IBMM Green Chem

What IBMM Green Chem does

IBMM Green Chem is the Green Chemistry and Enabling Technologies research group at the Institut des Biomol\u00e9cules Max Mousseron (IBMM), a public research institute jointly governed by CNRS and the University of Montpellier and housed in the Balard building on the CNRS Montpellier campus (1919 route de Mende, France). Founded in 2011 under Research Director Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Lamaty, the group develops sustainable, solvent-minimized synthesis methods for organic molecules, organometallics, amino acids, peptides, and materials, operating four complementary enabling-technology platforms: mechanochemistry/ball-milling (Retsch MM400/MM200 vibratory mills, Fritsch Pulverisette 7 and Retsch PM100 planetary mills), continuous flow chemistry (Flowsyn Uniqsis reactor), microwave-assisted synthesis (Biotage Initiator+), and reactive extrusion (Xplore twin-screw micro-extruder, used for solvent-free peptide and amide synthesis including the APIs teriflunomide and moclobemide), supported by an automated Biotage Isolera purification system. Applications span medicinal chemistry, catalysis, and environmental depollution, with the group producing 100+ peer-reviewed publications since 2011 in venues including Nature, JACS, Angew. Chem., Green Chem., Chem. Rev., and RSC Mechanochem.

The group's primary customers are academic and scientific peers; its deliverables are open-access publications, conference presentations, trained doctoral researchers, and methodological know-how rather than commercial products. The business model is non-commercial public research funding: the group is financed through CNRS institutional support, ANR grants (currently funding PhD cohorts for Adrien Gallego, Mohamad Zawawi, and Gayathiri Gnanalingam), LabEx CheMISyst, and University of Montpellier affiliation, with no commercial revenue stream, no pricing model, and no private equity or venture ownership. Go-to-market is community-led, executed through peer-reviewed publications, conference organization (notably Mech'cheM 2025 hosted in Montpellier and FICS 2025), collaborative PhD training with ENSCM and CNAM, and knowledge transfer to pharmaceutical and industrial partners via collaborative research projects. The current team comprises three permanent staff (Lamaty, Bantreil, P\u00e9try), five PhD students, and three M2 interns in 2025-2026.

Name

IBMM Green Chem

Legal name

Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), CNRS

Website

https://greenchem.cnrs.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IBMM Green Chem is a public CNRS/University of Montpellier research group developing solvent-free and sustainable synthesis methods using mechanochemistry, continuous flow, microwave, and reactive extrusion technologies for the academic chemistry community.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Green Chemistry Research Services

NAICS

Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (32541), Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing (3254)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

CMC & Pharmaceutical Development (Formulation/Process/Analytical Development) (HLAIALAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

GMP Scale-Up, Tech Transfer & Process Validation (PPQ) (HLAGAHAL)

Keywords

• Green chemistry research
• Mechanochemistry synthesis
• Solvent-free chemistry
• Continuous flow chemistry
• Sustainable organic synthesis

Headquarters

HQ city

Montpellier

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Funded by French national research bodies (CNRS, ANR), university grants, and institutional support. No commercial revenue generation.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

IBMM Green Chem is a public research group that develops and applies green and sustainable chemistry methods based on enabling technologies — mechanochemistry (ball-milling), continuous flow chemistry, microwave-assisted synthesis, and reactive extrusion — to prepare organic molecules, organometallics, peptides, amino acids, and materials under solvent-free or alternative-solvent conditions. Its research outputs span medicinal chemistry, catalysis, and environmental depollution, with knowledge disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations rather than commercial product sales.

