CERAG

What CERAG does

CERAG (Centre Européen de Recherches et d'Applications Géologiques) is a privately held French geological and environmental engineering consultancy founded in 1990 and headquartered in Martillac, within the Bordeaux Montesquieu Technopole. The firm delivers specialized professional services across five core areas: geological and hydrogeological studies, wetland identification and delineation, regulatory dossier preparation under French environmental law (Loi sur l'Eau, Environmental Authorization), Sites et Sols Pollués diagnostics compliant with AFNOR NF X 31-620-2, and project owner assistance (AMO) including EcoQuartier labeling support. Underlying technical capabilities include permeability testing, piezometer installation and monitoring, pumping test interpretation, groundwater table fluctuation analysis, soil and water sampling, and fauna/flora inventories — all conducted through on-site field investigations by a multidisciplinary team of engineers, hydrogeologists, and environmental scientists.

The firm's primary client segments are private land developers (aménageurs), local government bodies (collectivités territoriales), industrial operators, and individual property owners undertaking construction or land development projects in the Grand Sud Ouest (Nouvelle Aquitaine, Occitanie) with occasional projects in Île-de-France. Named clients include SNCF Immobilier, TEREGA, PITCH IMMO, Clinique Mutualiste Pessac, Château Haut-Bailly, and CPIE Médoc. CERAG operates on a project-based professional services model with custom-quoted engagements, no SaaS or subscription pricing, and billable consulting fees per mandate. The firm has held dual OPQIBI qualification (0612 and 1005) since 2018 and is signatory of the Ministry of Ecological Transition's environmental commitment charter, both of which are prerequisites for eligibility in many public and regulated private procurements.

Since January 2022, CERAG has been managed by Perrine Lartigue (Gérante) and Marie-Lou de Almeida, who together lead a 28-person organization. The firm is an active member of three industry bodies — ARIA, Fédération CINOV, and SOLTENA — and operates within a partnership network of ecological, geotechnical, and landscape specialists (SIMETHIS, ECOSPHERE, RIVIERE ENVIRONNEMENT, GEOFONDATION, SOLENVIE, LAURA HILS) for multidisciplinary project delivery. The company has no institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no public listing; it is an independent, regionally anchored professional services practice.

Name

CERAG

Legal name

CENTRE EUROPEEN DE RECHERCHES ET D'APPLICATIONS GEOLOGIQUES

Website

https://cerag.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CERAG is a privately held French geological and environmental engineering consultancy founded in 1990, based in Martillac (Bordeaux), providing hydrogeological studies, wetland delineation, regulatory dossier preparation, and contaminated-site diagnostics to private developers, local governments, and industrial operators across the Grand Sud Ouest.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services (5413)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Geotechnical & Subsurface Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction Environmental Management Plans (CEMP) & Permit Compliance Support (EUAHAAAF), Waste & Hazardous Materials Management (incl. HazMat) (BPAHAJAK)

Keywords

• Environmental engineering consulting
• Hydrogeological studies
• Geological site investigations
• Wetland delineation services
• Regulatory dossier preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

Martillac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Professional Consulting Services: CERAG generates revenue through billable professional consulting engagements in hydrogeology, geology, and environmental engineering. Services are project-based and scoped to client needs (feasibility studies, regulatory dossiers, site diagnostics, environmental monitoring). Revenue is earned as one-time professional service fees per engagement, with ongoing relationships maintained through successive project mandates with the same clients (developers, government bodies, industrial operators). No recurring SaaS or subscription model is described.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CERAG is a French geological and environmental engineering consultancy that performs on-site subsurface investigations, hydrogeological studies, wetland delineation, contaminated soils diagnostics, and prepares regulatory dossiers (Loi sur l'Eau, Environmental Authorization, AFNOR NF X 31-620-2 SSP studies) for land development, infrastructure, and environmental projects. The firm delivers project-based professional services via a multidisciplinary team of environmental engineers, hydrogeologists, geologists, ecologists, and environmental lawyers, primarily serving private developers, local government bodies, and industrial operators across the Grand Sud Ouest of France.

