Institut National D'optique

What Institut National D'optique does

Institut National d'Optique (INO), now operating as Luqia following its 2024 merger with the Computer Research Institute of Montreal (CRIM), is a Quebec-based private nonprofit industrial innovation laboratory that develops custom optical, photonic, and AI-enabled technologies for clients lacking off-the-shelf solutions. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Quebec City, the organization employs a structured five-step engagement methodology (Requirements Analysis, Solution Design, Proof of Concept, Prototyping and Validation, Manufacturing Scale-Up) and serves equipment suppliers, manufacturers, research centres, and government agencies across aerospace, medical devices, agriculture, environment, manufacturing, and infrastructure. Luqia operates from a 300 m² reconfigurable production area with ISO Class 100/1000/10000 cleanrooms, ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 certifications, and ANSI/ESD S20.20 compliant assembly, enabling small-batch certified manufacturing for FDA Class III medical devices and space-qualified hardware.

The technology portfolio spans ytterbium-doped specialty optical fibers (FastFBR) and LaserNGN fiber gain modules for high-power pulsed lasers; terahertz imaging cameras (MICROXCAM-384i-THz); medium- and long-wave infrared cameras including the space-qualified High-Definition Infrared Space Camera Core (HDISCC); the Aeromap full-waveform lidar; hyperspectral imaging stations; patented optomechanical assemblies (QuickCTR autocentering, QuickPOZ mounts); a custom gold-black deposition process; the AxomAcu intelligent vision solution; and a new TFLN thin-film lithium niobate photonic chip foundry service. Over 30 years of rare-earth-doped fiber development, eight registered patents, and demonstrated space heritage via NASA's GEDI mission aboard the International Space Station and contributions to the Thirty Meter Telescope adaptive optics system constitute the underlying technical moat.

Revenue is split approximately 50/50 between client contracts for custom R&D, prototyping, industrialization, and certified production, and direct investment from the Government of Quebec and the Government of Canada that subsidizes infrastructure and de-risks client engagements. The organization has completed over 84 technology transfers, supports a startup incubator (Quantino), and cites an AECOM economic impact study claiming $30 of Quebec GDP and $45 of Canadian GDP per dollar of government investment. Distribution is direct via expert consultation, with off-the-shelf products (fibers, cameras, lidar, optomechanical mounts, vision systems) available through the website and enterprise-scale custom projects engaged on multi-year contracts.

Name

Institut National D'optique

Legal name

Technologies Luqia

Website

https://ino.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Luqia, formed through the 2024 merger of Quebec's Institut National d'Optique (INO) with CRIM, is a nonprofit industrial innovation laboratory that develops custom photonic, AI, and quantum solutions for aerospace, medical device, agriculture, environmental, manufacturing, and infrastructure clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Photonics and Optical Components

NAICS

Instruments and Related Products Manufacturing for Measuring, Displaying, and Controlling Industrial Process Variables (334513), Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (3345), Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511), Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing (33441)

SIC

Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Machine Vision & Optical Sensing (Cameras, 3D vision, LiDAR, illumination) (IMAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Optoelectronic Components (LEDs, photodiodes, optocouplers, optical sensors) (IMAGAJAF), Optoelectronics & Photonics (LED/Laser/Optical ICs) (HDAHAAAH), Sensors & Instrumentation Electronics Manufacturing Services (Transmitters, analyzers, industrial sensors) (IMAGAGAL), Semiconductors for Industrial Control & Power (MCUs, DSPs, FPGAs, ASICs, IGBTs, MOSFETs, diodes) (IMAGAJAE)

Keywords

• Photonic technology development
• Optical fiber manufacturing
• Hyperspectral imaging systems
• Industrial R&D services
• Lidar sensor solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Quebec

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Client Contracts: Approximately 50% of revenues come directly from client contracts for technology development, prototype development, product development, industrialization, microfabrication, environmental testing, certification support, optical characterization, metrology, and technology transfers. Services target companies across aerospace, agriculture, manufacturing, medical devices, environment, and infrastructure industries.
2. Government Investment: Approximately 50% of revenues come from Quebec and Canadian government investments in technological development. Government funds are invested in developing technological solutions and executing development contracts for clients to reduce risks and accelerate innovation projects. Economic impact studies show $30 increase in Quebec GDP per dollar invested by the Government of Quebec, and $45 increase in Canada GDP per dollar invested by the Government of Canada.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

INO/Luqia is a private non-profit industrial innovation laboratory that develops custom optical and photonic technologies and provides end-to-end industrial innovation services. The organization manufactures off-the-shelf photonic components (ytterbium-doped fibers, fiber gain modules, terahertz and infrared cameras, lidars, hyperspectral imaging stations, optomechanical mounts, autocentering systems) and delivers contract R&D, prototyping, microfabrication, environmental testing, certification support, optical characterization, technology transfer, and scale-up manufacturing under ISO 9001 and ISO 13485 compliant facilities.

