CROMA ("UMR 5130": CNRS, Grenoble-INP, UGA, USMB)

What CROMA ("UMR 5130": CNRS, Grenoble-INP, UGA, USMB) does

CROMA (Centre de Radiofréquences, Optique et Micro-nanoélectronique des Alpes) is a French public research laboratory operating as a Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR 5130) jointly governed by CNRS, Grenoble INP/UGA, and Université Savoie Mont Blanc. The lab employs approximately 110 researchers, faculty, and staff across two geographic sites — Grenoble (Minatec campus) and Le Bourget du Lac — roughly 70km apart in the French Alps. Its research spans micro and nano electronics, microphotonics, micro and nano systems, and microwaves and optomicrowaves, organized into three complementary teams: CMNE (CMOS and alternative technologies, nanostructures, integrated nanosystems, simulation and modeling, superconducting electronics), DHREAMS (radiofrequency devices for sustainable electronics, connected devices, sensors, and life-sciences/environmental applications), and PHOTO (integrated photonics on glass, THz materials and device characterization, optoelectronics). The PLATERA technological and characterization platform supports all three teams.

CROMA does not operate a commercial business. Its funding flows from CNRS, Grenoble INP/UGA, and USMB institutional budgets, supplemented by competitive research grants from French and European agencies (notably the September 2024 DESIRE4EU project for greener PCB technology and circular electronics). Research outputs are disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, thesis defenses, scientific seminars, conferences, and industry technology-transfer collaborations with partners including G2Elab, DRIVE (Grenoble INP), CERAG, and UCLouvain (Belgium). The lab recruits researchers through job postings for postdocs and teacher-researcher positions. Previous revenues are not publicly disclosed for this type of UMR entity; valuation, M&A, and investor signals are not applicable.

Name

CROMA ("UMR 5130": CNRS, Grenoble-INP, UGA, USMB)

Legal name

Centre de Radiofréquences, Optique et Micro-nanoélectronique des Alpes

Website

https://croma.grenoble-inp.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CROMA is a French public research laboratory (UMR 5130) jointly operated by CNRS, Grenoble INP/UGA, and Université Savoie Mont Blanc, with approximately 110 researchers across Grenoble and Chambéry, specializing in micro/nano electronics, microphotonics, micro and nano systems, and terahertz technologies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grenoble, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

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. Research Funding: CROMA operates as a public research laboratory (UMR 5130) funded through government research grants, institutional funding from CNRS, Grenoble-INP, UGA, and USMB, and competitive research project funding from European and national agencies. Revenue comes from research contracts, project-based funding, and institutional support.
2. Valorization and Technology Transfer: Research valorization activities including technology transfer, collaborative research with industry partners, and innovation initiatives such as the DESIRE4EU project for circular electronics

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

CROMA is a public academic research laboratory (UMR 5130) that conducts fundamental and applied research in micro and nano electronics, microphotonics, micro and nano systems, microwaves and optomicrowaves. Its work is organized around three research teams (CMNE, DHREAMS, PHOTO) and the PLATERA technological characterization platform, with research funded through institutional grants and collaborative projects with industry and European partners.

Product overview

CROMA is a research laboratory (Unité Mixte de Recherche UMR 5130) jointly operated by CNRS, Grenoble INP/UGA, and Université Savoie Mont Blanc. It is not a commercial product company but rather an academic research institution focused on micro and nano electronics, microphotonics, micro and nano systems, and microwaves/optomicrowaves. The laboratory operates through three main research teams: CMNE (Micro Nano Electronic Components), DHREAMS (Radiofrequency Devices for Sustainable Electronics), and PHOTO (Photonics, THz and Optoelectronics), supported by the PLATERA technological platform. CROMA does not offer commercial products or services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CMNE Research Team (Composants Micro Nano Electroniques) Research team focused on micro and nano electronic components, including ultimate CMOS technologies, alternative technologies, nanostructures and integrated nanosystems, simulation and modeling, and superconducting electronics, for academic and industry collaborators.
• DHREAMS Research Team (Radiofrequency Devices for Sustainable Electronics) Research team focused on hyperfrequency devices for sustainable electronics and complex media applications, including connected devices, sensors, and applications to microelectronics, life sciences, and the environment.
• PHOTO Research Team (Photonics, Terahertz and Optoelectronics) Research team focused on integrated photonics on glass, characterization of THz materials and devices, and optoelectronics research, for academic and industry collaborators.
• PLATERA Technological Platform Technological and characterization platform providing advanced equipment and capabilities for research in micro-nano technologies, available to internal research teams and academic/industry collaborators.