Product overview

Green Chemistry and Enabling Technologies (IBMM Green Chem) is a research group within the Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM) at CNRS Montpellier, dedicated to developing sustainable chemistry through innovative enabling technologies. The group offers research services centered on four core technological platforms: mechanochemistry (solvent-free ball-milling synthesis), continuous flow chemistry, microwave-assisted synthesis, and reactive extrusion. These complementary approaches enable the efficient and eco-responsible preparation of organic molecules, organometallics, materials, amino acids, and peptides without or with minimal use of organic solvents. The synthesized molecules find applications in medicinal chemistry, catalysis, and depollution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Mechanochemistry Research Services Research services using solvent-free ball-milling synthesis (Retsch MM400, MM200 vibratory and Fritsch Pulverisette 7, Retsch PM100 planetary ball-mills) for the preparation of organic molecules, organometallics, amino acids, peptides, heterocycles, and materials. Offered to academic and industry partners seeking eco-responsible synthesis routes.
• Continuous Flow Chemistry Research Services Continuous synthesis research services using a Flowsyn Uniqsis continuous flow reactor enabling controlled, scalable chemical transformations under continuous-flow conditions for sustainable chemical preparation.
• Microwave-Assisted Synthesis Research Services Research services using a Biotage Initiator+ microwave reactor for rapid, energy-efficient heating of chemical reactions, supporting sustainable organic-molecule preparation.
• Reactive Extrusion Research Services Research services using an Xplore twin-screw micro-extruder enabling continuous solvent-free synthesis, including peptide synthesis, amidation reactions, and synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients such as teriflunomide, moclobemide, and aspartame.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100+ peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals (2011–2026), including Nature-indexed venues
• +1 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

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM)coreOthersThe Green Chemistry and Enabling Technologies team is an integral part of the Department of Amino acids, Peptides and Proteins of the Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), headed by Prof. Pascal Dumy. IBMM is a research institute within the University of Montpellier/CNRS ecosystem.
• CNRScoreOthersThe group operates within the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) framework, France's national research agency, providing institutional affiliation, funding, and infrastructure support.
• University of MontpelliercoreOthersThe group is affiliated with the University of Montpellier through IBMM, with Xavier Bantreil holding a professorship position at UMR/IUT de Montpellier – Sète.
• ENSCM (Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Montpellier)minorOthersCollaborative student exchanges and internship hosting with ENSCM. Multiple students from ENSCM have conducted internships at the group.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hovione: Portuguese CDMO with publicly documented mechanochemistry programs for API manufacturing and a strong sustainability/green-chemistry positioning. Closest commercial analogue to IBMM Green Chem's research-to-API workflow.
• Codexis: Public US company (NASDAQ: CDXS) selling sustainable, biocatalytic process technology for small-molecule API manufacturing. Comparable in offering sustainable chemistry platforms to pharma, though via enzymes rather than mechanochemistry.
• Novasep: European CDMO with a dedicated process-chemistry and green-chemistry offering for API and intermediate manufacturing. Comparable in providing customized, sustainable synthesis services to pharma customers.

Broad incumbents

• BASF: Global chemical incumbent with large-scale green-chemistry programs and process R&D. Relevant as a potential licensee/partner for solvent-free process IP and as a benchmark for industrial adoption of mechanochemistry.
• Johnson Matthey: UK specialty chemicals and catalysis company with pharma services and significant investment in sustainable chemistry. Comparable as an incumbent pursuing green-chemistry routes for pharma and fine chemicals.
• Catalent: Large US CDMO with broad pharma process-development capabilities. Comparable only as a broad incumbent in process chemistry and peptide services; not specialized in green chemistry.
• Lonza: Global CDMO with a substantial small-molecule API and peptide manufacturing franchise. Relevant for the peptide/reactive-extrusion work; competes as a potential licensing or acquisition counterparty rather than a process equivalent.
• Cambrex: US small-molecule API CDMO (taken private by Permira in 2019). Overlaps in offering process chemistry and custom synthesis but at commercial scale rather than academic research depth.

Emerging players

• Resodyn Corporation: US company commercializing resonant acoustic mechanochemistry (RAM) technology for materials and pharmaceutical synthesis. Closest direct emerging peer in industrial mechanochemistry commercialization.

Others

• Hosokawa Alpine: Manufacturer of advanced mechanochemistry and fine-Impact milling equipment (including the Alpine brand used in mechanochemistry research). Adjacent enabler — not a competing chemistry provider but an upstream equipment partner.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibmm-green-chem

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 IBMM Green Chem