Institut d’Optique Graduate School

What Institut d’Optique Graduate School does

Institut d'Optique Graduate School is a French non-profit higher education and research institution founded in 1917 and recognized as an établissement d'utilité publique under the law of 10 August 1920. Headquartered in Palaiseau on the Paris-Saclay campus, with additional campuses in Bordeaux (Aquitaine) and Saint-Étienne (Rhône-Alpes), the institution trains engineer-physicists specializing in optics and photonics through a three-year Cycle Ingénieur delivered across three pedagogical tracks — Filière Classique, Filière Innovation-Entrepreneurs (FIE), and Filière par Apprentissage. The program is anchored by the Laboratoire d'Enseignement Expérimental (LEnsE), which provides 150 lab benches and over 100 distinct experiments, and is the only engineering school worldwide to offer very high-level experiments in quantum physics, adaptive optics, and optical telecommunications. Doctoral and research activities are co-supervised by CNRS across three mixed research units (Laboratoire Charles Fabry, LP2N, and Laboratoire Hubert Curien), with research domains spanning biophotonics, quantum gases, nanophotonics, lasers, XUV optics, and industrial photonics.

The institution's business model combines modest public-institution tuition (€2,050 for EU students, €4,150 for non-EU students, 2020-2021 figures), apprenticeship tax revenue (taxe d'apprentissage) from corporate partners, continuing education fees, Validation des Acquired Experience (VAE) fees of €2,900–€5,000, state subsidies, and CNRS co-financed research contracts. Customer segments include degree-seeking engineering and doctoral students, professionals seeking continuing education, and corporate partners (Thales, Safran, Airbus, Valeo, Essilor, Apple, EY, L'Oréal, General Electric) that recruit apprentices and host interns. Distribution is driven by the national Concours Commun Centrale-Supélec competition, university parallel admissions, international student recruitment, and the apprenticeship channel. The institution is a founding member of Université Paris-Saclay and ParisTech, holds CTI accreditation and RNCP16833 certification, and counts Alain Aspect (2022 Nobel Prize in Physics) among its researchers.

Name

Institut d’Optique Graduate School

Legal name

Institut d'Optique Graduate School

Website

https://institutoptique.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1917

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Institut d'Optique Graduate School is a French non-profit engineering school founded in 1917, training engineer-physicists in optics and photonics across three campuses, with three CNRS co-supervised research laboratories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Optical and Photonic Engineering)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Specialized Engineering Domains (EDAHAEAI), Applied Research & Innovation Universities (EDAHAEAE), STEM-Focused Research Universities (Engineering & Applied Sciences) (EDAHABAB)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Photonics research
• Optical engineering
• Doctoral programs
• Applied photonics

Headquarters

HQ city

Palaiseau

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Public higher education institution with tuition fees: 2050 euros for EU students, 4150 euros for non-EU students (2020-2021 figures)
2. Continuing Education: Continuing education catalog for professionals seeking specialized training in photonics
3. Apprenticeship Tax: Receives apprenticeship tax contributions from companies employing apprentices
4. VAE Fees: Validation of Prior Experience fees: 2900 euros HT for EU candidates, 5000 euros HT for non-EU candidates, plus additional jury fees

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Institut d'Optique Graduate School is a French higher-education and research institution that trains engineers and researchers in optics and photonics. It delivers a CTI-accredited Diplôme d'ingénieur across multiple pedagogical tracks (classical, innovation-entrepreneurs, and apprenticeship), awards doctoral degrees (PhD) through three on-site research laboratories, runs a continuing-education program for working professionals, and offers VAE certification. Educational and research activities are hosted across three campuses in Palaiseau (Paris-Saclay), Bordeaux, and Saint-Étienne.

Product overview

Institut d'Optique Graduate School is a higher education institution offering a unified engineering degree in optics and photonics through three pedagogical tracks (Classical, Innovation-Entrepreneurs, and Apprenticeship), supported by experimental teaching laboratories (LEnsE), the Campus d'Innovation 503 for entrepreneurship, and doctoral programs across three research laboratories. The institution also provides continuing education and VAE for professional certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CFA SupOptique: An apprenticeship track for engineering students combining periods at the school and in partner companies.
• Filière Innovation-Entrepreneurs (FIE)
• Laboratoire d'Enseignement Expérimental (LEnsE)

Products and services

• Cycle Ingénieur (Engineering Degree Program) Three-year CTI-accredited engineering program in optics and photonics, available via a classical track (Filière Classique), an innovation-entrepreneurs track (FIE), and an apprenticeship track (Filière par Apprentissage). Designed for students admitted via the Concours Commun Centrale-Supélec competitive exam, university pathway (CPGE Licence/Bachelor), or international routes. Awards the Diplôme d'ingénieur de l'Institut d'Optique Graduate School, recognized in France and abroad.
• Filière Innovation-Entrepreneurs (FIE) Distinct pedagogical track within the engineering degree program focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in photonics; targeted at students who want to combine deep optics expertise with startup and intrapreneurship skills.
• Filière par Apprentissage (Apprenticeship Track) Work-study pedagogical track within the engineering degree program delivered in partnership with corporate partners (including Thales, Safran, Airbus, Essilor, Mersen), allowing students to alternate academic study with paid industrial placements.
• Doctorat (Doctoral Program) PhD-level research program in optics and photonics, hosted across three on-site laboratories (Laboratoire Charles Fabry, LP2N, and the Saint-Étienne laboratory), covering quantum optics, biophotonics, nanophotonics, lasers, optical telecommunications, and imaging. Tuition is free; doctoral candidates are funded through scholarships, lab grants, or CIFRE industrial contracts.
• Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience (VAE) Formal pathway that converts significant professional experience into the CTI-accredited engineering diploma, targeted at working professionals in optics-adjacent technical roles who lack the formal credential.
• Formation Continue (Continuing Education) Continuing-education program aimed at working professionals, designed to upgrade technical skills in optics, photonics, lasers, imaging, and related fields.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average starting salary of 38,441 euros (excluding bonuses) with 84.8% net employment rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 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

