What Carnot ICEEL Institute does

Carnot ICEEL Institute is a French non-profit public research institute headquartered in Nancy, Grand Est, holding the Carnot label continuously since 2007 and operating under the supervision of five institutional tutelles — CNRS, Université de Lorraine, Université de Technologie de Troyes, CentraleSupélec, and PRETT. It functions as a single contractual interface that aggregates 1,100 research personnel (chercheurs, enseignants-chercheurs, ingénieurs, doctorants) across 27 research components: 17 research laboratories, 4 technology resource centers (CRT), 1 industrial technical center (CTI), and 5 transfer centers. The institute also provides access to 70 technology platforms in the Grand Est region, including the world-unique Tube DAμM ultrahigh-vacuum nano-materials instrument connected to 23 high-end analytical tools.

Its commercial offerings span five engagement modes: short-term service contracts (1–6 month scientific or technical studies), bilateral research contracts (feasibility studies, analytical work, CIFRE PhDs up to 3 years), joint laboratories or LabComs (3–4+ year shared labs with framework agreements covering IP and governance), industrial chairs (long-term structured programs), and customized training. Proprietary technological assets include the patented Stratoconception® additive manufacturing process, GLAM® 3D glass printing, anti-counterfeiting materials for 3D printing, and the GOCAD geological modeling software. Documented industrial deployments include the LALCULT® Protect LC1 anti-Listeria biocontrol solution commercialized by Groupe Lallemand since June 2022, and the PAQc composite material co-developed with CINI under a joint patent.

The institute serves French enterprises of all sizes — from TPE and PME to startups, mid-sized ETIs, and large industrial groups — across nine vertical domains: agri-food, construction and amenagement, bioeconomy, energy, industry/manufacturing, mode & luxe, resources and environment, health, and transport. Pricing is not publicly disclosed; contracts are negotiated per project through a dedicated partnership development team (ingénieurs d'affaires) operating under ISO 9001-certified relationship management. Customer logos span large industrial groups (Saint-Gobain Recherche, Imerys, MBDA, ArianeGroup, Crossject, Lallemand, Groupe Bordet), mid-market firms (CINI, RS2D), and SMEs/startups (Cryoscan, 45-8 Energy). Distribution leverages direct enterprise sales, regional innovation intermediaries (SATT Sayens, Incubateur Lorrain, Grand Est Développement, Lorntech, C2ime), and competitiveness poles (Aquanova, Team2, Avenia), as well as cross-referrals within the 39-institute national Carnot network.

Name

Carnot ICEEL Institute

Legal name

Institut Carnot Icéel

Website

https://carnot-iceel.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Carnot ICEEL Institute is a French non-profit public research body in the Grand Est region that provides enterprise R&D partnership services across 27 research components and 70 technology platforms, serving roughly 500 companies per year — from startups to large industrial groups — in energy, materials, processes, and environmental transition domains.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contract Research and Technology Transfer Services

NAICS

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

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Instrumentation, Controls & Automation Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAM)

akta.pro secondary industry

Biomedical Sciences & Medical Research Institutes (University-Based) (EDAHAGAI)

Keywords

• Contract research services
• Technology transfer
• Industrial R&D partnerships
• Energy transition research
• Advanced materials development

Headquarters

HQ city

Nancy

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research service contracts (Prestations de service): Short-term (1–6 month) scientific or technical service contracts for measurements, testing, and characterization using laboratory and technology center resources. May include exclusive intellectual property for the contracting company.
2. Research contracts (Contrats de recherche): Bilateral partnership research contracts, the most common type of engagement. Projects are co-constructed between the laboratory/CRT/CTI and the enterprise, with results relevant to the company's specifications. Can span student projects (6 months) to CIFRE PhDs (3 years). Eligible for public financing including BPI advances, subsidies, and tax incentives (CIR, CII, CICO, CIFRE).
3. Joint laboratories (LabComs): Long-term (3–4+ years) shared laboratory partnerships between an enterprise and one or more research laboratories, governed by a framework agreement covering governance, technology roadmap, resources, and IP strategy.
4. Industrial chairs (Chaires Industrielles): Long-term co-constructed research programs involving academic and socioeconomic partners, addressing major scientific, technological, or societal challenges. May be eligible for tax incentives.
5. CIFRE PhD scholarships (Thèses CIFRE): Industrial research PhD positions subsidized by the French state (ANRT), typically 3-year collaborations funded partly by public subsidy, with the company employing the doctoral researcher.
6. Training services: Customized initial and continuing training programs delivered to enterprises, transferring skills and competencies from the research community to industry.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Carnot ICEEL Institute is a French public research institute (labeled Carnot since 2007) operating as a single interface between 1,100 researchers across 27 research components (17 laboratories, 4 technology resource centers, 1 industrial technical center, and 5 transfer centers) and enterprises seeking R&D collaboration. It offers service contracts, bilateral research contracts, joint laboratories (LabComs), industrial chairs, CIFRE PhD theses, customized training programs, and access to 70 technology platforms covering energy, processes, materials, geosciences, and industrial technologies.

