Laboratoire 3SR

What Laboratoire 3SR does

Laboratoire 3SR (Sols, Solides, Structures, Risques / Soils, Solids, Structures, Risks) is a French public joint research unit (UMR 5521) jointly supervised by Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, and Grenoble INP, headquartered on the Saint-Martin-d'Hères campus in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. It conducts experimental and computational research on the mechanics of materials and structures across three teams — CoMHet (Mechanics of Divided Media), GéoMécanique, and RV (Risks and Vulnerability of Structures, 11 permanent researchers) — addressing geomechanics, seismic vulnerability, and coupled chemo-thermo-hydro-mechanical behavior of materials.

The laboratory operates a substantial physical and software infrastructure that constitutes its core technical product. The TomoMéca platform, created in 2008, comprises two X-ray tomography machines with in-situ solicitation devices for 3D characterization of materials; the SPAM open-source Python library (distributed via Conda/GitHub) handles and correlates 3D fields for materials science applications. Complementary platforms include a shake table (one of only four in France, 4-tonne payload, 2.2g acceleration) for seismic testing, a GIGA triaxial press for extreme quasi-static loading, a Femto Tools FT MTA03 micromechanical system (0.1 nm precision, 0.5 nN–200 mN force range), stereovision/stereocorrelation cameras (up to 26 MP, 1100 fps), and HPC clusters totaling 250 CPUs, 1.2 TB RAM, and 200 TB+ storage managing roughly 400 networked devices.

3SR does not operate as a commercial enterprise. Revenue is derived from three channels: (1) core institutional funding from CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, and Grenoble INP; (2) competitive research grants from ANR, the European Defence Agency, and other public funders (e.g., CERAMBALL II on ceramic armor, ICAR on ceramics, InnovaXN on cementitious materials); and (3) collaborative industry contracts with partners including Lafarge-Holcim, Saint-Gobain, CEA Gramat, and Actis. Customers and collaborators include academic researchers nationally and internationally, PhD/postdoctoral trainees, industrial partners in construction materials and defense, and large research infrastructures (ILL, ESRF). Go-to-market is community-led: research dissemination via peer-reviewed publications (Cement and Concrete Research, International Journal of Fracture), seminars (Croissants Meetings), workshops (annual SPAM workshops), and collaborative networks.

Name

Laboratoire 3SR

Legal name

Laboratoire 3SR

Website

https://3sr.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Laboratoire 3SR is a French public joint research unit (UMR 5521) under CNRS, Université Grenoble Alpes, and Grenoble INP that studies mechanics of soils, solids, structures, and risks, serving academic researchers, PhD trainees, and industrial partners with X-ray/neutron tomography, seismic testing, and the open-source SPAM analysis library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Martin-d'Hères

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Core funding from French public institutions: CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Université Grenoble Alpes, and Grenoble INP
2. ANR and European Project Funding: Competitive research grants from Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), European Defence Agency, and other public funding bodies for specific research projects
3. Industry Partnerships and Contracts: Collaborative research with industrial partners such as Lafarge-Holcim, Saint-Gobain, CEA, and other companies for applied research

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Laboratoire 3SR is a public research laboratory that conducts multi-scale experimental and computational research on the mechanics of soils, solids, structures, and risks. It operates specialized experimental platforms (TomoMéca X-ray/neutron tomography, seismic shake table, micromechanical and triaxial testing, stereovision systems, climate chambers, ultrasonic welders) and develops open-source analysis software (SPAM) used by national and international researchers. The lab also undertakes collaborative applied research with industrial partners in construction materials, ceramics, defense, and timber construction.

Product overview

Laboratoire 3SR is a research laboratory (Sols, Solides, Structures, Risques / Soils, Solids, Structures, Risks) affiliated with Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, and Grenoble INP. The laboratory operates multiple technical platforms for experimental mechanics research including the Plateforme TomoMéca (X-ray and neutron tomography platform created in 2008) for 3D material characterization, the SPAM Python library for image analysis, seismic testing equipment (Table Vibrante shake table), micromechanical characterization systems, stereovision/stereocorrelation optical measurement systems, and atmosphere control/ultrasonic welding equipment. The three research teams (CoMHet, GéoMécanique, RV) focus on multi-scale mechanics of materials, geomaterials, and structural behavior under complex loading conditions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 3SR: Laboratoire Sols, Solides, Structures, Risques - a joint research laboratory (UMR 5521) of Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, and Grenoble INP focusing on mechanics of materials, geomechanics, and structural risk.
• TomoMéca
• SPAM
• 3SR Social Club

