Institut des Molécules et des Matériaux du Mans - UMR CNRS 6283

What Institut des Molécules et des Matériaux du Mans - UMR CNRS 6283 does

Institut des Molécules et des Matériaux du Mans (IMMM - UMR CNRS 6283) is a French public research laboratory jointly operated by CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) and Le Mans Université, headquartered at Avenue Olivier Messiaen, 72085 Le Mans Cedex 9, France. Founded in 2012 and employing 49 staff alongside 50+ doctoral students, IMMM is organized around six thematic research areas — COMMeT (organic chemistry, modeling, methodology, total synthesis), SYMPA (advanced polymer systems from design to recyclability), eMC² (soft matter and crystallized compounds), COFI (crystallochemistry of oxides and fluorides), PUMMA (ultrafast physics and spectroscopy of magnetic, ferroic, and topological materials), and PIANO (multi-scale analysis of complex and biological objects) — supported by 13 technical platforms spanning femtosecond laser spectroscopy (integrated into the national LUMA ULTRAFAST hub), NMR, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, mass spectrometry, vibrational spectroscopy, and unique HF/F2 fluorination lines co-funded through ANR FLUOBAT.

The laboratory operates under a non-commercial, publicly funded revenue model: core operating capital flows from CNRS and Le Mans Université as joint UMR parents, with competitive project funding from ANR, Région Pays de la Loire, Département de la Sarthe, and the European Union (notably Horizon 2020 GHaNA). Contract research is conducted with a named roster of industrial partners including Michelin, Rhodia, Total, L'Oréal, Goodyear, Danone, Cray Valley, Eliokem, and Brothier, particularly through Jean-François Tassin's polymer research program. Talent is sourced and trained through the ED3M doctoral school (Ecole Doctorale Matières, Molécules et Matériaux), supplemented by international seminar programs and the MT180 science communication competition. Technology transfer occurs via the CNRS RISE startup program, exemplified by the internationally patented DIVA laboratory manipulation device developed by Frédéric Legros and now deployed in multiple French universities.

IMMM's market position rests on its combination of cross-disciplinary research scope, unique instrumentation, and the institutional credibility of its CNRS affiliation. The laboratory is led by Director Philippe Daniel with Deputy Directors Véronique Montembault and Christophe Legein. Its competitive positioning is reinforced by an active patent portfolio (DIVA, chiral phosphine ligands, C-glycosides, polyfunctional compounds), recent recognitions (Emergence@INC 2026, CNRS environmental transition initiative 2025, Fondation Grand Ouest 'accompagnement' prize 2026, MT180 regional finalists 2026), and international seminar collaborations with institutions including the Universities of Warwick, Nottingham, Pau, and Jena, plus UNESCO/UNISA.

Name

Institut des Molécules et des Matériaux du Mans - UMR CNRS 6283

Legal name

Institut des Molécules et Matériaux du Mans

Website

https://immm.univ-lemans.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IMMM (UMR CNRS 6283) is a French public research laboratory jointly operated by CNRS and Le Mans Université, conducting molecular and materials science across six themes and 13 platforms, serving academic, industrial, and doctoral-training stakeholders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Research Laboratory Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYHLAGADAJ

Elemental Impurities & Trace Metals (ICP-MS)

Healthcare & Life Sciences/Life Science Tools & Services (CRO/CDMO/Lab Services)/Laboratory Testing & Analytical Services

Keywords

• Molecular chemistry research
• Materials science research
• Polymer science research
• Analytical characterization services
• Doctoral research training

Headquarters

HQ city

Le Mans

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: As a UMR CNRS (Unité Mixte de Recherche), the laboratory receives core funding from CNRS and Le Mans Université. Additional competitive funding comes from national agencies (ANR - Agence Nationale de la Recherche), regional authorities (Pays de la Loire, Sarthe department), and European funding programs.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IMMM is a public research laboratory (UMR CNRS 6283) jointly operated by CNRS and Le Mans Université, conducting multidisciplinary molecular and materials science research across six thematic areas: organic chemistry (COMMeT), advanced polymers (SYMPA), soft matter (eMC²), crystallochemistry (COFI), ultrafast physics of materials (PUMMA), and multi-scale analysis of complex objects (PIANO). It operates 13 advanced technical platforms (femtosecond laser, NMR, electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, fluorination lines, etc.) and delivers collaborative contract research, analytical services, doctoral training via the ED3M school, and technology transfer to industrial partners.