Product overview

Carnot ICEEL Institute is a public research institute (labeled since 2007) operating as a network of 27 research components (17 laboratories, 4 technology resource centers, 1 industrial technical center, and 5 transfer centers) with 1100 researchers. The institute offers a comprehensive portfolio of R&D collaboration services including research programs, service provision, research contracts, joint laboratories (Labcoms), industrial chairs, and training. It provides access to 70 technology platforms across Grand Est, France. The institute focuses on sustainable engineering for innovation in energy transition, industrial processes, materials development, environmental resources, and industrial technologies. Notable products include the LALCULT® Protect LC1 anti-Listeria solution, PAQc composite materials, proprietary technologies like Stratoconception® and GLAM® additive manufacturing, and the GOCAD geological modeling software.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Research Service Contracts (Prestations de service) Short-term (1–6 month) scientific or technical service contracts for measurements, testing, and characterization using laboratory and technology center resources. May include exclusive intellectual property for the contracting company. Offered to enterprises of all sizes.
• Bilateral Research Contracts (Contrats de recherche) Bilateral partnership research contracts spanning student projects (6 months) to CIFRE PhDs (3 years). Projects are co-constructed between the laboratory/CRT/CTI and the enterprise with results relevant to the company's specifications. Eligible for public financing including BPI advances, subsidies, and tax incentives.
• Common Laboratories (LabComs) Long-term (3–4+ years) shared laboratory partnerships between an enterprise and one or more research laboratories, governed by a framework agreement covering governance, technology roadmap, resources, and IP strategy. Thirteen LabComs are active across the network.
• Industrial Chairs (Chaires Industrielles) Long-term co-constructed research programs involving academic and socioeconomic partners, addressing major scientific, technological, or societal challenges. May be eligible for tax incentives and are supported by university foundations.
• CIFRE Industrial PhD Theses (Thèses CIFRE) Industrial research PhD positions subsidized by the French state (ANRT), typically 3-year collaborations funded partly by public subsidy, with the company employing the doctoral researcher. One in three CIFRE theses in France is completed in a Carnot institute.
• Customized Training Programs Customized initial and continuing training programs delivered to enterprises, transferring skills and competencies from the research community to industry.
• Technology Platform Access (70 Platforms) Access to 70 state-of-the-art technology platforms in Grand Est including advanced equipment for materials characterization, digital simulation, micro-nanofabrication, and various testing facilities. Available to industrial R&D partners through service contracts and bilateral research contracts.
• LALCULT® Protect LC1 Biocontrol solution based on Carnobacterium maltaromaticum strains with anti-Listeria monocytogenes properties for food safety applications. Developed at the LIBio laboratory, transferred via SATT Sayens, and commercialized by Lallemand Speciality Cultures under exclusive license.
• GOCAD Geological Modeling Software Underground modeling software originally developed for geological subsurface modeling and visualization within the ICEEL network, successfully commercialized as a standalone software product.
• PAQc Composite Material Innovative composite material developed with CINI using selective laser sintering of aluminum alloy powder and polyamide, offering lightweight, non-porous, pressure-tight properties with superior hardness and wear resistance for sealing, functional parts, and lightweight components. Joint patent filed with Institut Jean Lamour.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 500 research contracts conducted annually between ICEEL researchers and enterprises
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RS2DminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Alsatian company specializing in electronic systems for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), hosted at LEMTA under the CNRS Entreprises en résidence program since 2024. Collaboration on a new MRI imaging platform worth €15,000 over 18 months.
• CNRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) is a founding tutelle of Carnot ICEEL, providing institutional oversight and research personnel. Carnot ICEEL includes CNRS-affiliated laboratories (e.g., LEMTA, LRGP, LCPME) and operates within CNRS programs including the Entreprises en résidence scheme.
• Université de LorrainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité de Lorraine is a primary founding tutelle and host institution for most of the 27 research composantes. The Carnot ICEEL is headquartered on its campus and its research units form the backbone of the institute's scientific output.
• Université de Tecnologia de Troyes (UTT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUTT hosts several research components of Carnot ICEEL including InSyTe, L2N, and LIST3N, contributing expertise in technology-society-environment interactions, nanophotonics, and digital society.
• CentraleSupéleccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCentraleSupélec co-hosts the LMOPS laboratory with Université de Lorraine on the Metz, Saint-Avold, and Thionville sites, contributing expertise in photonics, materials, and photovoltaic systems.
• PRETT (Pôle Régional de Recherche et de Transfert de Technologie)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPRETT serves as a founding tutelle and regional technology transfer pole, supporting the institute's mission to transfer research outcomes to industry in the Grand Est region.
• SATT SayenscoreTechnology or IntegrationSATT Sayens is the Technology Transfer Company (Société d'Accélération du Transfert de Technologie) for the region, managing the maturation and transfer of technologies from research labs to industry. It transferred the LALCULT® Protect LC1 technology to Lallemand.
