IPHC - Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien - CNRS

What IPHC - Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien - CNRS does

IPHC (Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien, UMR7178) is a French public research laboratory jointly supervised by CNRS and the Université de Strasbourg, located on the Cronenbourg campus (23 rue du loess, Strasbourg). Founded around 2006 and directed by Sandrine Courtin, it organises multi-disciplinary research around three departments — Ecology, Physiology and Ethology (DEPE), Subatomic Research (DRS), and Analytical Sciences (DSA) — bound together by a common instrumentation and engineering backbone. Its core technology portfolio spans 10+ platforms: C4PI for monolithic CMOS pixel sensors (PXL/STAR, ALPIDE/ALICE, PLUME/BELLE2 and the 2020-launched R&D line for A4-sized curved sensors); CYRCÉ, the only 25 MeV cyclotron of its kind in Europe for radioisotope production (18F, 64Cu, 89Zr) and radiobiology; PSGE (ISO 9001-certified proteomics) and ProFI, the FR2048 CNRS/CEA national proteomics federation; PAI inorganic analysis; RaMsEs radiation measurements; SCIGNE cloud computing linked to France Grilles and EGI; M2IS isotopic spectrometry; MIBE bio-loggers and animatronics; plus technical services STE (40+ electronics engineers), STI (17 IT specialists), STM (12 mechanical engineers), SMA, SCR (radiation protection under ASN authorisation), EIA (accelerator instrumentation) and CERF (wildlife research). IPHC is structurally embedded in CERN (ALICE, CMS), BELLE II (Japan), KM3NeT (Mediterranean, target 6,000+ DOMs), JUNO (China, MAROC 3 50 kHz acquisition chain), VIRGO/EGO and ESSnuSB, and participates in ELIXIR, IBiSA, CORTECS and IN2P3 networks. Revenue is non-commercial: funding flows from CNRS core allocation, university co-funding, ANR/PIA grants, European H2020/Horizon programmes, FEDER, and collaborative research agreements with academic and industrial partners; no public commercial pricing exists. The primary customer base is academic and public research institutions, with industrial partners in pharma, biotech, medical imaging and nuclear energy as a secondary segment.

Name

IPHC - Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien - CNRS

Legal name

Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien

Website

https://iphc.cnrs.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IPHC (UMR7178) is a French public research laboratory under CNRS and Université de Strasbourg conducting multi-disciplinary research in ecology/ethology, subatomic physics, and analytical sciences via specialised platforms and engineering services, embedded in CERN, BELLE II, KM3NeT and JUNO collaborations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Scientific Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (541690)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)

akta.pro primary industry

IAEA Safeguards Implementation & Verification Support (inspections, declarations, reporting) (EUAKAJAE)

Keywords

• Scientific research platforms
• Particle physics research
• Proteomics analytical services
• CMOS sensor development
• Radioisotope production

Headquarters

HQ city

Strasbourg

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, Supply Chain

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

IPHC is a public joint research unit (UMR7178) under CNRS and Université de Strasbourg that delivers multidisciplinary scientific research and access to specialized technical platforms across ecology/physiology/ethology, subatomic physics, and analytical sciences. Its offerings consist of more than ten research platforms and engineering services — including a 25 MeV cyclotron, CMOS pixel sensor development, proteomics, inorganic analysis, radiation measurements, scientific cloud computing, and technical services in electronics, mechanics, IT, and radiation protection — made available to academic and industrial collaborators through research agreements and service contracts.