Product overview

IMMM is a CNRS research laboratory (UMR 6283) affiliated with Le Mans Université, operating as a multi-platform research institute rather than a commercial product company. The institute provides access to approximately 14 analytical and experimental platforms including laser femtosecond spectroscopy, NMR (liquid and solid-state), mass spectrometry, electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scientific computing, and fluorination facilities. Research is organized into 6 thematic areas spanning organic chemistry, advanced polymers, soft matter, crystallochemistry, ultrafast physics, and multi-scale analysis. The institute also offers doctoral education through the ED3M doctoral school. IMMM serves both internal researchers and external collaborators from public institutions and private companies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ED3M Doctoral School Training PhD program in Materials, Molecules and Materials offered through the ED3M doctoral school, providing doctoral candidates with research training across IMMM's six thematic areas. Delivered jointly with Le Mans Université and the Bretagne-Loire doctoral college.
• Collaborative Contract Research Bilateral R&D contract research service for industrial partners (including Michelin, Rhodia, Total, L'Oréal, Goodyear, Danone, Cray Valley, Eliokem, and Brothier) covering polymer properties, rheology, nanocomposites, functional materials, and materials development.
• Analytical Platform Access Services External access to 13 advanced scientific platforms including femtosecond laser spectroscopy, NMR (liquid and solid-state), electron microscopy, mass spectrometry, X-ray diffraction, vibrational spectroscopy, dielectric relaxation spectroscopy, size exclusion chromatography, fluorination lines, thin films, soft matter, plasma, and scientific computing — available to external academic laboratories and private companies under public-private collaboration agreements.
• Technology Transfer and Licensing (DIVA System) Commercialization of laboratory-developed devices such as the internationally patented DIVA (Double-rampe Inox Vide Argon) system for chemical manipulations without air or water, deployed in several French universities and supported by the CNRS RISE startup program.

Quantifiable outcome

• Water consumption reduced by approximately 75% in 12 months through closed-circuit cooling systems, with a 2-year return on investment
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 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

