What Laboratoire d'astrophysique de Bordeaux does

Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB) is a French public research laboratory (Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR 5804) jointly operated by the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and the Université de Bordeaux, headquartered at Bâtiment B18N, Allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 33615 Pessac, France. Founded in 1875 as the Observatoire de Bordeaux, the laboratory comprises approximately 75 staff across five scientific research teams (astrochemistry and origins of planetary systems; planetary atmospheres and surfaces; exoplanets, climates and planetary system evolution; star formation and interstellar medium; space metrology, astrodynamics and astrophysics), three dedicated technical teams (computational science and data sciences; mechanics; instrumentation and experimentation; electronic systems and instrumental computing), and one administrative support service.

LAB's core activities are scientific research and astronomical instrumentation development. The laboratory explores themes spanning the physics and chemistry of the interstellar medium, stellar populations of the Galaxy, star and planetary system formation, planetary atmospheres and surfaces, habitability and the search for life. Technically, it designs and builds instruments for ground-based observatories (ALMA, NOEMA, VLT/SPHERE) and space missions (Euclid, JWST, Nancy Grace Roman, the ESA-Japan SPICA/SAFARI), and contributed to the SuperCam instrument on NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover. Proprietary scientific assets include the KIDA astrochemical kinetics database used internationally and the COSMIC DANCE astrometric analysis pipeline, which achieves 10–20x precision improvements over traditional methods through statistical data mining and integration with Gaia multi-wavelength data.

The laboratory produces over 100 peer-reviewed publications per year, manages approximately 60 ongoing research projects, and actively trains doctoral researchers (four PhDs defended in 2025). Its business model is exclusively public research funding: core budget from CNRS and Université de Bordeaux, supplemented by competitive grants (notably the 2016 ERC Consolidator Grant for COSMIC DANCE). There are no commercial products, no pricing model, and no paying customers — outputs are disseminated through open-access publication (HAL archives) and public science outreach (Festival Hypermondes, Le Chemin du Temps, school interventions, Université du Temps Libre). Leadership transitioned on January 1, 2026, with CNRS Research Directors Sean Raymond and Benoît Lavraud assuming three-year interim director and deputy director mandates, succeeding Pascal Bordé whose 2016–2025 tenure oversaw relocation from Floirac to the Pessac campus.

Name

Laboratoire d'astrophysique de Bordeaux

Legal name

Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux

Website

https://astrophy.u-bordeaux.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1875

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (UMR 5804) is a French public research laboratory jointly operated by CNRS and Université de Bordeaux, employing 75 staff across astrophysics research and astronomical instrumentation teams that contribute to major ESA, ESO, and space-mission programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Astrophysics Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Lab Furniture, Facilities & Utilities (Benches, Casework, Gas/Water Systems) (HLAGAIAM)

Keywords

• Astrophysics research
• Astronomical instrumentation
• Space mission science
• Observational astronomy
• Public research laboratory

Headquarters

HQ city

Pessac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Core funding from Université de Bordeaux and CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), France's primary public research organizations, constituting the base operating budget of this Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR 5804).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB) is a public research laboratory that conducts fundamental astrophysics research and develops astronomical observation instruments for ground-based observatories and space missions. Its core activities span scientific research across interstellar medium physics and chemistry, star and planetary system formation, planetary atmospheres, and habitability, combined with in-house technical expertise in electronic, mechanical, and computing systems for instrument design. The lab also contributes to doctoral training and public science outreach.

Product overview

Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB) is a research laboratory affiliated with CNRS and Université de Bordeaux, focused on astrophysics research rather than commercial product development. The laboratory conducts scientific research exploring origins across multiple themes: interstellar medium physics and chemistry, galaxy stellar populations, star and planetary system formation, planetary atmospheres and surfaces, habitability and life search. The LAB develops astronomical observation instruments for ground-based observatories and space missions, with expertise in electronic, mechanical, and computing systems. They contribute to university education and science outreach activities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Astrophysics Research Services Fundamental research in astrophysics and astrochemistry exploring origins across interstellar medium physics and chemistry, galactic stellar populations, star and planetary system formation, planetary atmospheres and surfaces, habitability, and search for life. Delivered to the international scientific research community.
• Astronomical Instrument Development Design and development of electronic, mechanical, and computing systems for astronomical observation instruments used at ground-based observatories and space missions. Delivered to space agencies (ESA, NASA) and international observatory consortia.
• Doctoral Training Programs University-level doctoral training in astrophysics and astrochemistry, including co-supervision with partner institutions such as Observatoire de Paris and LP2i Bordeaux. Delivered to doctoral students and the broader research community.
• Public Science Outreach Public science outreach including the Festival Hypermondes science festival, Le Chemin du Temps public astronomical pathway, school interventions, Universit\u00e9 du Temps Libre (lifelong learning), public conferences, and media interventions. Delivered to the general public and educational institutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15 rogue planet candidates identified (including 9 previously unobserved) in Taurus molecular cloud using Euclid space telescope data combined with 20+ years of ground-based observations
• +3 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

