LVA - Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique

What LVA - Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique does

LVA (Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique) is a public research laboratory at INSA Lyon, based in Villeurbanne, France, operating as part of the French higher-education and public-research system. Founded in the 1970s to address industrial needs at the intersection of structural dynamics and acoustics, LVA conducts applied research across four axes: vibro-acoustics, source identification, sound and vibratory perception, and monitoring/diagnosis/non-destructive testing. The laboratory is a founding member of CeLyA, the largest French acoustic research consortium, and a member of the Carnot I@L (Ingénierie@Lyon) Institute.

Its technology stack combines extensive physical measurement infrastructure (semi-anechoic chambers, reverberant rooms, audiometric listening cabins, lead-shielded radiation enclosures, acoustic antenna arrays of 16/32 microphones, scanning laser vibrometry, and instrumented test benches covering absorption, insulation, modal analysis, and X-ray tomography) with proprietary MATLAB software tools developed in-house (Fast_SC, Welch's Spectral Kurtosis estimator, Fast Kurtogram, and Cyclic Spectral Analysis toolbox), several of which are distributed via the MathWorks File Exchange. Research methodologies include the RIFF inverse method for acoustic source identification and cyclostationary analysis for fault detection in rotating machinery.

LVA has no commercial product revenue. Its operating model is that of a publicly funded research laboratory: funding flows from French national programs (ANR, FUI), European project grants, and contracted industrial research, supplemented by professional training delivered through INSAVALOR. Industrial customers span transportation (Renault, PSA/Stellantis, Valeo, Michelin), aerospace (Airbus, Safran), nuclear (EDF, CEA), and defense (NAVAL GROUP, formerly DCNS), with academic partnerships including UNSW Sydney, Penn State, KU Leuven, Hong Kong Polytechnic, Université de Sherbrooke, and the Fraunhofer Institute EZRT. Marketing and dissemination run through peer-reviewed publications, the HAL open archive, seminar series, and institutional CeLyA/INSA channels rather than conventional GTM motions.

Name

LVA - Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique

Legal name

Laboratoire Vibrations Acoustique (LVA)

Website

https://lva.insa-lyon.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

LVA is a French public research laboratory at INSA Lyon specializing in vibro-acoustics, source identification, sound perception, and non-destructive testing, funded through public grants, EU projects, and industrial contracts with majors such as Airbus, EDF, NAVAL GROUP, Renault, and Safran.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Villeurbanne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Research Grants and Contracts: Public research laboratory funded through a combination of public research grants (ANR, FUI, European projects) and industrial contract research. No commercial product revenue.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

LVA is a public research laboratory at INSA Lyon conducting applied research in vibro-acoustics, acoustic source identification, sound and vibratory perception, and monitoring-diagnosis-non-destructive testing. The lab operates through public research grants and industrial research contracts, delivers continuous professional training, and distributes proprietary MATLAB signal-processing tools via MathWorks.

Product overview

LVA is a research laboratory at INSA Lyon specializing in vibro-acoustics research. The lab offers research software tools (Fast_SC, Spectral Kurtosis Toolbox, Fast Kurtogram, Cyclic Spectral Analysis - all MATLAB-based), specialized measurement facilities (reverberant rooms, semi-anechoic chambers, acoustic antenna systems), and technical services including Structural Health Monitoring, acoustic microscopy, and continuous professional training in vibrations, acoustics, and non-destructive testing. Research methodologies include the RIFF inverse method for source identification and cyclostationary analysis for machinery condition monitoring.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fast_SC (Fast Spectral Correlation) MATLAB software tool for fast spectral correlation analysis of signals, developed by Jérôme Antoni for advanced signal processing in vibro-acoustics research.
• Spectral Kurtosis Toolbox MATLAB toolbox implementing Welch's estimate of spectral kurtosis, which decomposes signal kurtosis as a function of frequency for detecting impulsive components in machinery diagnostics.
• Fast Kurtogram MATLAB toolbox for fast kurtogram computation, decomposing kurtosis as a function of frequency and frequency resolution for automated fault detection in rotating machinery.
• Cyclic Spectral Analysis Toolbox MATLAB toolbox implementing Welch's estimate of the Cyclic Spectral Spectrum and Coherence for cyclostationary signal analysis in machinery diagnostics.
• Continuous Training Programs Professional training courses in vibrations, acoustics, and non-destructive evaluation delivered to companies at Lyon or on-site via INSAVALOR.