Feature4 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs a UMR CNRS 6283 joint research unit, IMMM operates under CNRS institutional governance. CNRS provides core funding, institutional legitimacy, and national research network access. Directors are appointed in coordination with CNRS. The laboratory's research output, patents, and technology transfer activities are managed through CNRS frameworks including the RISE startup support program.
• Le Mans UniversitécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs the host university for the UMR, Le Mans Université provides facilities (Faculty of Sciences & Techniques), administrative support, and joint supervision of researchers and doctoral students. The university co-finances environmental transition initiatives and equipment purchases alongside CNRS and regional authorities.
• ANR (Agence Nationale de la Recherche)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerANR provides competitive project-based funding for IMMM research. The fluorination lines were co-financed by ANR FLUOBAT project alongside Le Mans Université and CNRS. ANR funding supports collaborative public research across all six IMMM thematic areas.
• Région Pays de la LoiremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional council providing co-funding for laboratory equipment, regional research programs, and doctoral training. Partners with IMMM on regional CPER (Contrat de Plan État-Région) materials programs. Jean-François Tassin coordinated CPER Matériaux in the region (2007-2013).
• Département de la SartheminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sarthe department is listed as a partner of IMMM, providing regional support alongside Le Mans Université, CNRS, and regional council.
• Collège Doctoral - Pays de la LoiremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe doctoral college covering Pays de la Loire region organizes the MT180 (Ma Thèse en 180 Secondes) regional competition in which IMMM doctoral candidates participate. The college provides a YouTube streaming platform for the regional finals.
• LUMA ULTRAFAST Infrastructure HubcoreTechnology or IntegrationThe IMMM femtosecond laser platform is part of the LUMA ULTRAFAST hub infrastructure, a national-level research infrastructure providing coordinated access to ultrafast laser facilities. Access requests are managed through the PEPR (Programmes et Équipements Prioritaires de Recherche) website.
• Université de Warwick (Prof. Dave Haddleton)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration through visiting seminars and joint research activities. Prof. Dave Haddleton (Warwick) delivered seminars at IMMM on 3D printing for drug delivery. Previous collaborations involved Sagrario Pascual's postdoc at Warwick and Pascal Ruello's research network.
• Université de Nottingham (Dr. Matt Clark)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational seminar collaboration. Dr. Matt Clark delivered seminars at IMMM on super-resolution optical imaging using acoustic waves and spatial resolved acoustic spectroscopy (SRAS/SRAS++).
• Université de Pau (Prof. Oleg Borisov)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational seminar collaboration on polymer brushes as structural motifs of advanced biomimetic materials.
• Université de Jena (Prof. Felix Schacher)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational seminar collaboration on photoswitches, photoacids, and light-driven catalysis in polymer materials.
• UNESCO / Université d'Afrique du Sud UNISA (Prof. Malik Maaza)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Malik Maaza, holder of the UNESCO Chair in Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies, delivered a seminar at IMMM on bio-inspired CO2 conversion to multi-functional nanoscaled carbonates.
• Université de Warwick (Prof. Dave Haddleton)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSeminar delivered at IMMM in April 2025 on 3D printing for drug release and transdermal drug delivery of testosterone for post/peri-menopausal women.
• European Union Horizon 2020 (GHaNA Project)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPamela Pasetto participated in the GHaNA project (The Genus Haslea, New marine resources for blue biotechnology and Aquaculture), funded by the EU Horizon 2020 research program (Grant Agreement No. 734708/H2020-MSCA-RISE-2016). WP3 Leader. Collaboration with international partners on marine biotechnology.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Institut Néel: CNRS UPR 2940 in Grenoble, conducting fundamental research in condensed matter physics including magnetism, superconductivity, and quantum materials. Directly comparable to IMMM's research on magnetic, ferroic, and topological materials.
• Institut de Chimie Moléculaire et des Matériaux d'Orsay (ICMMO): CNRS UMR 8182 at Université Paris-Saclay with near-identical name and scope spanning molecular chemistry and materials science. It is the most directly comparable French public research lab to IMMM, operating at similar scale across organic synthesis, polymer science, and inorganic materials.
• Institut Lumière Matière (iLM): CNRS UMR 5306 at Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, focused on light-matter interactions, ultrafast spectroscopy, and materials physics. Directly comparable to IMMM's PUMMA thematic on ultrafast physics of magnetic, ferroic, and topological materials.
• Institut de Chimie des Milieux et Matériaux de Poitiers (IC2MP): CNRS UMR 7285 at Université de Poitiers, covering chemistry of environments and materials including catalysis, organic chemistry, and process engineering. Comparable to IMMM in materials chemistry and analytical platform services.
• Centre d'Élaboration de Matériaux et d'Études Structurales (CEMES): CNRS UPR 8011 in Toulouse, focused on materials elaboration and structural studies using electron microscopy and atom-probe tomography. Comparable to IMMM's electron microscopy platform and crystallochemistry thematic area.
• Institut de Physique et Chimie des Matériaux de Strasbourg (IPCMS): CNRS UMR 7504 at Université de Strasbourg, focused on physics and chemistry of materials including nanomaterials, surfaces, and condensed matter. Comparable to IMMM's COFI crystallochemistry and PUMMA ultrafast materials physics themes.
• Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg (ICS): CNRS UMR 7177 at Université de Strasbourg, conducting research in molecular and supramolecular chemistry, catalysis, and analytical chemistry. Directly comparable as a CNRS chemistry institute with similar research scope and platform-based operations.
• Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes (ISCR): CNRS UMR 6226 at Université de Rennes, conducting research in molecular chemistry, materials chemistry, and chemical engineering. Directly comparable as a CNRS chemistry institute with similar thematic breadth and platform-based research model.

Broad incumbents

• European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF): International X-ray characterization facility in Grenoble operating as the European reference synchrotron. Comparable to IMMM's X-ray diffraction and reflectivity platform capabilities, but at much larger scale serving thousands of external users annually.
• SOLEIL Synchrotron: French national synchrotron facility in Saclay providing advanced X-ray and UV analytical capabilities to academic and industrial users. Comparable to IMMM's X-ray and analytical platform offerings as a broader national-scale resource.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/immm-umr6283

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institut des Molécules et des Matériaux du Mans - UMR CNRS 6283