• Greater Green+minorGTM or Marketing PartnerA European project partnership involving Carnot ICEEL and Umwelt-Campus Birkenfeld, focusing on Li-ion battery recycling, with joint webinars and knowledge-sharing activities.
• Incubateur LorrainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional business incubator that refers startups and early-stage companies to Carnot ICEEL for R&D support and technology access.
• AquanovaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitiveness pole for industrial biotechnology, connecting companies in the bioeconomy sector with Carnot ICEEL research expertise.
• Team2minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitiveness pole for water and environmental technologies, facilitating connections between environmental sector companies and Carnot ICEEL.
• AveniaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitiveness pole for geosciences and subsurface resources, linking companies in the energy and mineral resources sectors with Carnot ICEEL's geoscience research components.
• EIT RawMaterialsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) RawMaterials network partner, connecting Carnot ICEEL to European-level raw materials innovation initiatives.
• Pôle Université d'Innovation lorrain (UNYS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Lorraine University Innovation Pole, in which Carnot ICEEL is an active member, works to make academic research accessible, useful, and actionable for regional innovation.
• Groupe BordetminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustrial partner in the CARBIOLAB joint laboratory with Institut Jean Lamour, focused on developing and industrializing high-tech activated carbons.
• Saint-Gobain RechercheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Canopée LabCom with LEMTA, studying high-temperature, low-carbon industrial processes for glass, insulation, and complex products manufacturing.
• ImerysminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMinerals company partnering with STEVAL (GeoRessources) on pilot lithium extraction from the Beauvoir deposit, advancing France's domestic lithium supply chain.
• 45-8 EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStartup exploring and producing natural helium in Europe in an eco-responsible manner, supported by Carnot ICEEL research expertise.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch publicly-funded applied research organization offering contract research, joint programs, and licensing to industry in energy, materials, and industrial innovation. Functionally the Benelux equivalent of Carnot ICEEL with a similar dedicated business-development layer and SME-friendly engagement structure.
• Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft: Germany's flagship network of 76 applied research institutes conducting contract R&D for industry under a public-funded model — the closest international analog to the French Carnot network in which Carnot ICEEL operates. Fraunhofer institutes run service contracts, bilateral research contracts, and joint labs with industrial partners across similar disciplines (materials, energy, manufacturing).
• SINTEF: Norway's largest contract research organization providing applied R&D across materials, energy, marine, petroleum, and process industries. Comparable scale, public-private funding mix, and SME/major-industry customer mix to Carnot ICEEL.
• IRT Jules Verne: French Institut de Recherche Technologique focused on advanced manufacturing, with similar partnership-research structure and shared laboratory model targeting French industrial majors. Sister public-private applied research entity that competes for the same type of enterprise R&D contracts as Carnot ICEEL.
• IRT Saint Exupéry: French IRT concentrating on aeronautics, space, and embedded systems with major industrial shareholders (Airbus, Safran, Thales). Comparable French public-private applied research structure engaged with aerospace and materials clients similar to those served by Carnot ICEEL's aerospace/welding laboratories.
• Carnot Energies du Futur: Sister Carnot institute focused on energy transition (solar, batteries, hydrogen, grids, building energy). Direct competitor within the same French Carnot funding and enterprise contract pool, with overlapping energy and materials expertise relevant to Carnot ICEEL's energy-transition service line.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish government-owned applied research organization that sells R&D services, licensing, and joint-laboratory programs to enterprise clients across energy, materials, biotech, and industrial processes — directly comparable in mission, funding model (public subsidy + contract revenue), and customer engagement style to Carnot ICEEL.

Regional players

• CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation): Australia's national science agency conducting applied research across energy, materials, mining, and manufacturing with industry partnerships. Functionally analogous to Carnot ICEEL in public-good-plus-commercial R&D posture, but anchored in a different geography and national ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• CEA Tech (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives): French public-research institution with a large industrial R&D arm (LITEN, Liten, CEA Tech) operating technology platforms and partnership research across energy, materials, and digital. A larger incumbent competing for similar French industrial R&D budgets and accounts, with broader scope and deeper pockets than a single Carnot institute.
• Battelle Memorial Institute: US non-profit R&D organization operating national-laboratory-style facilities with deep partnerships across defense, energy, and materials. Comparable in mission (contract research, technology transfer) and breadth of platform infrastructure, although operating at much larger scale and in a different funding environment.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCD0PTVYzVVYBFLFtM62Z44Q/videos
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carnot-iceel
• Instagraminstagram.com/carnot_iceel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries27 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Carnot ICEEL Institute