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

• ESA (European Space Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023LAB participates in ESA's Euclid mission (space telescope for cosmology and dark energy, launched 2023). Hervé Bouy's team used Euclid ERO data to discover 15 rogue planet candidates in the Taurus molecular cloud. LAB is also involved in ESA's SPICA mission (in development, SAFARI instrument) and future Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope observations.
• Université de BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LAB is a joint research unit (UMR 5804) jointly operated by the Université de Bordeaux and CNRS. The university provides primary institutional affiliation, campus facilities (Pessac), administrative support, and doctoral training programs. This is the core institutional partnership without which the LAB would not exist.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LAB is a joint research unit (UMR 5804) co-operated by CNRS and the Université de Bordeaux. CNRS provides the majority of permanent researcher and engineer positions, core funding, and administrative framework. LAB director-level positions are CNRS research directors.
• OASU (Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LAB is a component of the OASU (Aquitaine Observatory of Universe Sciences), a regional gathering of astronomy and astrophysics research units in Bordeaux. The 2016-2025 relocation to the Pessac campus strengthened synergies with other OASU components.
• CEA Paris-Saclay (Observatoire des Sciences de l'Univers)secondaryTechnology or IntegrationJean-Charles Cuillandre (CEA OSUPS) collaborates with the LAB on Euclid mission science communication and data visualization. Joint work on Euclid's color images and cosmic atlas releases showcasing mission capabilities.
• ESA SPICA MissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAB is responsible for technical development of part of the SAFARI instrument for the ESA-Japan SPICA (SPace Infrared telescope for Cosmology and Astrophysics) space mission, covering wavelengths 12-350 μm with unprecedented sensitivity.
• IRAM (Institut de Radioastronomie Millimétrique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAB researchers use the IRAM 30-meter telescope in Sierra Nevada, Spain, and the NOEMA interferometer (successor to the Plateau de Bure) for observations of molecular gas, protoplanetary disks, and star-forming regions. LAB contributed to ALMA-IMF large program and Sgr B2 observations with EMoCA survey.
• ALMA (Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerALMA is a major international observatory in Chile used extensively by LAB researchers. LAB contributes to ALMA observing programs including the ALMA-IMF large program on massive star-forming cores and the EMoCA survey targeting Sgr B2 molecular cloud. NOEMA (French contribution to ALMA's millimeter-wave network) is also a key facility.
• ESO (European Southern Observatory) - VLT/SPHEREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAB researchers (Emmanuel Di Folco, Anne Dutrey) participate in observations using ESO's Very Large Telescope (VLT) and SPHERE high-contrast imaging instrument. Notable result: first observation of spiral structures induced by protoplanets in GG Tau circumstellar disk.
• Observatoire de ParissecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-supervision of doctoral thesis: Nina Kessler's thesis was co-advised by David Cornu from the Observatoire de Paris, combining LAB expertise in astrochemistry with Paris-based spectroscopic capabilities.
• LP2i Bordeaux (Laboratoire d'Physique des 2 Infinis Bordeaux)secondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-supervision of doctoral thesis: Aimie Clément's thesis on cosmic ray acceleration was co-advised by Marianne Lemoine-Goumard from LP2i Bordeaux, combining cosmic ray physics expertise.
• SuperCam / Mars MissionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLAB's electronics and mechanics teams contributed to the SuperCam instrument on the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover mission, presented during Alain Juppé's 2017 visit to the lab.
• Euclid ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LAB is part of the Euclid Consortium, the international team responsible for the ESA Euclid space telescope mission. LAB contributes to both cosmological science (dark energy research) and alternative science programs (rogue planet detection using ERO data).

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie: CNRS/Université Toulouse III joint research unit (UMR 5277) in Toulouse covering astrophysics, planetary science, and space instrumentation. Comparable as a peer French public lab with strong space-mission instrument development capabilities (e.g., SuperCam, instruments on Mars missions).
• Observatoire de Paris: France's largest astronomy institution (PSL University), encompassing multiple research laboratories in astrophysics. Comparable institutional scale and research breadth, with active doctoral training and significant involvement in international space missions (Gaia, JWST).
• Institut d'Astrophysique de Paris: French CNRS/Université Pierre et Marie Curie joint research unit (UMR 7095) conducting fundamental research in astrophysics. Directly comparable as a peer French astrophysics UMR of similar scale and structure, with overlapping missions in cosmology, galactic studies, and planetary systems.
• Laboratoire d'Astrophysique de Marseille: French CNRS/Aix-Marseille Université/CEA joint research unit (UMR 7326) focused on astrophysics, galaxy formation, and exoplanet detection. Closest direct French peer to LAB given similar institutional structure, instrumentation development focus, and ESA mission involvement.

Broad incumbents

• Space Telescope Science Institute: US-based institute operating Hubble and JWST science operations. Comparable as a public research organization with central involvement in major space telescopes, strong instrumentation analysis capabilities, and a doctoral training tradition.
• Center for Astrophysics | Harvard & Smithsonian: Major US astrophysics research center jointly operated by Harvard and Smithsonian, with ~800 scientists across multiple research areas. Comparable as a multi-team astrophysics institution with extensive instrument development, mission involvement, and a strong publication record.
• Istituto Nazionale di Astrofisica: Italy's national astrophysics institute coordinating 17 research structures. Comparable institutional structure as a public research consortium with significant space-mission involvement (e.g., Euclid, LBT) and a national mandate for astronomical instrumentation.
• Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie: Germany's leading astrophysics institute, part of the Max Planck Society, with major instrumentation programs (e.g., LBT, ELT contributions) and ~300 staff. Broader incumbent peer with similar public-research structure, instrument development capacity, and doctoral training, but at meaningfully larger scale.

Others

• European Southern Observatory: Intergovernmental organization operating ground-based observatories (VLT, ALMA, ELT). Listed as OTHERS rather than peer because ESO is an observatory operator that LAB researchers use (VLT/SPHERE, ALMA, NOEMA). Important partnership and instrument-development counterpart rather than a competing lab.

Regional players

• Centro de Astrobiología: Spanish joint CSIC/INTA research center focused on astrobiology, exoplanets, and planetary science. Comparable as a Spanish/European public research lab with space-mission instrumentation roles (e.g., REMS on Curiosity) and overlapping research themes in planetary habitability and exoplanet atmospheres.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laboratoire-d-astrophysique-de-bordeaux

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Laboratoire d'astrophysique de Bordeaux