Named customers9 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability7 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• ADAPT (ADvanced Aeroacoustic Processing Techniques)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018EU Cleansky 2 project involving LVA, ECL, MicrodB, and PSA. Focuses on improving aeroacoustic source separation, de-noising techniques based on cyclostationarity, and aeroacoustic source localization for Airbus.
• eVADERmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011European project investigating interior and exterior soundscape of electric vehicles for safe operation, considering drivers feedback, pedestrian reactions, warning systems, and acoustic detectability of electric vehicles.
• CeLyA (Centre Lyonnais d'Acoustique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLVA is a founding member of CeLyA, the Lyon Centre for Acoustics, a Laboratory of Excellence (LabEx) recognized in 2011 by the 'Investments for the Future' program. CeLyA brings together acoustic research actors from University of Lyon including LMFA, LTDS, CRNL, LGCB, LabTAU, CREATIS, IFSTTAR, ENES, and represents the largest research centre in France specialized in acoustic engineering.
• Carnot I@L (Institut Carnot Ingénierie@Lyon)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLVA is part of the Carnot I@L (Engineering @ Lyon) Institute, a network of research laboratories working with industry on engineering research projects.
• Centre Acoustique Jacques Cartier (International Research Project)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAn International Research Project (IRP) bringing together CRASH-UdeS (Université de Sherbrooke), LVA (INSA Lyon), LMFA and LTDS (École Centrale de Lyon), and LAUM (Université du Mans). Aims to be an international pole in acoustic engineering with focus on vibroacoustics, aeroacoustics, signal processing, and sound perception.
• UNSW - INSA Lyon International LaboratorycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCreated by UNSW Sydney and INSA Lyon for collaborative research in machine condition monitoring (MCM) and tribology. Aims to advance MCM through innovative research, active engagement with industrial partners, and joint supervision of young researchers.
• NAVAL GROUP (formerly DCNS)coreTechnology or IntegrationIndustrial partner for submarine vibro-acoustic research, underwater acoustics, and structural modeling of stiffened cylindrical shells.
• EDFcoreTechnology or IntegrationNuclear industry partner for ultrasonic testing research, ultrasonic simulation code development (MOSAICS project), and non-destructive testing qualification.
• AirbuscoreTechnology or IntegrationAerospace partner for aeroacoustic research, engine noise studies, and aircraft noise reduction.
• RenaultcoreTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive partner for vibro-acoustic research, vehicle cabin noise reduction, and sound quality studies.
• PSA Group (Stellantis)coreTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive partner for vehicle acoustics, interior noise simulation (CLIC project), and electric vehicle sound studies.
• SafrancoreTechnology or IntegrationAerospace propulsion partner for turbomachinery monitoring, blade fault detection, and rotor-stator interaction noise research.
• CEAcoreTechnology or IntegrationFrench atomic energy commission partner for MEMS speaker development (SONATE project) and ultrasonic research.
• ValeomajorTechnology or IntegrationAutomotive supplier partner for acoustic research collaborations.
• MichelinmajorTechnology or IntegrationTire manufacturer partner for noise and vibration research.
• CETIAT, CETIMmajorTechnology or IntegrationFrench technical centers for industrial engineering and manufacturing research collaborations.
• MicrodB, dBVib, VIBRATECmajorTechnology or IntegrationAcoustic and vibration engineering consulting firms for collaborative research projects.
• Penn State UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partner for vibro-acoustic research collaborations.
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational academic partner, including joint supervision of PhD theses.
• KU LeuvenmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean academic partner for noise and vibration research.
• GAUS (Université de Sherbrooke)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian academic partner within Centre Acoustique Jacques Cartier for vibro-acoustics and sound perception research.
• Fraunhofer Institute EZRTmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman research partner for X-ray imaging and non-destructive testing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ESI Group: Specialist in virtual prototyping including vibro-acoustics and noise simulation for automotive, aerospace, and defense. Comparable to LVA in addressing industrial noise and vibration challenges, though ESI monetizes software while LVA conducts contract research.
• Fraunhofer IBP (Institute for Building Physics): German public applied-research institute with a large acoustics group covering building acoustics, sound perception, and noise control. Directly comparable to LVA in mission (applied research for industry), funding model (public + contract research), and core competencies (vibro-acoustics, NDT, source identification).
• VIBRATEC: French acoustic and vibration engineering consultancy. Already an LVA partner; comparable in offering industrial NVH measurement, analysis, and consulting services to automotive, aerospace, and energy clients.
• KU Leuven — Acoustics Research Group: Belgian academic acoustics group working on noise and vibration, including psychoacoustics. Already an LVA partner; directly comparable in research scope and university-based funding model.
• HEAD acoustics: Sound quality and NVH measurement specialist serving automotive and telecommunications. Directly comparable to LVA in sound perception, NVH measurement methodologies, and customer overlap with OEMs.
• DTU (Technical University of Denmark) — Acoustic Technology group: Academic group conducting research in acoustic technology, underwater acoustics, and NVH with strong industrial collaboration. Directly comparable as a university-based acoustics research unit with industry contract work.
• MicrodB: French acoustic engineering firm specializing in measurement and source identification. Already an LVA partner; directly comparable in core competencies around acoustic source localization and aeroacoustics.

Broad incumbents

• Brüel & Kjær (HBK): Global leader in sound and vibration measurement instruments and software. Comparable in the underlying measurement and signal-processing competencies (accelerometers, acoustic antennas, analyzers) that LVA applies in its test benches, but operates as a commercial instrumentation vendor rather than a research lab.
• Siemens EDA (formerly LMS International): Commercial vendor of vibro-acoustic and structural dynamics simulation software (Simcenter). Overlaps with LVA's vibro-acoustics and source identification research themes, but delivers products to industry rather than performing contract research.

Emerging players

• Penn State — Graduate Program in Acoustics: U.S. academic partner with a top graduate acoustics program. Comparable to LVA in vibro-acoustic research output and international collaboration, though with a stronger teaching focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@lva-insa-lyon
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lva-insa

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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