LRCS - Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides

What LRCS - Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides does

LRCS (Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides), UMR 7314, is a French public research laboratory jointly operated by the CNRS and the Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV), headquartered in Amiens, France. Founded in 1968 by Prof. Michel Figlarz and reorganised as a mixed research unit in 2000, the lab pivoted decisively toward materials for energy storage and conversion in 1994 with the arrival of Prof. Jean-Marie Tarascon and today operates as a single 72-person research team whose work spans Li-ion, Na-ion and all-solid-state batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen storage materials, photovoltaic devices, and organic electrode systems. The lab combines materials synthesis, advanced characterisation (X-ray and neutron diffraction, electron microscopy, in-situ/operando techniques) with multiscale computational modelling — DFT calculations, molecular dynamics, machine-learning surrogate models and digital twins — and is the originating coordinator of two major European/French battery networks: ALISTORE (since 2004) and RS2E (since 2013).

The lab's principal commercial-adjacent outputs are research platforms and coordination instruments rather than products. The ERC-funded ARTISTIC project (2018–2023, with PoC extension SMARTISTIC) and its Online Calculator deliver digital-twin and AI/ML surrogate modeling for Li-ion battery electrode manufacturing; the i-MESC international Master's (Erasmus+, 2023–2029, evolved from the 20-year MESC programme) and the DESTINY Marie Curie COFUND (50 PhDs across Europe) are training and talent-pipeline instruments. Technology transfer to industry flows through the RS2E pre-transfer prototyping platform at the lab, industrial memberships in RS2E/ALISTORE, and spin-offs — notably TIAMAT (Na-ion batteries, CTO Mathieu Morcrette since 2022) and Aikemics (AI/digital-solutions for battery manufacturing, co-founded 2025 by Prof. Alejandro A. Franco).

LRCS does not sell commercial products or services. Revenue is programmatic and grant-based: CNRS and UPJV block funding, ANR project grants, European Commission framework programme grants (H2020 and Horizon Europe), PIA4/France 2030 funding (PEPR Batteries and Excellence programmes), Labex funding for RS2E, and industrial membership contributions to the RS2E and ALISTORE networks. Industrial partners named in the lab's portfolio include UMICORE, ACC, Verkor, AESC and TIAMAT, with direct PhD-sponsorship arrangements (e.g., UMICORE-funded argyrodite research) embedded inside the DESTINY framework. There is no traditional sales motion; go-to-market is community-led academic dissemination supplemented by technology-transfer contracts through the coordinated networks.

Name

LRCS - Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides

Legal name

Laboratoire de Réactivité et Chimie des Solides

Website

https://lrcs.u-picardie.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LRCS (UMR 7314 CNRS-UPJV) is a 72-person French public research laboratory in Amiens coordinating the ALISTORE and RS2E battery networks, conducting materials research and AI/multiscale modeling for lithium-ion, sodium-ion and all-solid-state batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen storage and photovoltaic devices, and operating the DESTINY doctoral programme and i-MESC international Master's.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amiens

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 CNRS-University joint research unit (UMR 7314), LRCS is primarily funded through French public research mechanisms: CNRS block funding, Université de Picardie Jules Verne (UPJV) institutional funding, ANR (French National Research Agency) project grants, European Commission framework program grants (H2020, Horizon Europe), PIA4/France 2030 funding for PEPR programs, and industrial membership contributions to the RS2E and ALISTORE networks.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LRCS is a public research laboratory (UMR 7314 CNRS-UPJV) conducting fundamental and applied research on materials for energy storage and conversion, including Li-ion, Na-ion and solid-state batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and photovoltaic devices. It operates as a single-team laboratory and does not sell commercial products; its outputs are scientific publications, patents, trained researchers (PhDs, postdocs), prototype materials, technology transfer via spin-offs (TIAMAT, Aikemics), and coordination of the ALISTORE and RS2E research networks.

Product overview

LRCS is a CNRS-University research laboratory (UMR 7314) specializing in materials for energy storage and conversion. The laboratory does not offer commercial products but conducts research in batteries, fuel cells, hydrogen storage, and photovoltaic devices. Research capabilities include AI and multiscale modeling for battery manufacturing (ARTISTIC project), advanced characterization, and materials synthesis. The laboratory participates in European networks ALISTORE and RS2E, offers the DESTINY doctoral programme and i-MESC international master, and supports the spin-off company Aikemics for battery manufacturing digitalization solutions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ARTISTIC Online Calculator

