Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique

What Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique does

Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique (LOA), established in 1961, is a publicly funded atmospheric physics research laboratory operating as Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 8518 under the joint tutelle of CNRS and Université de Lille. Founded by Jacqueline Lenoble, the laboratory is headquartered at the Cité Scientifique campus in Villeneuve d'Ascq, Hauts-de-France, and maintains continuous atmospheric monitoring operations at the Lille site since 1992. The 21-employee organization conducts fundamental research on atmospheric radiation, clouds, aerosols, and trace gases for the scientific research community, climate and air quality policy stakeholders, and satellite mission developers.

LOA's technology stack centers on the ATOLL (Atmospheric Lille Observatory) ground-based platform, which integrates co-located instruments — the LILAS multi-wavelength Raman LIDAR, AERONET-calibrated sun photometers, RPG-HATPRO microwave radiometer, nephelometer, SMPS, sky imager, UV spectroradiometer, and fluxmeters — for continuous atmospheric profiling. The laboratory develops proprietary airborne instruments including the OSIRIS imaging polarimeter (designated prototype for the EUMETSAT-ESA 3MI/EPS-SG mission) and the MAMS mobile aerosol measurement platform, and operates the NAScube geostationary satellite data processing system (SEVIRI/MSG) since 2007. ATOLL received ACTRIS-ERIC European research infrastructure certification on December 8, 2025.

The business model is non-commercial: LOA is funded through CNRS institutional base support, Université de Lille co-tutelle, project grants from ANR, CNES, EUMETSAT/ESA, Labex CaPPA, and EU programs, with no commercial pricing or product revenue. Outputs — peer-reviewed publications, validated atmospheric datasets, instrument prototypes, and algorithm contributions to satellite missions — are distributed through the AERIS/ICARE data center, ACTRIS-ERIC infrastructure, and direct academic collaborations. The laboratory serves a concentrated set of stakeholders: international atmospheric science networks, European research infrastructure consortia (ACTRIS-ERIC), and space agencies (EUMETSAT, ESA, CNES, NASA/AERONET) using LOA-derived ground-validation data and retrieval algorithms.

Name

Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique

Legal name

Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique

Website

https://loa.univ-lille.fr

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Public atmospheric physics research laboratory (UMR 8518) jointly operated by CNRS and Université de Lille, conducting fundamental research on radiation, clouds, aerosols, and trace gases via the ACTRIS-ERIC certified ATOLL observation platform in Villeneuve d'Ascq, France.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Atmospheric Research Services

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (54138), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826)

akta.pro primary industry

Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (Criteria Pollutants & Air Toxics) (EUAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Satellite Imagery & Remote Sensing Geospatial Platforms (BPAMANAM), Environmental Monitoring, Data & Reporting (Air/Water/Soil) (BPAIAMAC)

Keywords

• Atmospheric research
• Aerosol monitoring
• Remote sensing
• Lidar observation
• Climate observation

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeneuve d'Ascq

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: Primary funding from CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research) and Université de Lille as a Mixed Research Unit (UMR 8518). Additional funding through national programs (ANR - French National Research Agency), European research infrastructure programs (ACTRIS-ERIC), and space agencies (CNES, ESA).

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

LOA is a public research laboratory that conducts fundamental atmospheric physics research on radiation, clouds, aerosols, and trace gases through ground-based observation, satellite data analysis, and numerical modeling. The laboratory operates the ATOLL atmospheric observation platform and develops specialized remote sensing instruments (LILAS LIDAR, OSIRIS polarimeter, sun photometers) used for continuous atmospheric monitoring and for supporting satellite missions such as 3MI/EPS-SG.

Product overview

The laboratory operates as a research facility with a comprehensive atmospheric observation infrastructure consisting of ground-based platforms, airborne instruments, and satellite data systems. The core ATOLL platform integrates multiple measurement instruments (LIDAR, sun photometers, spectrometers, fluxmeters, nephelometer, SMPS, microwave radiometer, Sky Imager) for comprehensive atmospheric characterization. Key specialized instruments include LILAS Raman Lidar for aerosol profiling, OSIRIS airborne polarimeter (3MI mission prototype), Calitoo portable sun photometers for field deployment, PLASMA photometers for airborne campaigns, and MAMS mobile measurement system. Satellite data processing via NAScube handles geostationary SEVIRI imagery. The platform is ACTRIS-ERIC certified for aerosol remote sensing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ATOLL Atmospheric Observation Platform Ground-based atmospheric observation platform at Cité Scientifique, Villeneuve d'Ascq, integrating LIDAR, sun photometers, spectrometers, fluxmeters, nephelometers, SMPS, microwave radiometers, and sky imagers for continuous atmospheric monitoring. ACTRIS-ERIC certified for aerosol remote sensing.
• LILAS Multi-wavelength Raman Lidar Multi-wavelength Raman Lidar system measuring aerosol optical properties, depolarization ratios at 355, 532, and 1064 nm, and stratospheric aerosol layers. Used for long-range transport studies and volcanic plume analysis.
• OSIRIS Airborne Imaging Polarimeter Airborne multi-directional, polarized radiometer operating in visible and shortwave infrared spectrum. Serves as prototype for the 3MI/EPS-SG EUMETSAT-ESA mission for cloud and aerosol property retrieval.
• Calitoo Sun Photometer Portable sun photometer for measuring aerosol optical depth, distributed to sailors for atmospheric measurements during maritime expeditions such as the Vendée Globe.
• PLASMA Airborne Photometer Sun photometer developed at LOA, used in airborne campaigns for aerosol column measurements from research aircraft.
• MAMS Mobile Atmospheric Measurement System Mobile observation system for ground-based measurements of aerosol spatial and vertical distribution from the surface near storm clouds sampled by research aircraft. Deployable on vehicles for field campaigns.
• RPG-HATPRO Microwave Radiometer Ground-based microwave radiometer for atmospheric temperature and humidity profiling, measuring Integrated Water Vapor (IWV) and Liquid Water Path (LWP).
• NAScube Satellite Data Processing System Geostationary satellite data processing system receiving MSG/SEVIRI data for atmospheric monitoring from multiple locations (Lille, Dakar, OPAR, OHP) since July 2007.
• AERONET Sun Photometer Station Solar photometry station contributing to the international AERONET network for aerosol optical depth and columnar aerosol properties, with data archived at AERIS data center.
• Sky Imager Cloud Observation System Automated sky camera system for cloud observation and classification, providing real-time sky condition monitoring.