Product overview

IPHC is a joint research unit (UMR7178) under CNRS and University of Strasbourg, not a commercial product company. Its offerings consist of specialized scientific research platforms and technical services. The portfolio includes: (1) Research Platforms - C4PI (CMOS pixel sensors), CYRCé (25 MeV cyclotron for radioisotope production and molecular imaging), PSGE (proteomics), ProFI (national proteomics infrastructure), PAI (inorganic analysis), RaMsEs (radiation measurements), SCIGNE (cloud computing), M2IS (isotopic spectrometry), MIBE (environmental biology instrumentation), CERF (wildlife research); (2) Technical Services - STE (electronics), STM (mechanical), SMA (measurement/acquisition), SCR (radiation protection), STI (IT), EIA (accelerator instrumentation). These platforms and services support multidisciplinary research in ecology, physiology, ethology, subatomic physics, and analytical sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• C4PI – Centre de compétences de capteurs CMOS à pixels intégrés Competence center developing monolithic CMOS pixel sensors from specification through validation and construction, including the PXL sensor for STAR, PLUME ultralight double-sided module for BELLE2, ALPIDE sensor for ALICE ITS2, and R&D on giant curved A4-size sensors for future e+e- colliders. Open to academic and industrial collaborations worldwide.
• CYRCé – Cyclotron pour la recherche et l'enseignement Platform featuring a 25 MeV cyclotron with unique characteristics in Europe for production of radioisotopes (18F, 64Cu, 89Zr, 68Ga, 67Cu) for nuclear imaging and labeled molecules for diagnosis and medical treatment. Coupled to PRECy experimental radiobiology line and PET/CT X imaging system, plus a CMS sensor test line. IBiSA-labeled platform.
• PSGE – Plateforme protéomique Strasbourg Grand Est Proteomics platform offering protein identification and quantification in complex biological samples, with expertise in shotgun proteomics, bioinformatics, de novo sequencing, identification of multiprotein complex partners, characterization of therapeutic proteins, and study of non-covalent interactions by mass spectrometry. ISO 9001 and NFX-50-900 certified; IBiSA and CORTECS labeled.

Quantifiable outcome

• First CMOS pixel sensor ever equipped on a particle detector (PXL for STAR experiment, USA)
• +4 more outcomes

