Institut Lumière Matière

What Institut Lumière Matière does

Institut Lumière Matière (iLM) is a public research laboratory (UMR 5306) jointly operated by CNRS and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, headquartered at Campus LyonTech - La Doua in Villeurbanne, France. The institute conducts fundamental and applied research in light-matter interaction physics across six thematic areas: Advanced Materials and Optics, Complex Matter and Out-of-Equilibrium Systems, Nanosciences, Optics/Dilute Media/Ultrafast Processes, Theory and Modeling, and Living Systems/Health/Environment. It organizes this work through 14 specialized research teams supported by a centralized technology platform (ILMTECH) offering synthesis, characterization, and modeling services to both internal researchers and external partners.

iLM operates a community-led go-to-market typical of public research units: talent is recruited via open PhD, postdoctoral, and internship postings (160 interns per year, 80 PhD/Postdocs maintained within a 300-member headcount); scientific output is disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, international conferences, and the HAL open archive (3,551 total publications, ~250 per year); and industry engagement is routed through ILMTECH sub-platforms and at least one active LabCom (Laboratoire Commun) partnership. The lab files approximately 6 patents per year as a technology transfer output.

iLM does not generate commercial revenue. Funding flows from institutional CNRS and UCBL budgets, competitive research grants (ANR, European), industrial contracts routed through ILMTECH, and the LabCom structure. Director Philippe Dugourd leads a governance team of three deputy directors (Christophe Dujardin for valorization/innovation, Brigitte Prevel for HR/communication, Loic Vanel for science/infrastructure) and a head of administration and finance (Sakina Regnier).

Name

Institut Lumière Matière

Legal name

Institut Lumière Matière

Website

https://ilm.univ-lyon1.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Institut Lumière Matière (iLM, UMR 5306) is a CNRS / Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 public research laboratory in Villeurbanne, France, employing 300 scientists across 14 teams to conduct fundamental and applied research in light-matter physics, nanosciences, and photonics, while training PhD students and interns and transferring technology through ILMTECH.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Research Laboratory - Light-Matter Physics

NAICS

Research and Development in Nanotechnology (541713), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Research and Development in Biotechnology (except Nanobiotechnology) (541714)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA), Public Research Universities with National Laboratories/Big Science Facilities (EDAHAAAJ)

Keywords

• Photonics research
• Nanoscience laboratory
• Light-matter interaction
• Condensed matter physics
• Biophysics research

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeurbanne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: As a joint research unit (UMR 5306) of CNRS and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, iLM receives institutional public funding for research operations, equipment, and personnel. Additional revenue comes from competitive research grants (ANR, European funding, industrial contracts) and technology transfer activities through ILMTECH and LabCom partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Institut Lumière Matière is a public research laboratory (UMR5306, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1) that conducts fundamental and applied research in light-matter interaction physics, covering photonics, nanosciences, condensed matter, biophysics, and ultrafast optics. It provides experimental research capabilities via the ILMTECH platform (synthesis, characterization, modeling) and delivers technology transfer to industry through LabCom partnerships and contract research. The institute also trains researchers through PhD programs and internships.

Product overview

Institut Lumière Matière (iLM) is a research laboratory (UMR5306, CNRS/Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1) that does not offer commercial products or services. It conducts fundamental and applied research across six main thematic areas: Advanced Materials and Optics, Complex Matter and Out-of-Equilibrium Systems, Nanosciences, Optics/Dilute Media/Ultrafast Processes, Theory and Modeling, and Living Systems/Health/Environment. The institute manages approximately 15 research teams and platforms including FemtoNanoOptics, Luminescence, Nanostructures and Field Emission Physics, Biomolecule and Cluster Spectrometry, and Optical Spectroscopy of Glass and Nanoparticle Materials. Annual output includes around 250 publications and 6 patents per year. The institution also operates ILMTECH/INNOVATION as its technology transfer structure and supports training through internships (160 interns/year) and doctoral programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ILMTECH: Technology transfer and innovation platform of Institut Lumière Matière focusing on practical applications and industry partnerships

Products and services

• ILMTECH Technology Platform

Quantifiable outcome

• 250 publications per year deposited in HAL open archive
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriLM is a joint research unit (UMR 5306) jointly operated by CNRS and Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1. CNRS is the primary institutional partner, providing significant funding, administrative framework, and research infrastructure support. The partnership is the foundational institutional arrangement under which the laboratory operates.
• Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1coreStrategic or Co-development PartneriLM is a joint research unit (UMR 5306) jointly operated by Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 and CNRS. The university provides the campus facilities (Campus LyonTech - La Doua), academic framework, and co-funding for the laboratory's operations. The Director and administrative staff are university-affiliated.
• ILMTECHcoreTechnology or IntegrationILMTECH is the institute's own innovation and technology transfer platform, comprising sub-platforms for synthesis, characterization, modeling, and industry partnerships. It serves both internal researchers and external academic and industrial partners, functioning as a technology transfer bridge.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Laboratoire Aimé Cotton (CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay): French UMR focused on light-matter interactions, quantum optics, and atomic/molecular physics. Directly comparable as a CNRS-affiliated lab specializing in photonics and spectroscopy research.
• Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (C2N, CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay): CNRS UMR focused on nanosciences, nanotechnologies, and photonics. Directly comparable as a major French public research lab operating at the intersection of optics and nanoscience.
• Laboratoire Photonique Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N, CNRS/Université de Bordeaux): CNRS joint research unit combining photonics and nanosciences. Directly comparable to iLM in research scope, scale, and the integration of optics with nanotechnology research teams.
• Institut Néel (CNRS Grenoble): CNRS institute in Grenoble covering condensed matter physics, nanosciences, and cryogenics. Closely comparable to iLM in thematic scope, French public laboratory structure, and technology transfer orientation.
• Laboratoire Charles Coulomb (CNRS/Université de Montpellier): French CNRS UMR covering condensed matter physics, soft matter, and nanosciences. Comparable as a publicly funded physics research laboratory with similar team structure and publication output.
• Laboratoire de Physique des Solides (LPS, CNRS/Université Paris-Saclay): French CNRS joint research unit (UMR 8502) focused on condensed matter physics and nanosciences. Directly comparable as a public research laboratory of similar scale operating in overlapping light-matter/nanoscience themes.

Regional players

• Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (MPQ): German Max Planck Institute focused on quantum optics, laser physics, and light-matter interactions. Comparable as a top-tier European public photonics research institution with similar research themes but based in a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA): Large French public research organization with major programs in photonics, nanosciences, and materials. Comparable as a much larger incumbent operating in the same light-matter/photonics domain with broader scope and significantly more resources.
• European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF): Large multinational research facility based in Grenoble using synchrotron light for materials and life-science research. Comparable as a major European public research infrastructure supporting photonics and materials characterization research.
• ETH Zürich (Department of Physics): Swiss public university with significant photonics, condensed matter, and quantum research programs. Comparable as a larger international academic research institution working in light-matter physics.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-lumiere-matiere

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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