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

• Erasmus+ Program PartnersmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Erasmus+ 2021-2027 program with European universities including University of Jena, DTU, KTH, EPFL, Aalto, Politecnico di Milano, and others for student exchanges and staff mobility
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS co-supervises all three laboratories of Institut d'Optique (Laboratoire Charles Fabry, LP2N, Laboratoire Hubert Curien) as mixed research units (UMR)
• Université Paris-SaclaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitut d'Optique is a founding member of Université Paris-Saclay, created by decree in November 2019, which groups 9,000 researchers across multiple universities and institutions
• École PolytechniquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocated on the same campus as École Polytechnique in Palaiseau, sharing infrastructure and research facilities on the Paris-Saclay campus
• Université de BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-supervises the LP2N laboratory (Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences) with Institut d'Optique and CNRS at Bordeaux campus
• Université Jean Monnet (Saint-Étienne)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-supervises the Laboratoire Hubert Curien with Institut d'Optique and CNRS at Saint-Étienne campus
• AlphanovmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTech incubator hosted in the Institut d'Optique d'Aquitaine building, part of the innovation ecosystem supporting company creation from research
• Route des lasers et hyperfréquences (Alpha-RLH)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompetitiveness cluster hosted in the Institut d'Optique d'Aquitaine building, connecting research with photonics industry in Bordeaux region
• ParisTechcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounding member of ParisTech alliance of leading French engineering schools, collaborating on training, research and innovation projects
• SupOptique AlumnimajorGTM or Marketing PartnerAlumni association created in 1924 that promotes the school, supports students, and contributes to the evolution of Institut d'Optique
• Photonics FranceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNational association bringing together industry players, competitiveness clusters and clubs around the photonics sector in France
• Société Française d'Optique (SFO)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrench society representing key actors of optics and photonics in France
• EPIC (European Photonics Industry Association)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerEuropean industry association promoting the sustainable development of photonics organizations in Europe
• HEC ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble-degree program: students spend 1st and 2nd year at Institut d'Optique, 2nd year at HEC Paris, and 3rd year split between both institutions
• ESPCI ParismajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble-degree program allowing students to obtain both engineering diplomas through course exchanges and joint supervision
• Science Po ParisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSimplified access to Sciences Po College for 2 years following Institut d'Optique graduation
• ENS Paris-SaclayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble-degree program allowing students to obtain the ENS Paris-Saclay diploma alongside SupOptique engineering diploma
• Télécom Saint-EtienneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble-degree program with Télécom Saint-Etienne allowing students to obtain both engineering diplomas
• University of Arizona (College of Optical Sciences)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational double-degree partner in the United States, one of the world's leading optics programs
• University of Rochester (Institute of Optics)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational double-degree partner in the United States, one of the world's leading optics institutes

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• KTH Royal Institute of Technology: Sweden's leading technical university with strong photonics/applied physics programs; Erasmus+ partner of Institut d'Optique and direct comparator on engineering breadth and international student mix.
• CentraleSupélec: Top-tier French engineering school that shares the Concours Commun Centrale-Supélec entrance exam with Institut d'Optique; directly comparable on student quality and Paris-Saclay integration, though broader in engineering disciplines.
• EPFL: Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne; partner of Institut d'Optique through Erasmus+ with comparable excellence in applied physics and photonics research, but much larger scale and broader scope.
• École Polytechnique: Elite French engineering school co-located on the Paris-Saclay campus and partner in ParisTech alliance; broader curriculum than Institut d'Optique but comparable in selectivity, research intensity and graduate outcomes in physics-adjacent fields.
• Politecnico di Milano: Italy's top technical university and Erasmus+ partner of Institut d'Optique; offers photonics and applied physics programs with comparable engineering-pedagogy heritage and international research profile.

Direct peers

• University of Arizona — College of Optical Sciences: Premier US optics college offering graduate and doctoral programs in optical sciences, partnered with Institut d'Optique Graduate School via international double-degree; comparable scope in photonics research, quantum optics and experimental teaching.
• Friedrich Schiller University Jena — Institute of Applied Optics: Leading German optics research and education cluster (Abbe School of Photonics), explicit Erasmus+ partner of Institut d'Optique, offering comparable MSc and PhD programs in photonics with strong applied optics heritage.
• ESPCI Paris: Parisian elite engineering school focused on physics, chemistry and industrial innovation, with a formal double-degree partnership with Institut d'Optique Graduate School; comparable scale and heritage with strong experimental and industrial orientation.
• University of Rochester — Institute of Optics: One of the world's first and most prestigious optics institutes, offering BS, MS and PhD programs in optics with deep experimental teaching infrastructure; explicitly partnered with Institut d'Optique Graduate School through an international double-degree program, making it the most direct global comparator.
• DTU — Technical University of Denmark (DTU Electro / DTU Fotonik): Danish technical university with DTU Fotonik department dedicated to photonics research and education; Erasmus+ partner of Institut d'Optique, comparable in applied photonics focus and experimental infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/InstitutOptique
• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLyeHq-UkjFkUIwwTZO4BS39qP-lmIlOna
• Facebookfacebook.com/institutoptique
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institutoptique

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Institut d’Optique Graduate School