Institut Photonique – Eastern France
A UNIQUE PHOTONICS INSTITUTE IN EUROPE
The Photonics Institute stands as a truly unique center of excellence in Europe, bringing together universities, innovative companies and key innovation stakeholders around a shared ambition: accelerating the development of next‑generation photonic technologies. This strategic network strengthens collaboration between research, industry and education, positioning photonics as a major driver of progress in science, engineering and advanced technologies.
A Federating, Territory‑Based Network
- The institute strengthens connections between researchers, laboratories, deep‑tech startups, and leading industrial partners.
- It actively promotes regional expertise in optics, photonics, materials science, and advanced technologies.
- It fosters structured collaborations across Metz, Nancy, Troyes, Strasbourg, Mulhouse, and Luxembourg.
Accelerating Innovation and Technology Transfer
- It supports collaborative projects that unite fundamental research, engineering, and industrial applications.
- It provides direct interfaces between academic laboratories and companies to accelerate the maturation of emerging technologies.
- It contributes to the development of high‑value photonic solutions for sectors such as imaging, materials, communications, and health.
Cutting‑Edge Infrastructure
The Photonics Institute relies on a multi‑site network and high‑performance scientific platforms, including a new central facility of more than 2,000 m² scheduled to open in Metz in 2029. This hub will feature shared laboratories, precision experimental areas and dedicated spaces for interdisciplinary collaboration.
NUMEROUS RESEARCH PROGRAMMES CURRENTLY UNDERWAY IN THE FIELD OF PHOTONICS
The Institute’s teams lead numerous internationally recognized research programmes, spanning advanced imaging, biophotonics, innovative materials, optical sensors, nonlinear dynamics, and photon‑based communication and computation.
Optical Imaging and Sensors
Research at the Phonotnic Institute is conducted within regional laboratories:
- IRIMAS: holographic microscopy, diffractive tomographic imaging
- ICube: phase imaging, microsphere‑assisted microscopy, local spectroscopy, photonic jet imaging, polarization imaging
- L2n: quantitative imaging of cell adhesion
Biophotonics
- Development of femtosecond spectroscopy techniques to investigate the photoreactivity of (bio)organic or organometallic molecules in the condensed phase
- Applications in advanced diagnostics, health technologies, ultrafast chemistry and biological analysis
Information: Communicate, Secure, Compute
- Leveraging the richness of nonlinear photonic dynamics to develop high‑performance photonic systems
- Applications in optical communication, physical cryptography and photon‑based computation
Materials with Innovative Optical Properties
- Development of a cutting‑edge polarization‑modulation technique achieving ultrafast speeds up to 1 THz
- Design of next‑generation optical materials for high‑speed devices and advanced photonic components
EXCELLENT TRAINING IN PHOTONICS
With more than 300 researchers and students, the Photonics Institute benefits from a comprehensive educational ecosystem spanning engineering, physical measurements, advanced optics, nanotechnologies, imaging, robotics and materials science.
Its ambition is to create a Photonics Institute Student Chapter, ultimately forming the largest student community in photonics worldwide.
Specialized Academic and Engineering Programmes
Engineering Schools & Master’s Degrees
- CentraleSupélec: engineering curriculum specializing in photonics
- PAIP Master’s: Applied Physics & Engineering Physics — Photonics and Optics for Materials
- Télécom Physique Strasbourg
- Bachelor of Technology (BUT) in Physical Measurements
- Master’s in Imaging, Robotics and Engineering for Life Sciences (IRIV)
Bachelor & Technician Programmes
- BUT in Physical Measurements (Metz, Reims, Strasbourg)
- BTS in Optics and Photonics: Light Technologies (Mulhouse)
Specialized Master’s Programmes
- NANO-PHOT Master’s (Troyes, Reims)
Funding Universities