Product overview

CERAG (Centre Européen de Recherches et d'Applications Géologiques) is a geological and environmental engineering consultancy offering a comprehensive portfolio of specialized services. The firm operates as a unified consultancy practice rather than a software product platform, providing integrated services across five core areas: Geological and Hydrogeological Studies, Wetland Studies and Delineation, Regulatory Dossiers, Sites and Polluted Soils Diagnostics, and Project Owner Assistance (AMO). These core services are supported by specialized sub-services including stormwater management, permeability testing, groundwater table fluctuation studies, pumping test interpretation, piezometer installation, water and soil sampling, fauna/flora inventories, environmental site monitoring, wetland compensation, and compensatory wetland management plans. The company primarily serves developers and local authorities across Nouvelle-Aquitaine and western France.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Geological and Hydrogeological Studies Specialized geological and hydrogeological studies including soil studies, permeability testing, aquifer characterization, groundwater table fluctuation analysis, pumping tests, and piezometer installation. Delivered for developers, local governments, and industrial operators to support construction permits and land development projects in Nouvelle Aquitaine.
• Wetland Studies and Delineation Wetland identification, delimitation, and management using pedological (GEPPA 2008) and botanical (Arrêté du 24 juin 2008) dual criteria, with compensation parcel eligibility assessment and compensatory wetland management plans under the MNEFZH national method.
• Regulatory Dossiers Preparation of regulatory files including Environmental Impact Studies, Water Law dossiers (Loi sur l'Eau), Environmental Authorization applications, Defrichement (deforestation) permits, case-by-case examinations, environmental assessments, and drinking water protection zone incidence dossiers under the French Code de l'environnement.
• Sites and Polluted Soils (SSP) Diagnostics Sites et Sols Pollués diagnostics compliant with AFNOR NF X 31-620-2, including historical studies (INFOS), diagnostic investigations (DIAG), management plans (PG), environmental interpretation (IEM), monitoring (SUIVI), and verification — covering contaminated site characterization for developers and public clients.
• Project Owner Assistance (AMO) Assistance to project owners including feasibility studies, EcoQuartier labeling dossiers, ADEME files, environmental site monitoring, Environmental Urbanism Approach (AEU) support, and environmental monitoring related to protected species and wetlands for sustainable urban development projects.
• Stormwater Management Studies Studies for stormwater treatment including permeability evaluation, infiltration capacity assessment, stormwater volume calculations, and design of compensatory management solutions adapted to development projects in the Bordeaux and Aquitaine region.
• Water Sampling and Analysis Groundwater sample collection using submersible and surface pumps with flow rate adaptation, partnered with laboratories for chemical analysis including concrete aggressiveness testing and pumping water rejection analysis for land development projects.
• Fauna/Flora and Habitat Inventories Summary inventories of fauna, flora, and associated habitats present on project sites and surrounding areas, including naturalist surveys and SIG-based reporting and mapping for environmental impact assessments.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 100 completed project references and hundreds of additional studies documented across Nouvelle Aquitaine and national territory
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 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