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature10 records

Partnerships

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

• IN2P3 (Institut National de Physique Nucléaire et de Physique des Particules)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIN2P3 is a major CNRS institute that labels and supports several IPHC platforms including C4PI, CYRCé, and SCIGNE. IPHC teams participate in IN2P3-coordinated major projects including SPIRAL2, and the institute receives IN2P3 support for beam diagnostics and accelerator instrumentation. The RaMsEs platform participates in the IN2P3 Becquerel network for radioecological monitoring.
• CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPHC is deeply integrated in multiple CERN experiments: ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment), CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid), and participates in CERN-based R&D programs. C4PI plays a prominent role in the international project to create giant curved CMOS sensors at CERN for future e+e- colliders. The STM service contributes to the CMS trajectograph refurbishment project at CERN.
• ProFI (Infrastructure nationale de protémique, FR2048 CNRS/CEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProFI is a national research infrastructure organized as a CNRS and CEA federation (FR2048) comprising three sites (Grenoble, Toulouse, Strasbourg). IPHC hosts the Strasbourg site and contributes to national and international proteomics research coordination, including the Human Proteome Project and ELIXIR.
• CORTECS (Université de Strasbourg platform network)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORTECS labels multiple IPHC platforms: CYRCé, SCIGNE, M2IS, and PAI. This network of platforms of the University of Strasbourg facilitates regional access and collaboration for IPHC's technical services and scientific platforms with academic and industrial users.
• IBiSA (Infrastructures Biologiques en Sciences du Vivant)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CYRCé imaging platform and PSGE proteomics platform carry the IBiSA label, recognizing their high-quality biological services and making them accessible to the broader national and international scientific community for advanced research.
• BELLE II CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIPHC hosts the BELLE II coordination at the laboratory and contributes to the international Belle II experiment analyzing leptonic collisions to study flavor changes between quarks and discover new physics processes. Isabelle Ripp-Baudot serves as CNRS coordinator for the BELLE II team. SCIGNE platform is involved in BELLE II scientific collaborations.
• JUNO Collaboration (Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe STE (Electronic Technical Service) developed a complete acquisition chain from Front End to 64-channel system based on MAROC 3 circuit for the international JUNO collaboration. The team doubled the chip frequency to achieve maximum acquisition rate of 50kHz.
• KM3NeT CollaborationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SMA team participates in the production of DOMs (Digital Optical Modules) for KM3NeT, the European neutrino observatory deploying underwater telescopes in the Mediterranean Sea. The project aims to deploy more than 6,000 DOMs across several cubic kilometers of water.
• ELIXIRmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProFI participates in ELIXIR, the European research infrastructure for life science data, contributing to France's visibility in the global proteomic scientific community. ProFI is also involved in the French Bioinformatics Institute (IFB) network.
• VIRGO/EGO (gravitational wave interferometer)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe STM (Mechanical Technical Service) contributes to the project for evolution of calibration means of the VIRGO gravitational wave interferometer operated by EGO (European Gravitational Observatory).
• SPIRAL2 ( Système de Production d'Ions Radioactifs Accélérés en Ligne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe EIA (Accelerator Instrumentation Team) participated in the startup of SPIRAL2, for which it completely produced six emittance-meters controlled under EPICS, as well as command and control systems for various beam diagnostics.
• ESSnuSB+ (European Spallation Source neutrino Super Beam)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Neutrino group at IPHC dedicates its research to neutrino oscillations by participating in the ESSnuSB(+) experiment, contributing to the understanding of neutrino physics at the European Spallation Source.
• France GrillessupportingTechnology or IntegrationSCIGNE platform collaborates nationally with the France Grilles research infrastructure for providing computing resources and grid services, extending IPHC's data processing capabilities.
• EGI (European Grid Infrastructure)supportingTechnology or IntegrationSCIGNE platform is involved internationally in EGI, providing interoperable and distributed computing resources and contributing to European research infrastructure for big data processing.
• Université de StrasbourgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-tutelle partner with CNRS for IPHC (UMR7178). The university provides institutional support, access to campus facilities, and co-funding for research programs. Multiple joint initiatives including the CORTECS platform network and InfoProx regional project.
• ASN (Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire)coreOthersThe SCR (Competent Service in Radiation Protection) operates under ASN regulatory authorization for particle accelerators, X-ray generators, sealed and unsealed radioactive sources, and their distribution in France, EU, and internationally.
• Canceropôle Grand EstmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPSGE proteomics platform is integrated into the Canceropôle Grand Est network, providing proteomics services and expertise to cancer research initiatives in the Grand Est region of France.
• EGO (European Gravitational Observatory)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with EGO for the VIRGO gravitational wave interferometer project, with STM contributing to calibration system evolution.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• DESY (Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron): German national particle physics and photon science laboratory with comparable CMOS sensor R&D, accelerator instrumentation, and large-international-collaboration involvement, making it one of IPHC's closest European institutional peers.
• INFN (Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare): Italian national institute for nuclear and particle physics with similar organizational model (distributed research units, technical services, international experiment participation), directly comparable to IPHC's structure.
• European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL): Intergovernmental research organization with comparable proteomics infrastructure, certified platforms, and life-sciences instrumentation, making it a natural peer to IPHC's ProFI/PSGE analytical sciences portfolio.
• Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics: German research institute focused on nuclear and particle physics with overlapping instrumentation capabilities (detector development, accelerator-based experiments) similar to IPHC's DRS activities.
• Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL): French-based international research center for neutron science, comparable to IPHC in operating large-scale instrumentation for scientific users, multidisciplinary research services, and platform-based access model.
• GSI Helmholtz Centre for Heavy Ion Research: Germany's heavy ion and nuclear physics research center, comparable to IPHC in subatomic physics instrumentation, accelerator diagnostics, and international detector collaboration participation.
• Laboratoire de Physique des 2 Infinis Irène Joliot-Curie (IJCLab): CNRS/IN2P3 joint research unit with overlapping scope in nuclear and particle physics, instrumentation, and platform services, making it one of IPHC's closest French institutional peers under the same parent organizations.
• CEA Saclay: CEA's fundamental research division in Saclay runs major nuclear physics, particle physics, and instrumentation programs (e.g., IRFU/DSM) that closely parallel IPHC's DRS subatomic physics department and accelerator instrumentation work (EIA).

Broad incumbents

• CERN: The European particle physics laboratory to which IPHC contributes key sensors and electronics; broader scope but the dominant incumbent in IPHC's core particle physics domain and the principal customer/driver for several IPHC platforms.
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin (HZB): German research center operating large-scale photon and neutron user facilities; comparable to IPHC in the platform/access model for external scientific users and instrumentation development for accelerator-based experiments.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iphc_strasbourg
• Facebookfacebook.com/IPHCStrasbourg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-pluridisciplinaire-hubert-curien---cnrs

Compliance5 records

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 IPHC - Institut Pluridisciplinaire Hubert Curien - CNRS