Quantifiable outcome

• DESIRE4EU project launched September 2024 for greener PCB technology with CROMA and G2Elab designing modified Arduino boards for enhanced material circularity

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

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

• G2ElabmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024G2Elab (Génie électrique laboratory) collaborates with CROMA on the DESIRE4EU project for greener electronics, working together on designing modified Arduino boards to enhance material circularity at end of life.
• DRIVE (Grenoble INP)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024DRIVE at Grenoble INP supports the DESIRE4EU project by aging Arduino boards prematurely and conducting tests as part of the circular electronics research collaboration with CROMA and G2Elab.
• CERAGsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024CERAG (Centre de Recherche Appliquée à la Gestion) collaborates on the DESIRE4EU project to analyze the circularity of the value chain and life cycle of modified Arduino boards designed by CROMA and G2Elab.
• Université Catholique de Louvain (UCLouvain), BelgiumsupportingStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2024UCLouvain in Belgium analyzes the circularity of the value chain and life cycle of electronics as part of the DESIRE4EU European project collaboration with CROMA.
• CNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS is a co-tutelle partner of CROMA as part of UMR 5130, providing institutional support and research framework for the laboratory's activities in micro/nano electronics and photonics.
• Grenoble INP / UGA (Université Grenoble Alpes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGrenoble INP is a co-tutelle partner and primary host institution for CROMA, providing research infrastructure at the Minatec campus and academic oversight through UGA.
• Université Savoie Mont Blanc (USMB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUSMB is a co-tutelle partner providing the Chambéry site (Le Bourget du Lac) for CROMA's second location, enabling regional research collaboration.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IMEC: Belgium-based global leader in nanoelectronics and semiconductor R&D. Directly comparable as a European public/private research center operating at the same node and material boundaries (advanced CMOS, photonics, THz) with deep industry sponsorship.
• CSEM: Swiss applied research center in micro/nanoelectronics, photonics, and systems engineering. Comparable to CROMA as a publicly funded European RTO serving industrial clients with similar device-level and characterization capabilities.
• CEA-Leti: France's leading applied research institute in microelectronics, nanoelectronics, photonics, and sensors, also hosted in Grenoble. Directly comparable to CROMA in technology scope (CMOS, photonics, RF/THz) and institutional positioning as a French public RTO serving industrial partners.
• Tyndall National Institute: Ireland's ICT and microelectronics research center working on semiconductors, photonics, and micro/nano systems. Comparable to CROMA in scale (~hundreds of researchers), mission mix of fundamental research plus industry collaboration, and European public funding model.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state-owned applied research organization with strong microelectronics, photonics, and quantum/THz programs. Comparable to CROMA in funding structure (state plus competitive grants), technology scope, and industry-partner model.
• IHP – Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics: German research institute focusing on silicon-based high-performance microelectronics, including RF/THz and photonic components. Closely comparable to CROMA's CMNE and PHOTO teams in silicon CMOS and THz device research.
• Fraunhofer Group for Microelectronics: German applied-research network covering microelectronics, photonic systems, and microsystems. Comparable to CROMA in mission (contract R&D for industry), technology areas (CMOS, RF, photonics), and European public-funding dependency.

Others

• Soitec: French semiconductor materials company headquartered in the Grenoble ecosystem (Bernin, near Minatec). Not a research lab but a key industrial neighbor and potential downstream user of CROMA's micro/nanoelectronics research, making it thematically adjacent rather than directly comparable.

Broad incumbents

• EPFL (École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne): Swiss federal technical university with significant microelectronics, photonics, and micro/nano systems research. Comparable to CROMA in research domains, but at a much broader institutional scale covering engineering, basic sciences, and life sciences.
• MINATEC: French micro- and nanotechnologies innovation campus that physically hosts CROMA. Comparable as a broader ecosystem player in the same Grenoble location, but operates at the campus/platform level rather than as a single research unit.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/imep-lahc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about CROMA ("UMR 5130": CNRS, Grenoble-INP, UGA, USMB)