Quantifiable outcome

• ATOLL platform certified by ACTRIS-ERIC as a leading European atmospheric observation platform in December 2025
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• ACTRIS-ERICcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 December 2025European research infrastructure for atmospheric observation. LOA's ATOLL platform received ACTRIS-ERIC certification in December 2025, integrating LOA into Europe's leading atmospheric research network with open data access for international researchers.
• CNRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench National Center for Scientific Research, primary institutional partner and funding source as co-tutelle of UMR 8518. CNRS provides institutional framework and core funding for the laboratory's research activities.
• Université de LillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-tutelle partner in UMR 8518, providing laboratory space, academic framework, and institutional support at the Cité Scientifique campus.
• CNESmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench Space Agency providing funding and collaboration for space-based atmospheric observation missions, including support for satellite validation and instrument development.
• Labex CaPPAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLaboratory of Excellence for atmospheric research providing additional funding and collaborative framework for aerosol and atmospheric chemistry research.
• SAFIRE (Service des Avions Français Instrumentés pour la Recherche en Environnement)majorTechnology or IntegrationFrench research aircraft operator providing Falcon 20 aircraft for atmospheric field campaigns. LOA instruments are regularly deployed on SAFIRE aircraft for airborne atmospheric measurements.
• AERONET (NASA)majorTechnology or IntegrationNASA-led international network of sun photometers for aerosol characterization. LOA operates AERONET stations contributing data to global aerosol monitoring.
• UNESCOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational and scientific organization collaborating on Calitoo photometer deployment for educational outreach during Vendée Globe 2024 sailing race.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research): US federally funded research and development center focused on atmospheric and Earth system science. Comparable to LOA in mission (atmospheric observation, modeling, instrument development), reliance on public funding, and contribution to international networks (e.g., AERONET, NDACC), though at much larger scale.
• Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE): CNRS/CEA/UVSQ joint research unit (UMR 8212) in Gif-sur-Yvette, France, conducting integrated climate and atmospheric research including aerosols, clouds, and trace gases. Directly comparable to LOA in organizational structure (French UMR), research scope (atmospheric physics and climate), and instrument development mission.
• NOAA Earth System Research Laboratories (ESRL): US NOAA laboratories conducting atmospheric research on aerosols, clouds, radiation, and trace gases. Comparable to LOA in mission (atmospheric monitoring, instrument development, satellite calibration/validation) and in operating ground-based observation platforms feeding international networks.
• CNR-ISAC (Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate): Italian National Research Council institute conducting atmospheric research including aerosol and cloud observation, satellite validation, and climate modeling. Comparable to LOA in scope of atmospheric observation, public-research funding model, and contribution to European atmospheric research infrastructure (ACTRIS).
• ETH Zurich Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science (IAC): Swiss ETH institute conducting atmospheric and climate research with strong emphasis on aerosol-cloud interactions and radiative transfer. Comparable to LOA in research topics (aerosols, clouds, radiation), ground-based observation infrastructure, and modeling capabilities.
• NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS): NASA laboratory focused on climate and atmospheric research including aerosol radiative forcing and satellite observation. Comparable to LOA in combining satellite data analysis, atmospheric modeling, and contributions to global aerosol observation networks (NASA AERONET partnership with LOA).
• Max Planck Institute for Meteorology (MPI-M): German research institute studying Earth's climate system including atmospheric composition, clouds, and aerosols through observation and modeling. Comparable to LOA in combining atmospheric measurement infrastructure with climate modeling expertise, and in serving international research networks.
• Forschungszentrum Jülich (IEK-8 Troposphere): German research center institute studying tropospheric aerosols, clouds, and trace gases using LIDAR, radar, and in-situ instrumentation. Comparable to LOA in operating ground-based atmospheric remote sensing platforms (LIDAR, photometers) feeding ACTRIS-ERIC and similar European networks.
• DLR Institute for Atmospheric Physics: German Aerospace Center (DLR) institute conducting atmospheric research including LIDAR remote sensing, satellite validation, and aerosol/cloud characterization. Comparable to LOA in combining ground-based remote sensing (LIDAR), airborne campaigns, and satellite mission support.

Regional players

• NIES (National Institute for Environmental Studies, Japan): Japanese national institute conducting atmospheric and environmental research including aerosol and air quality monitoring. Comparable to LOA in operating atmospheric observation networks (e.g., sky radiometer network) and contributing to global aerosol datasets, though primarily serving the East Asian region.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCLoa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/laboratoire-optique-atmospherique

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

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 Laboratoire d'Optique Atmosphérique