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SIMETHIScoreTechnology or IntegrationBureau d'Etudes en Ecologie (ecological consulting firm) based in Nouvelle Aquitaine. CERAG works in partnership with SIMETHIS for ecological components of environmental studies, particularly for photovoltaic park projects and other developments requiring specialized ecological surveys (fauna, flora, habitats).
• LAURA HILSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLandscape architect (paysagiste) operating in Nouvelle Aquitaine. LAURA HILS collaborates with CERAG on urban development and environmental projects where integrated landscape and environmental expertise is required, such as ecoquartier labeling and public space design.
• SOLTENAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRéseau Entreprises Engagées Nouvelle Aquitaine (Network of Committed Enterprises in Nouvelle Aquitaine). CERAG is an active member of SOLTENA, which brings together businesses committed to sustainable development and corporate social responsibility in the region, providing networking and visibility within the regional business community.
• ARIA (Association Régionale de l'Ingénierie d'Aquitaine)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional association of engineering consulting firms in Aquitaine (now Nouvelle Aquitaine). CERAG is a member of ARIA, which provides industry representation, professional networking, and advocacy for the regional engineering consulting sector, helping position CERAG within the professional community of environmental and geotechnical consulting firms.
• Fédération CINOVcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerNational federation representing professional engineering, consultancy, and architecture firms in France. CERAG's membership in CINOV provides access to industry resources, professional standards, training, and representation at national level for small and medium engineering consultancy practices.
• OPQIBIcoreTechnology or IntegrationOrganisme de Qualification de l'Ingénierie (French qualification body for engineering consulting). CERAG has held OPQIBI qualifications 0612 and 1005 since 2018, certifying its professional competence in environmental project evaluation and hydrogeological studies respectively. This qualification is essential for eligibility in many public and regulated private sector contracts.
• COMPAGNIE FIDUCIAIREminorOthersAccounting and financial management firm (expert comptable) providing CERAG's bookkeeping, accounting, and financial management services. Supports the firm in financial operations and compliance.
• JALISminorOthersDigital agency based in Marseille (160 rue Albert Einstein, 13013 Marseille) providing website development and hosting services for CERAG's online presence (www.cerag.fr). Listed as the site's webmaster and host in legal notices.
• Communauté de Communes de Montesquieu Sud Gironde (CCM)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerIntermunicipal community of Montesquieu Sud Gironde. CERAG is locally established within this community's territory and collaborates on environmental projects for the region's development, benefiting from geographic proximity and local government relationships.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Antea Group: Antea Group (part of Royal HaskoningDHV) provides environmental consulting including hydrogeology, contaminated site management, and regulatory permitting. It overlaps directly with CERAG's service portfolio, typically at larger project scale.
• Burgeap: Burgeap is one of France's leading hydrogeology and environmental engineering consultancies, now part of Egis Group. It directly competes with CERAG on hydrogeological studies, Sites et Sols Pollués diagnostics, and Loi sur l'Eau dossiers for developers and public clients nationwide.
• Ginger Group: Ginger is a French environmental and geotechnical engineering consultancy offering hydrogeology, soil studies, and polluted sites diagnostics. It competes with CERAG across France on regulatory dossiers and environmental studies for land development.

Regional players

• Tauw France: Tauw is a Dutch environmental consultancy with French operations providing site investigation, remediation, and water management services. It competes with CERAG on contaminated site diagnostics and hydrogeology, primarily serving larger national and European clients.
• Synapse Développement: Synapse Développement is a French environmental consultancy focused on wetland studies and ecological engineering. It overlaps with CERAG's wetland delineation and MNEFZH compensation work, serving primarily public and developer clients in western France.

Broad incumbents

• Apave: Apave is a major French compliance, inspection, and environmental services group. Its environment and geotechnical subsidiaries offer hydrogeological and regulatory services that overlap with CERAG, although its core business centers on TIC and certification.
• Artelia: Artelia is a large multispecialist engineering consultancy active in water, environment, and infrastructure. Its environment division delivers hydrogeological and EIA services comparable to CERAG but as part of a much broader engineering portfolio and at larger scale.
• Socotec: Socotec is a leading French TIC player with significant environmental, geotechnical, and contaminated site assessment services. It competes with CERAG on SSP diagnostics and soil studies while serving a broader client base across multiple service lines.
• Safege (NIRAS): Safege (now part of NIRAS following the Suez Consulting transition) is a French engineering consultancy specializing in water, environment, and infrastructure. It provides hydrogeological and regulatory studies comparable to CERAG as part of a broader engineering portfolio.

Emerging players

• Geolia (ex-Eau et Industrie): Geolia and similar mid-sized French geotechnical firms operate in the same regional market as CERAG, providing permeability testing, soil studies, and groundwater investigations for individual building permits and small developer projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cerag

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 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 CERAG