IMEP

What IMEP does

IMEP, now operating under the name CROMA (Centre de Radiofréquences, Optique et Micro-nanoélectronique des Alpes), is a French public research laboratory designated as a Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR 5130). It is jointly operated by three French public research and higher education institutions: CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Grenoble INP / Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), and Université Savoie Mont Blanc. The laboratory employs approximately 110 people across two sites located in Grenoble (within the Minatec campus) and Le Bourget du Lac (Chambéry), approximately 70 km apart.

The laboratory's research activity is organized into three core research teams and one infrastructure platform. CMNE (Composants Micro Nano Electroniques) investigates CMOS and alternative semiconductor technologies, integrated micro- and nanosystems, device simulation and modeling, and superconducting electronics. DHREAMS (Dispositifs Hyperfréquences pour l'Electronique durable et les Milieux complexes) focuses on sustainable electronics, connected objects and sensors, and integrated devices for applications in living matter and the environment. PHOTO (Photonique, Térahertz et Optoélectronique) researches integrated photonics on glass, THz material and device characterization, and THz optoelectronics. PLATERA serves as the laboratory's shared technological and characterization platform.

IMEP/CROMA is not a commercial entity. Its funding derives from public research allocations through its parent institutions (CNRS, Grenoble INP/UGA, USMB) and competitive project grants such as the DESIRE4eu European project on sustainable electronics and circular economy (announced 2024-09-01). The laboratory's "customers" are academic collaborators, doctoral researchers, and industry partners engaged in joint research and technology transfer. The laboratory is currently led by Director Anne KAMINSKI-CACHOPO.

Name

IMEP

Legal name

Centre de Radiofréquences, Optique et Micro-nanoélectronique des Alpes

Website

https://imep-lahc.grenoble-inp.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IMEP (now CROMA) is a French public research laboratory (UMR 5130) jointly operated by CNRS, Grenoble INP/UGA, and Université Savoie Mont Blanc, employing ~110 researchers across micro/nano electronics, photonics, and RF devices at two French sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grenoble

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Funded through CNRS, Grenoble INP/UGA, and Université Savoie Mont Blanc as a mixed research unit (UMR 5130)

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

CROMA (formerly IMEP-LAHC) is a French joint research unit (UMR 5130) of approximately 110 people that conducts fundamental and applied research in micro and nano electronics, microphotonics, micro and nano systems, and microwaves and optomicrowaves. It operates through four research teams (CMNE, DHREAMS, PHOTO, PLATERA) across two sites in Grenoble and Chambéry, delivering research outputs, technology transfer to industry, and training of researchers and engineers.

Product overview

IMEP (now CROMA - Centre de Radiofréquences, Optique et Micro-nanoélectronique des Alpes) is a Joint Research Unit (UMR 5130) comprising approximately 110 researchers. The organization operates through four main research teams: CMNE (Micro Nano Electronic Components), DHREAMS (Radiofrequency Devices for Sustainable Electronics), PHOTO (Photonics, Terahertz and Optoelectronics), and PLATERA (Technological and Characterization Platforms). These research units collectively focus on micro and nanoelectronics, microphotonics, micro and nano systems, and microwaves and optomicrowaves. The center operates across two sites in Grenoble and Chambéry, France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMNE (Composants Micro Nano Electroniques)

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• G2ElabmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Grenoble electrical engineering laboratory collaborating on the DESIRE4EU project for sustainable PCB design and circular economy of electronic materials. CROMA and G2Elab work on upstream design of modified Arduino cards to increase circularity of end-of-life materials.
• DRIVE de Grenoble INPminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Partner in the DESIRE4EU project contributing to testing and aging of modified Arduino cards for sustainable electronics research.
• CERAG de GrenobleminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024Research partner in the DESIRE4EU project analyzing circularity of the value chain and life cycle of electronic cards.
• Université Catholique de Louvain (Belgium)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024International research partner in the DESIRE4EU project analyzing circularity of the value chain and life cycle of electronic cards.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore institutional partner as part of UMR 5130 mixed research unit structure. CNRS provides national research framework and funding support.
• Grenoble INP / UGA (Université Grenoble Alpes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore institutional partner as part of UMR 5130 mixed research unit structure. Host institution for the Grenoble site at Minatec.
• Université Savoie Mont BlanccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore institutional partner as part of UMR 5130 mixed research unit structure. Host institution for the Chambéry site at Le Bourget du Lac.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IMEC: IMEC is the leading European independent semiconductor and nanoelectronics R&D center, headquartered in Belgium. It overlaps heavily with CROMA's research scope (CMOS, photonics, RF, nano systems) but operates at vastly greater scale and scope.
• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique): CSEM is a Swiss applied-research center covering microelectronics, photonics, sensors, and sustainable electronics — comparable to CROMA's micro/nano and sustainability (DHREAMS) research areas, but with broader scope and more industrial focus.
• MINATEC: MINATEC is the Grenoble-based micro- and nanotechnology innovation campus that hosts CROMA's Grenoble site. It is a broader, multi-organization research/innovation campus, comparable as the institutional ecosystem CROMA operates within.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: VTT is a publicly funded Finnish applied-research organization with activities in microelectronics, photonics, and RF systems. It is comparable to CROMA as a state-backed applied-research lab, but at much larger scale and broader scope.

Direct peers

• IHP – Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics: IHP is a German research institute specializing in silicon-based microelectronics, RF, and THz technologies — directly comparable to CROMA's CMNE and PHOTO teams in terms of research focus and public-mission status.
• CEA-Leti: CEA-Leti is a major French micro- and nano-electronics research institute also based in Grenoble, covering CMOS, photonics, RF, and micro/nano systems — the same core domains as CROMA, making it the most direct peer.
• Tyndall National Institute: Tyndall is an Irish public-research institute focused on micro/nano electronics, photonics, and semiconductor devices — closely comparable to CROMA's CMNE and PHOTO research teams and public-mission structure.
• G2Elab: G2Elab is a Grenoble-based CNRS electrical engineering lab that is already a CROMA partner on the DESIRE4EU project; it is comparable as a peer French public research unit operating in the Grenoble ecosystem with overlapping electronics/electrical-engineering research.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Reliability and Microintegration (IZM): Fraunhofer IZM is a German applied-research institute focused on micro/nano electronic integration, packaging, and reliability — closely comparable to CROMA's CMNE team activities and PLATERA-style characterization work.
• CNRS Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of Systems (LAAS-CNRS): LAAS-CNRS is a French CNRS research unit working on micro/nano systems, integrated design, and semiconductor technologies — a natural French public-lab peer within the same CNRS ecosystem.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imep

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about IMEP