Laboratoire GEPEA

What Laboratoire GEPEA does

Laboratoire GEPEA (GEnie des Procédés Environnement - Agroalimentaire) is a French public research laboratory organized as UMR CNRS 6144, jointly operated by CNRS, Université de Nantes, ONIRIS, and IMT Atlantique. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Nantes with additional sites in Saint-Nazaire and La Roche-sur-Yon, the laboratory conducts process engineering research across five scientific teams: BAM (microalgae bioprocesses), MAPS2 (food matrices), TEAM (air/water treatment), OSE (energy optimization), and VERTE (residue valorization). It operates a portfolio of four research platforms (AlgoSolis, FLAVOR, PREVER, SafeAIR) and three technical plateaus (BAKING, EASI, MARS), plus two formal joint laboratories with industry (LabCom MIXILAB with VMI, LabCom RIMAE with TRONICO).

The laboratory's technology stack spans photobioreactor development for photosynthetic microorganisms, isostatic high-pressure processing (7000 atm) for food texturing, GC-olfactometry with patented WheelOscent/InnOscent systems for flavor analysis, reactive extrusion for alginate extraction from Laminaria digitata, and non-invasive imaging/spectroscopy for rapid analytical methods. Headcount stands at approximately 220 researchers, engineers, technicians, and doctoral students.

GEPEA's revenue model is funded through three streams: public research grants (CPER projects, ANR, FEDER, Région Pays de la Loire, ADEME), industrial research contracts (CIFRE doctoral theses, LabCom joint laboratories, technology transfer), and European research programs (H2020/ProFuture). Notable industrial partners include Brioche Pasquier, AlgoSource Technologies, Denis & fils, VMI, and TRONICO. As a non-commercial public research unit, GEPEA does not pursue equity financing, IPO, or M&A activity; its growth is driven by grant cycles and academic-industrial collaboration rather than commercial revenue.

Name

Laboratoire GEPEA

Legal name

Laboratoire GEPEA

Website

https://gepea.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Laboratoire GEPEA is a French public research laboratory (UMR CNRS 6144) jointly operated by CNRS, Université de Nantes, ONIRIS, and IMT Atlantique, conducting process engineering research in bioprocesses, environment, food, and energy for industrial and academic partners across five teams and seven research platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Process Engineering Research Services

NAICS

Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714), Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Environmental Consulting Services (54162)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYAFABAEAM

Biological Formulation, Fermentation & Scale-Up Manufacturing

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Biologicals & Biopesticides (Microbials, Botanicals, Beneficial Insects)

SECONDARYEUAAAHAK

Biofuel Plant EPC, O&M & Process Technology Providers

Energy, Utilities & Environment/Bioenergy, Natural Gas & Biomass/Biofuels Production (Ethanol, Biodiesel, Renewable Diesel, SAF)

SECONDARYBPALAEAC

Anaerobic Digestion (AD) & Biogas/RNG Production (Organics Feedstocks)

Business & Public Services/Waste Management & Remediation Services/Organics & Composting Services (Food Waste, Yard Waste, Anaerobic Digestion)

SECONDARYAFABAEAN

Biologicals Distribution & Field Application Services

Agriculture & Food Production/Agricultural Inputs & Agrochemicals/Biologicals & Biopesticides (Microbials, Botanicals, Beneficial Insects)

Keywords

• Process engineering research
• Bioprocess development
• Microalgae biorefining
• Environmental process technologies
• Agrifood process research

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Government-funded research through CNRS, universities (Université de Nantes, IMT Atlantique, ONIRIS), and regional authorities. Main funding sources include CPER projects, ANR grants, and European funding (FEDER).
2. Industrial Research Contracts: Collaborative research contracts with private companies including CIFRE doctoral theses, LabCom joint laboratories (MIXILAB, RIMAE), and technology transfer partnerships.
3. EU Research Programs: European research funding including H2020 projects (ProFuture), European regional development funds (FEDER), and Erasmus programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Laboratoire GEPEA is a public research laboratory that conducts process engineering research applied to environment, energy, agrifood, and marine sectors. The laboratory provides collaborative R&D services, technology transfer, and access to specialized research platforms (AlgoSolis, FLAVOR, PREVER, SafeAIR) for industrial partners, along with doctoral training programs. It operates five scientific teams and manages joint laboratories with industry to develop sustainable bioprocesses, eco-technologies, and food processing solutions.

Product overview

Laboratoire GEPEA is a French research laboratory (UMR CNRS 6144) affiliated with Université de Nantes, IMT Atlantique, ONIRIS, and CNRS, focused on Process Engineering applied to bioresources and ecotechnologies. The laboratory operates five scientific teams (BAM, MAPS2, TEAM, OSE, VERTE) that develop and manage a portfolio of specialized research platforms: AlgoSolis for microalgae bioprocessing, FLAVOR for sensory/flavor research, PREVER for energy recovery from residues, SafeAIR for air treatment, BAKING for cereal processing, EASI for materials characterization, MARS for rapid analytical methods, and joint laboratories MIXI-LAB and RIMAE. These platforms provide research, innovation, and analytical services to industrial partners across environmental, food, and energy sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• AlgoSolis: Public research, development and innovation platform dedicated to microalgae valorization, located in Saint-Nazaire. Inaugurated June 25, 2015, UMS 3722.
• FLAVOR
• PREVER
• SafeAIR
• BAKING
• EASI
• MARS
• MIXI-LAB
• RIMAE

