro/nanofabrication through 8 competence centers. The lab also provides professional training courses and hosts spin-off companies developing specialized technologies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Materials Characterization Services
• Thin Film Deposition and Analysis
• Thermal Measurements
• Micro and Nanofabrication Services
• Technical Competence Centers (8 Platforms)
• Ultra-Fast Imaging Services
• Professional Training Courses
• Customized Corporate Training
• Research Contracts and CIFRE Theses

Quantifiable outcome

• 300+ peer-reviewed articles published annually
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Carnot ICEELcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIJL is a member of Carnot ICEEL, a network of research laboratories focused on energy and industrial technologies. This partnership provides access to collaborative R&D programs and enhances technology transfer capabilities.
• French Tech EastcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIJL participates in the French Tech East ecosystem, supporting start-ups and innovation in eastern France.
• SATT SAYENScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer company supporting the maturation and transfer of research results to industry.
• Incubateur LorraincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional business incubator that has supported spin-off companies from IJL including Cryoscan and CareMoSim.
• ESRFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong Term Partnership 'CombiMet' for combinatorial metallurgy research using synchrotron X-ray diffraction facilities.
• ECMetACcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Integrated Centre for the Development of New Metallic Alloys and Compounds - international collaborative network.
• Labex DAMAScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDesign of Metallic Alloys for Lightweight Structures - co-founded by IJL's SI2M department with LEM3.
• ArcelorMittalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing research collaboration in steel and metallurgy, including CIFRE theses and joint research projects.
• CEAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative nuclear and energy research programs with France's Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission.
• EDFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy sector research collaboration including materials for nuclear and power generation applications.
• Dassault AviationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace materials research partnership for advanced alloys and composites.
• SafranmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace propulsion materials research, including thermal property characterization.
• RenaultmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive materials research collaboration for advanced vehicle components.
• Air LiquidemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial gases and materials research partnership.
• Université de LorrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent university - IJL is a joint unit (UMR 7198) of CNRS and Université de Lorraine.
• CNRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench National Centre for Scientific Research - IJL is a joint unit (UMR 7198) of CNRS and Université de Lorraine.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• MATEIS (Matériaux: Ingénierie et Science): INSA Lyon / CNRS joint lab combining metallurgy, ceramics, polymers, and bio-materials with strong industrial partnerships and a comparable competence-center model. Competes with IJL for advanced structural materials research programs from aerospace and automotive OEMs.
• NIMBE (Nanosciences et Innovation pour les Matériaux, la Biomédecine et l'Énergie): CEA-Saclay lab on nanomaterials, biomaterials, and energy materials with a comparable mix of fundamental science and industrial partnerships (Safran, EDF, etc.). Closely overlaps with IJL's N2EV department and competes for French industrial characterization programs.
• CIRIMAT (Centre Interuniversitaire de Recherche et d'Ingénierie des Matériaux): Toulouse-based CNRS/University joint lab covering metals, ceramics, polymers, thin films, and surface treatments. Closely comparable to IJL's four-department structure spanning physics, chemistry, metallurgy, and nanomaterials, with a similar mix of academic research and industrial characterization services.
• SIMaP (Science et Ingénierie des Matériaux et Procédés): Université Grenoble Alpes / CNRS lab focused on metallurgy, materials forming, and recycling. Comparable institutional structure, metallurgy focus, and industrial-partner model; competes with IJL's SI2M department for energy and metallurgy research programs.
• CEMHTI (Conditions Extrêmes et Matériaux: Haute Température et Irradiation): CNRS joint laboratory in Orléans focused on materials behavior under extreme temperature, irradiation, and plasma conditions. Same institutional structure (UMR under CNRS + university) and overlapping mission in plasma and surface characterization, making it IJL's most direct French academic peer.
• LSPM (Laboratoire des Sciences des Procédés et des Matériaux): CNRS / Université Paris-Sorbonne joint lab in Paris focused on process engineering, thin films, and nanomaterial synthesis. Similar service-to-industry model with characterization platforms and CIFRE-style industrial PhDs, making it a direct French competitor for materials development contracts.

Broad incumbents

• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Électronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss applied research center with overlapping capability in micro/nanofabrication, thin-film deposition, and surface characterization. Similar competence-center structure and strong industry orientation make it the most relevant non-French European peer for benchmarking IJL's commercial services.
• Fraunhofer IWM (Institute for Mechanics of Materials): German applied-research institute with a similar model of contract materials R&D, component testing, and characterization services for industrial customers. Operates at significantly larger scale as part of the Fraunhofer network and is a credible European substitute for IJL on cross-border industrial programs.
• Empa (Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology): Switzerland's federal materials research lab offering synthesis, characterization, and applied testing for industrial clients across energy, transport, and nanotechnology. Comparable in mission and infrastructure, with a stronger industry-funding ratio than IJL.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCchjuc3d8PNXXHF9mFRq99Q
• Xx.com/labo_IJL
• Facebookfacebook.com/universit
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/universit-de-lorraine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Institut Jean Lamour