Product overview

Luqia (formerly Institut National d'Optique/INO) operates as an industrial innovation laboratory at the intersection of artificial intelligence and photonics. The company offers a portfolio of specialized optical and photonic products including FastFBR Yb-doped fibers and LaserNGN fiber gain modules for laser applications, terahertz and infrared imaging systems (Microxcam cameras, HDISCC space camera), Aeromap lidar for environmental mapping, hyperspectral imaging stations, and intelligent vision solutions (AxomAcu). Supporting technologies include QuickCTR autocentering, QuickPOZ optomechanical mounts, COMET, MEMS-Pirani detectors, and FPGA IP modules. The company provides comprehensive services including R&D, product development, microfabrication, environmental testing, certification support, technology transfers, and industrialization/scale-up, operating from ISO-certified cleanrooms and serving industries across aerospace, agriculture, life sciences, manufacturing, environment, and infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FastFBR Yb-Doped Fibers

Quantifiable outcome

• $30 increase in Quebec GDP for every dollar invested in Luqia by the Government of Quebec
• +9 more outcomes

Named customers28 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

36 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• CRIM (Computer Research Institute of Montreal)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCRIM merged with INO to form Luqia, the largest industrial innovation laboratory in AI and photonics in Canada. The merger combined expertise in advanced photonics and artificial intelligence under a single organization.
• QuantinocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh-technology business incubator supported by INO, focused on nurturing startups in photonics and related technologies. Quantino has supported companies like Picketa Systems in developing AI-powered optical solutions.
• Intellijoint SurgicalflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership for developing and manufacturing the Intellijoint HIP® 3D surgical navigation system. INO provided design, prototyping, and certified production of over 600 FDA-cleared units under ISO 13485, making it a flagship medical device collaboration.
• EarthDaily AnalyticsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to deploy space-qualified infrared cameras (HDISCC) for EarthDaily's satellite constellation, ensuring reliable orbit performance for Earth observation applications.
• CNRC Herzberg, Astronomy and AstrophysicsflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on NFIRAOS (Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph Adaptive Optics) subsystems for the Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT), led by CNRC Herzberg in Victoria, BC. INO contributes optomechanical and adaptive optics expertise.
• NASAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA integrated INO's Variable Reflectivity Mirror (MRV) technology into the GEDI laser aboard the International Space Station for high-resolution 3D mapping of Earth's forests, representing a major space application of INO's photonic technology.
• Searidge Technologies Inc.flagshipOEM/ Whitelabel/ Licensing PartnerWorldwide non-transferable license agreement between INO and Searidge for the IntelliDAR™ airport surveillance technology. INO developed and jointly holds rights to the lidar and video analytics technology for air traffic control and airport operations.
• FlyscanflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerINO partnered with Flyscan from its founding in 2015 to develop an airborne UV laser-based system for detecting oil pipeline leaks, including a calibration unit and ultra-sensitive benzene detection module.
• BinSentrycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop 3D machine vision sensors for feed bin monitoring, revolutionizing livestock feed supply chain logistics through complete silo interior mapping and level/flow detection.
• TeraxioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeraxion is a spin-off from INO that has become a leader in fiber Bragg gratings, low-noise lasers, and photonic integrated components. INO collaborated to automate fiber component production to increase manufacturing throughput.
• MachinexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop the MACH Hyspec® hyperspectral plastic sorting station achieving 95%+ sorting efficiency. The project began in 2008 and has since expanded to sort wood and fiber materials.
• Institut de Recherche et de Développement en Agroenvironnement (IRDA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative research partnership with IRDA to develop hyperspectral imaging solutions for agriculture, including shelf-life prediction for leafy vegetables using INO's imaging station and AI algorithms.
• Pavemetrics (Systèmes Pavemetrics inc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPavemetrics, a spin-off from INO, uses INO's Pipe 3DC laser profilometer to provide digital twin solutions for pipeline infrastructure inspection, including sewer and aqueduct conduits.
• GHGSatminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINO developed AI software to detect methane leaks, increasing GHGSat's data analysis capacity for automated environmental monitoring operations.
• Eikon TherapeuticscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop custom optoelectronic components for drug discovery using lasers, producing FDA Class III compliant units with industrialization planned from project inception.
• Cerus CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCustom UVA LED illuminator developed to inactivate pathogens in blood components for transfusion, achieving FDA Class III compliance with over 120 units produced.
• Quantum Dental Technologies IncminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINO helped develop The Canary System®, a laser-based dental diagnostic probe using PTR-LUM technology that detects 93% of caries at early stage vs. 27% for X-rays, achieving market clearance in 14 months.
• Tornado Spectral SystemscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMultiple collaborations on HTVS spectrometers and the Hudson 785 Raman probe. INO provided optical and optomechanical engineering and production expertise, achieving rapid prototype-to-product transitions with over 280 Raman probe units produced.
• Rio TintocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeployment of Aeromap lidar technology at Port-Alfred facilities to quantify fugitive dust emissions, providing 2D/3D mapping of aerosol concentrations for environmental monitoring and emissions reduction strategy.
• OraVentis Technologies LLCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINO developed an innovative lidar for real-time industrial dust emission monitoring to optimize operations and strengthen environmental management practices.
• LogiagminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerINO scaled and put into short-run production Logiag's laboratory equipment for agricultural soil and plant analysis using LIBS spectrometry for fertilizer optimization and carbon sequestration measurement.
• Vineland Research and Innovation CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to develop an autonomous cucumber harvesting robot using intelligent vision systems to address agricultural labour challenges.
• UnivercominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on AI-powered vegetable harvesting solutions contributing to Quebec's food autonomy through automated harvesting technology.
• Patates DolbecminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVision-based detection system for Colorado potato beetle infestations, aiming to reduce insecticide use by 25% through targeted treatment of infected zones.
• Picketa SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of portable spectrometers for analyzing potato plant nutrient deficiencies using AI algorithms, supported by INO and the Quantino incubator.
• Lapalme Conception MécaniqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to develop an intelligent vision system for guiding autonomous broccoli harvesting robots in fields, together with Centris and CRVI.
• VEGPROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with VEGPRO and IRDA to develop hyperspectral imaging for predicting leafy vegetable shelf-life potential up to 12 days after packaging.
• Industries MailhotminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of intelligent hydraulic cylinder sensors using absolute position encoding and optical reading technology for Industry 4.0 integration.
• Can-ExploreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCan-Explore uses INO's Pipe 3DC laser profilometer to provide digital twin solutions for municipal water and sewer infrastructure, becoming the first company to regularly use the technology.
• Ministère des Transports du QuébeccoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMultiple collaborations including road sign detection and recognition systems, laser rutting measurement systems (LRMS), and laser crack measurement systems (LCMS) for Quebec's transportation infrastructure monitoring.
• Rutherford Appleton Laboratory / ESAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDevelopment of detectors for broadband radiometers with Rutherford Appleton Laboratory as client and the European Space Agency (ESA) as end user.
• CCM HockeyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptical technology application for sports equipment, demonstrating photonics expertise in the sports technology sector.
• Affinerie CCRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOptical character recognition solution for optimizing the lifecycle management of motherboards in the mining/metallurgical industry.
• Electricore Inc. / TransCanada / INRS / PHMSAminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRemote liquid petroleum leak detection system using INO's optical technology, supported by Electricore, TransCanada, INRS, and the US Department of Transportation (PHMSA).
• Nano RetinaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLight delivery system for retinal implant technology, demonstrating photonic expertise in biomedical applications.
• PresagisminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on simulated environment generation for aerospace applications, combining INO's photonic expertise with Presagis simulation software capabilities.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• CSEM (Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique): Swiss non-profit applied R&D organization with photonics, MEMS, and microfabrication capabilities. It mirrors INO's role as an industry-facing innovation lab providing custom development, prototyping, and certified manufacturing across similar application areas including medical devices and industrial sensing.
• National Research Council of Canada (NRC): Canadian federal applied research organization with photonics and aerospace instrumentation capabilities. NRC Herzberg Astronomy (an INO partner on NFIRAOS/TMT) is a comparable public-sector photonics R&D peer within the Canadian ecosystem.
• Specim (Konica Minolta): Finnish hyperspectral imaging camera manufacturer acquired by Konica Minolta. Both INO and Specim supply hyperspectral systems for agriculture, food quality, and environmental monitoring, competing in the same application niches.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch non-profit applied research organization with significant photonics, optical sensing, and industrial R&D activities. Like INO/Luqia, it bridges academic research and industrial clients with a multi-step development methodology and government co-investment.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering (IOF): Germany's leading applied research center for photonics and optical systems. Both INO and Fraunhofer IOF operate as contract R&D and manufacturing labs offering custom optical/photonic design, prototyping, and scale-up to industrial clients, with similar portfolios spanning specialty fibers, micro-optics, and sensor systems.