Products and services

• AlgoSolis Research Platform Public research platform for microalgae exploitation, providing infrastructure for controlled, intensified, sustainable, and large-scale microalgae production. Serves as a bridge between fundamental research and industrial applications for industrial partners in nutrition, cosmetics, energy, and green chemistry sectors.
• FLAVOR Research Platform Research and innovation platform for understanding food flavor perception and the link between chemical stimuli and consumer sensory response, featuring analytical chemistry and sensory evaluation capabilities with patented tools.
• PREVER Research Platform Platform for research and development of technologies for energy recovery from residues, including conversion to biofuels and combustible gases, combined with carbon co-product valorization.
• SafeAIR Research Platform Laboratory facilities for air toxic treatment, enabling development and testing of air treatment prototypes for chemical pollutants, toxic compounds, particulate pollution including nanoparticles, and microbial aerosols.
• BAKING Technical Platform Research platform for cereal product processing, covering mixing, shaping, fermentation, expansion, cooking, cooling, and freezing processes, with focus on reformulation and product-process interactions.
• EASI Technical Platform Multidisciplinary technical platform providing product and process characterization services using numerical intelligence, including characterization, polymer processing, instrumentation, and prototype development.
• MARS Technical Platform Technical platform for rapid analytical methods in food and environment sectors, featuring non-invasive imaging and spectroscopy approaches with capabilities for industrial development.
• MIXI-LAB Joint Laboratory Joint laboratory (LabCom) with VMI for optimization and scaling of continuous and batch mixing equipment using scientific approaches around physical models, enabling technology transfer for industrial mixing applications.
• RIMAE Joint Laboratory Joint laboratory (LabCom) with TRONICO for environmental measurement research and industrialization, developing hybrid systems for acquiring information from living organisms for toxicity characterization and water resource management through bacterial biosensors.

Named customers5 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AlgoSource TechnologiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018CIFRE doctoral research partnerships for microalgae bioraffining, functional protein extraction, and Spirulina processing. Multiple joint PhD projects including Hugo Mear on protein extraction for human food.
• VMIcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015LabCom MIXILAB joint laboratory for optimization and scaling of continuous mixing equipment. Collaboration built from European PLEASURE project on salt, sugar, and fat reduction in cereal products. Research focuses on physical models for equipment scaling using similarity invariants.
• TRONICOcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015LabCom RIMAE (Recherche et industrialisation de mesures appliquées à l'environnement) developing hybrid systems for biological information acquisition through bacterial biosensors for pollutant detection in water resources. ANR funded at EUR 300k for 3 years.
• Denis & filsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on developing 100% vegetable-based candles, replacing petroleum-derived paraffin with renewable plant-based materials.
• Brioche PasquierminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaborative project (BRICE) studying fragility of dry cereal products, with research conducted at the company's biscuit manufacturing site.
• CNRScoreOthersCore institutional partner - UMR CNRS 6144 joint research unit with Université de Nantes, ONIRIS, and IMT Atlantique.
• Université de NantescoreOthersMain university partner, providing research facilities and academic framework for the laboratory.
• IMT AtlantiquecoreOthersPartner engineering school providing research and teaching personnel and facilities in Nantes.
• ONIRIScoreOthersPartner veterinary, food science and engineering school providing research facilities and teaching personnel.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• IFREMER: French public institute for marine research with strong microalgae, bioprocess, and marine biomass programs — directly comparable to GEPEA's BAM team and AlgoSolis platform on microalgae valorization and marine resource exploitation.
• INRAE: France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment operates the largest public agrifood/bioprocess research portfolio; highly comparable as a multi-site, multi-platform, multi-team applied research organization serving industry through collaborative contracts and joint labs.
• Wageningen Food & Biobased Research: Applied research arm of Wageningen University covering bioprocess engineering, food technology, and biobased products; very close analogue to GEPEA in mission, structure, and industry-engaged contract research model.
• Fraunhofer IGB: German applied research institute focused on interfacial engineering and biotechnology, with bioprocess, environmental, and food technology portfolios — directly comparable to GEPEA's microalgae, bioenergy, and air/water treatment platforms.
• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Public contract research organization operating in bioprocesses, food, and bioeconomy; structurally analogous to GEPEA in combining public funding with industry contracts and joint labs.

Broad incumbents

• CEA: France's major public research commission covering energy, biotechnology, and environment — provides a national-scale peer view of how large French public labs operate multi-platform industrial partnerships.
• TNO: Dutch applied research organization with food, energy, and environmental programs; comparable as a publicly-funded applied research entity offering contract R&D to industry.
• Fraunhofer Institute (overall): Germany's largest applied research organization with institutes covering food, bioprocess, energy, and environment — provides a broader umbrella analogue to GEPEA's multi-platform operating model.
• CSIC: Spain's largest public research institution with broad bioprocess and food/environment coverage — comparable as a European publicly-funded multi-disciplinary research counterpart.

Regional players

• CSIRO: Australia's national science agency operating in food, bioprocess, and energy — a geographically distant but structurally analogous public applied-research organization serving industry through contract R&D.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gepea-cnrs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Laboratoire GEPEA