Quantifiable outcome

• 900 kg of active material used to produce 1000 prismatic 35 Ah Na-ion cells for TIAMAT, with double the mass density of 2018 cells
• +2 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 capability6 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• PREDICTOR (European Project)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024A European research project (2024-2028) coordinated by Prof. Franco's team at LRCS. Involves training doctoral researchers on advanced manufacturing models for electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems, integrating multiscale modeling and AI.
• i-MESC International Master ProgrammecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024i-MESC (International Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion) is an Erasmus+ coordinated master's program (2023-2029), coordinated by Prof. Franco. Evolved from the MESC program (20 years in 2024). Involves multiple European universities and trains the next generation of battery researchers.
• PEPR Batteries (France 2030 / PIA4 programs)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023LRCS participates in multiple PEPR (Programmes et Équipements Prioritaires de Recherche) Battery programs: BATMAN, DISCOVERY, FRISBI, HIPOHYBAT, LIMASSE (solid-state Li-metal), OPENSTORM, SONIC, and PEPR TASE (SMART4MODULES), plus H2/SOLHYD. These are major French national research programs funded under France 2030.
• E-SENSE (PIA4 Excellence Project)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023E-SENSE ('Energy Storage sciENces for Sustainable arEas'), led by Matthieu Becuwe at UPJV/LRCS, was awarded under PIA4 'Excellence sous toutes ses formes' in September 2023. Focuses on sustainable energy storage solutions for autonomous energy systems.
• MAIA (PIA4 Excellence Project)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023MAIA, a PIA4 'Excellence sous toutes ses formes' project, addresses AI applications in chemistry with a focus on battery research. Led by Alejandro Franco and Arnaud Demortière. LRCS is a partner.
• AMI-CMA: Electro'mob and Fodublive projectsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023In response to Gigafactory installations in Hauts-de-France (Verkor, ACC, AESC, TIAMAT, PROLOGIUM), LRCS participates in two CMA (Compétences et Métiers d'Avenir) projects to train/sensitize on battery manufacturing processes, in partnership with the CMQe CEIT campus.
• CMQe CEIT (Campus des Métiers et des Qualifications d'excellence)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Chimie, Energie, Innovation Territoriale (CEIT) is a Campus of Excellence labeled under PIA4, animated by Laurent Gueudré and based at the Energy Hub. Coordinates vocational and higher education actors in Hauts-de-France for battery/energy sector workforce development. LRCS hosts regular school visits.
• DESTINY (ERC Co-Fund Marie Curie Program)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020DESTINY is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions COFUND doctoral program within ALISTORE, coordinated by LRCS. It supports 50 PhD positions across the European battery research network. PhD projects (e.g., Marco Brasini, Anastasia Grebenshchikova, Marco Brasini, Sreelakshmi Anil Kumar) are shared between LRCS and partner institutions (CEA, ICMCB, ILL).
• TIAMAT (startup spin-off)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018TIAMAT is a Na-ion battery startup hosted at the Energy Hub (LRCS). Mathieu Morcrette serves as CTO. LRCS contributed 900 kg of active material to produce 1000 prismatic 35 Ah cells (NVPF/HC). TIAMAT represents the primary technology transfer outcome from LRCS research.
• RS2E (Réseau français sur le Stockage Electrochimique de l'Énergie)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013RS2E is the French electrochemical energy storage network coordinated by LRCS since 2013. It is financed through Labex funding, industrial memberships, and research contract overheads. RS2E includes a pre-transfer prototyping platform located at LRCS. LRCS co-director Mathieu Morcrette became co-director of RS2E in 2025.
• ALISTORE (European Battery Research Network)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004ALISTORE is a European network on batteries coordinated by LRCS since 2004. It provides doctoral and post-doctoral funding through industrial memberships and cotisations, and has supported the DESTINY Co-Fund Marie Curie program (50 PhDs). The network is administratively piloted by LRCS.
• CEA Liten (Grenoble)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA Liten collaborates with LRCS on multiple projects including DESTINY PhD programs (shared supervision with Anastasia Grebenshchikova), LIMASSE (PEPR Batteries), and HIPOHYBAT. Provides industrial upscaling platform for LRCS-developed materials.
• ICMCB BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitut de Chimie de la Matière Condensée de Bordeaux collaborates on DESTINY PhD programs (shared supervision with Anastasia Grebenshchikova) and FRISBI project (all-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries).
• PHENIX laboratory (Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with LRCS on the FRISBI project (FluoRide-Ion Solid-State BatterIes), developing all-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries operating near room temperature.
• IMMM Le ManscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with LRCS on the FRISBI project for all-solid-state fluoride-ion batteries.
• University of WashingtonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProf. Alejandro A. Franco holds an Affiliate Professor position at the University of Washington (Seattle, USA) starting 2025, enabling cross-institutional collaboration.
• Aikemics (startup)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Prof. Alejandro A. Franco in 2025 as Chief Scientific Officer. A startup providing advanced digital solutions to support the battery manufacturing industry, commercializing outputs from the ARTISTIC/SMARTISTIC research.
• UMICOREcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUMICORE funded a 3-year DESTINY PhD project at LRCS (Dhanush Shanbhag, 2021-2024) focused on argyrodite-type sulfide ion conductors for solid-state batteries. Represents direct industrial sponsorship of LRCS doctoral research.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves13 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lrcs---laboratoire-de-r%C3%A9activit%C3%A9-et-chimie-des-solides

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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