Broad incumbents

• Teledyne FLIR: Leading manufacturer of thermal imaging and infrared cameras for defense, security, and industrial markets. Direct technology overlap with INO's MICROXCAM infrared and terahertz cameras and HDISCC space camera core.
• Coherent Corp. (formerly II-VI): Global vertically integrated photonics incumbent that manufactures lasers, specialty fibers (via Nufern), optics, and sensing subsystems. Overlaps with INO's specialty Yb-doped fibers, fiber laser gain modules, lidar, and IR imaging, but at far greater commercial scale.
• IMEC: Belgium-based leading R&D center for nanoelectronics and digital technologies, with significant silicon photonics and photonic chip foundry capabilities. Comparable through offering photonic foundry services (e.g., INO's TFLN photonic chip foundry) and industry-contracted R&D, though much larger and broader.
• MKS Instruments: US-listed photonics/electronics equipment platform serving semiconductor, industrial, and life-sciences markets with lasers, optics, and motion control. Comparable in industrial photonics product breadth and customer overlap, particularly in measurement, monitoring, and process control.
• Hamamatsu Photonics: Japanese photonics manufacturer with broad offerings in optical sensors, IR/THz detectors, cameras, and specialty light sources. Comparable via product overlap with INO's terahertz and infrared cameras, optical fibers, and laser modules, though Hamamatsu is a much larger commercial incumbent.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Facebookfacebook.com/INOCanada
• LinkedInca.linkedin.com/company/ino

Compliance6 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Institut National D'optique