Products and services

• TomoMéca X-ray Tomography Platform Operational platform for 3D characterization of materials under chemo-thermo-hydro-mechanical stresses, comprising two X-ray tomography machines with in-situ solicitation devices. Provides services to national and international researchers in solid mechanics and materials science. Created in 2008.
• SPAM (Software for Practical Analysis of Materials)

Quantifiable outcome

• Created in 2008, the TomoMéca platform has provided services to researchers nationally and internationally
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Labex AE&CC (Architecture, Environnement & Cultures Constructives)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 November 2017Collaboration on seismic resistance research, particularly the REparH project (2010-2014) studying traditional construction in Haiti post-earthquake. Joint development of simulation tools and experimental testing for traditional structures.
• Lafarge-HolcimcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research through InnovaXN program on cementitious materials, including thesis funding for Chakib El Faqir on chemo-hydro-mechanical response of carbonatable binders.
• Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL)coreTechnology or IntegrationCollaboration on neutron tomography and imaging research, providing access to neutron facilities for materials characterization and sponsoring PhD research on high-temperature concrete behavior.
• CRAterre - ENSAGminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on traditional construction and earthen architecture, including seismic resistance studies and reconstruction projects.
• Saint-GobaincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerANR ICAR project partnership on ceramic materials research, including thesis collaboration and experimental characterization of ceramic armor under dynamic loading.
• European Defence AgencycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERAMBALL II project on ceramic armor characterization with partner Institut Saint-Louis and Saint-Gobain for 36 months.
• CEA GramatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject on dynamic characterization of concrete and soil materials through various testing methods including impact, quasi-oedometric, and triaxial testing.
• Actis (Social Housing)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEVIBois project partnership for instrumentation and long-term monitoring of CLT timber building vibration behavior in real conditions.
• BE Terre and AIS IngénierieminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPartnership on seismic analysis of rammed earth and raw earth masonry structures in construction projects.
• AE&CC ENSAGcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADEME B2M project on mechanical characterization of raw earth masonry, combining expertise in construction and materials testing.
• ESRF ID19 beamlinecoreTechnology or IntegrationAccess to synchrotron X-ray facilities for high-resolution imaging of materials including dynamic tensile tests on concrete and rock samples.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Bruker: Manufacturer of advanced analytical and materials characterization instruments, including X-ray microtomography and diffraction systems. Comparable to 3SR in the analytical instrumentation ecosystem for materials mechanics, though as a commercial instrument vendor rather than a research lab.
• Intertek: Global TIC provider with extensive materials and structural testing capabilities for construction and industrial sectors. Comparable end-market exposure to 3SR in construction materials and structural integrity assessment, though delivered as commercial assurance services.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives): French public research organization with major materials science and defense research programs (including CEA Gramat, a 3SR partner). Overlaps in dynamic materials testing, ceramic armor characterization, and concrete/soil behavior under extreme loading.
• NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology): U.S. federal agency providing standards, technology, and materials reference data, with extensive mechanical testing and characterization capabilities. Comparable to 3SR as a publicly funded materials science research entity with a national-mission scope spanning mechanical, structural, and reference testing.
• Bureau Veritas: Global testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) major serving construction, infrastructure, and industrial clients. Overlaps with 3SR in construction-materials testing and structural vulnerability assessment, but as a scaled commercial TIC provider rather than a research laboratory.
• SGS: World's largest testing, inspection, and certification company with broad industrial materials and construction testing services. Comparable to 3SR in the testing-services category, particularly for construction materials, but operates at global commercial scale across many industries.

Direct peers

• Element Materials Technology: Global commercial materials testing services provider serving aerospace, construction, and energy end markets. Comparable to 3SR in offering mechanical, fatigue, and structural materials characterization, though operating as a fee-for-service commercial testing platform rather than an academic lab.
• BAM (Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung): German federal institute for materials research and testing, conducting safety-focused research in materials science and chemistry. Closest structural analogue to 3SR as a publicly funded national lab with similar scope in mechanical testing, structural safety, and standardized materials characterization.

Others

• Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL): Grenoble-based international research center operating the world's most intense continuous neutron source. Direct collaboration partner of 3SR for neutron tomography and high-temperature concrete PhD research; functions as a complementary infrastructure provider rather than a competing lab.
• ESRF (European Synchrotron Radiation Facility): Grenoble-based European synchrotron facility that 3SR collaborates with via the ID19 beamline for high-resolution synchrotron X-ray imaging. Functions as enabling infrastructure and research partner rather than direct competitor, providing access to beamline capabilities 3SR cannot host internally.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laboratoire-3sr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Laboratoire 3SR