What LP2N does

LP2N (Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences) is a public French research laboratory and one of three Unités Mixtes de Recherche (UMR) operated by Institut d'Optique Graduate School, co-supervised by the CNRS. Founded as part of the Institut d'Optique ecosystem alongside Laboratoire Charles Fabry (LCF) and Laboratoire Hubert Curien, the laboratory conducts fundamental and applied research in photonics, digital sciences, and nanosciences. Its work is organized around five thematic axes: innovative imaging and quantitative biology, light and matter waves in artificial media, metrology and photonic systems, nano-optics and quantum systems, and convergent optical-computing systems and mixed reality. The lab serves PhD researchers, graduate engineering students, and industry partners across a three-campus network spanning Talence (Bordeaux), Palaiseau (Paris-Saclay), and Saint-Étienne.

LP2N is funded primarily through French public research grants (CNRS, French Ministry of Higher Education and Research), European research programs, and industry partnerships, with additional revenue from tuition, doctoral program subsidies, and technology transfer. The laboratory hosts 51-100 personnel and contributes to the Institut d'Optique's broader cohort of 150 doctoral students and 400 engineering students across three sites. Its research output includes a 2024 world record in extreme ultraviolet optics in the 'water window' spectrum, and its surrounding ecosystem has produced 120 patents by SupOptique alumni — approximately four times the national average for French engineers.

The lab operates within a deliberate 'virtuous circle' of training, research, and innovation: doctoral researchers feed the campus innovation infrastructure (Bâtiment 503 in Orsay), which hosts 35 partner companies that participate in student training and mentorship. LP2N's research contributes directly to France's strategic sovereignty agenda through the atomQtrl project under France 2030, focused on quantum technologies. Commercialization runs through the Filière Innovation-Entrepreneurs (FIE) track, which has produced 20 student-led companies, 130+ awards since 2008, and alumni-founded ventures such as DAMAE Medical (medical devices) and STEREOLABS (3D vision, used by James Cameron for AVATAR 2 and 3).

Name

LP2N

Legal name

Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences (LP2N)

Website

https://institutoptique.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

LP2N (Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences) is a public French research laboratory co-supervised by Institut d'Optique Graduate School and CNRS, conducting research across photonics, quantum optics, imaging, and nanosciences via five specialized research themes.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Talence (Bordeaux)

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Research funding and public funding: LP2N as part of Institut d'Optique operates primarily through public research funding from French government, CNRS, and European research projects.
2. Tuition and education services: Graduate engineering education and doctoral programs generate revenue through tuition and government subsidies for higher education.
3. Innovation and entrepreneurship: The FIE track supports startup creation from student projects, contributing to technology transfer and economic development.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

LP2N is a public research laboratory (Unité Mixte de Recherche) co-supervised by Institut d'Optique Graduate School and CNRS that conducts fundamental and applied research at the intersection of photonics, digital/numerical sciences, and nanosciences. It pursues five research themes — innovative imaging and quantitative biology; light and matter waves in artificial media; metrology and photonic systems; nano-optics and quantum systems; and convergent optical-computing systems with mixed reality — while hosting doctoral researchers and contributing to large-scale national and European research programs such as atomQtrl under France 2030.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• LP2N Research Laboratory (Laboratoire Photonique, Numérique et Nanosciences) LP2N is the dedicated phototonics, digital, and nanosciences research laboratory of Institut d'Optique Graduate School, hosting doctoral researchers and conducting collaborative research across five themes: innovative imaging and quantitative biology; light and matter waves in artificial media; metrology and photonic systems; nano-optics and quantum systems; and convergent optical-computing systems with mixed reality. Research partners, industry collaborators, doctoral candidates, and public funders engage with LP2N via co-supervised doctoral theses, French and European project participation (e.g., atomQtrl/France 2030), and joint laboratory work in Talence (Bordeaux).

Quantifiable outcome

• 130+ FIE prizes won since 2008
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

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

• CNRScoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS (Centre national de la recherche scientifique) is co-tutelle (co-supervisor) of all three laboratories of Institut d'Optique Graduate School, which are mixed research units (UMR).
• Université Paris-SaclaycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInstitut d'Optique is part of the Université Paris-Saclay, a major French research university. LP2N and other labs are part of this ecosystem.
• Université de BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Bordeaux for the Aquitaine campus of Institut d'Optique.
• Université Jean Monnet Saint-ÉtiennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Université Jean Monnet for the Rhône-Alpes campus of Institut d'Optique.
• ParisTechmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParisTech is the alliance of French elite engineering schools, working on common projects in education, research, and innovation.
• SupOptique AlumnimajorOthersSupOptique Alumni association created in 1924 supports the school, promotes education and the diploma, and defends members' interests. SupOptique Alumni organizes French Photonics Days and other professional events.
• Photonics FrancemajorOthersPhotonics France unites industrial actors, competitiveness clusters, and clubs around the French photonics sector.
• Société Française d'Optique (SFO)majorOthersFrench Optical Society represents actors in optics and photonics in France.
• EPICminorOthersEuropean association promoting the development of photonics industries and organizations.
• Erasmus+ 2021-2027majorOthersErasmus+ program for international student exchanges and mobility.
• France 2030 - atomQtrl projectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe atomQtrl project operated by Institut d'Optique Graduate School as part of France 2030 contributes to French sovereignty in quantum technologies.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• CEA-Leti: French public R&D institute pioneering micro/nanoelectronics, photonics, MEMS, and quantum hardware. Adjacent on nanosciences and photonic systems, with deep French industrial collaboration akin to LP2N's innovation-campus model.
• ICFO - The Institute of Photonic Sciences: Barcelona-based non-profit photonics research institute covering light-matter interaction, quantum optics, nanophotonics, and biophotonics. Closely comparable to LP2N across scope (research, training, innovation) and sub-themes.
• MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology: University of Twente research institute combining nanotechnology, photonics, quantum, and biomedical nano research. Comparable to LP2N's nano-optics, quantum systems, and quantitative-biology themes within a university setting.
• University of Rochester Institute of Optics: One of the oldest and most prominent optics/photonics research and graduate training centers in the US. Closely matches LP2N's blend of photonics research, graduate education, and industrial connection.
• CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics at UCF: US graduate-research and education unit covering lasers, nonlinear optics, integrated photonics, and nanophotonics. Directly comparable integrated training-research-innovation model to LP2N.
• Fraunhofer IOF - Institute for Applied Optics and Precision Engineering: German applied-research institute in optical systems, nano-optics, photonics components, and metrology. Comparable in optical-systems research, technology transfer, and industry partnerships to LP2N's metrology and nano-optics themes.
• Caltech Optical and Quantum Research Groups: Caltech houses multiple groups pursuing nanophotonics, quantum information, and ultrafast optics at world-record scale. Comparable as a high-prestige US photonics/quantum research counterpart of LP2N.
• Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ): German public research institute focused on quantum optics, cold-atom physics, attosecond science, and precision metrology. Strongly comparable to LP2N's quantum-optics and metrology/photonic-systems themes.

Broad incumbents

• IMEC: Large Belgian nanoelectronics and photonics R&D center with industrial-scale fab infrastructure. Overlaps with LP2N on nano-optics and photonic systems, but operates at much larger scale and more applied footprint.
• NIST Physical Measurement Laboratory: US national laboratory covering precision metrology, optical/atomic standards, and quantum measurement. Directly comparable to LP2N's metrology/photonic-systems theme but broader in scope and resources.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/institutoptique

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 LP2N