Partners
The project consortium is composed of five partners from three different countries: Academic partners who will develop the technology, a non-profit association that will facilitate beta testing and promote the technology, and an SME that will collaborate with a new startup company to manufacture chips and bring molecular resolution spatial biology to the market.
Paris, France
The Institute of Molecular Sciences of Orsay (ISMO – UMR 8214) is a fundamental research unit in physics and physical chemistry, established in 2010 under the auspices of the CNRS and the University of Paris Saclay. The thematic areas covered at ISMO range from molecular physics to nanoscience, from the physics and physico-chemistry of surfaces to low-dimensional objects, and from molecular physics and physico-chemistry for biology. There are strong connections with astrophysics, health, energy, and nanophotonics. Several valorization activities are also underway.
Arising from the merger of three laboratories in Orsay (the Laboratory of Molecular Photophysics – LPPM, the Laboratory of Atomic and Molecular Collisions – LCAM, and the Laboratory of X-ray Interaction with Matter – LIXAM), the activities of ISMO are notably based on molecular photophysics. A significant portion of the light spectrum, from X-rays to millimeter waves, is used to probe the spectral responses and dynamics induced by the photonic excitation of the systems under study, from attoseconds to long times. The activities also rely on optical imaging, local probe microscopies, and processes induced by particle beams. The experimental research at ISMO is supported by a significant equipment park (lasers, spectrometers, multi-channel detectors, electron microscopes, super-resolution optical microscopes, and a synchrotron light line in partnership with SOLEIL, among others). These research activities are complemented by theoretical work, which benefits from access to both internal and external computing resources. Generally, all the work is based on a description involving the interaction with light and/or particles.
ISMO houses around forty experimental rooms comprising more than 50 devices, mostly developed in-house. The unit hosts approximately 170 permanent staff, doctoral students, and postdoctoral researchers, as well as more than 80 interns per year, distributed among 6 research teams and 5 common services (instrumentation, electronics, mechanics, informatics, and administration). ISMO also hosts 4 platforms and 3 technical platforms.
Milano, Italy
Politecnico di Milano is the leading Technical University in Italy, with >45000 students and >1400 faculty members at Bachelor, Master and PhD level. Education and research are characterized by the combination of theoretical bases and first-rate research infrastructures facilitating a wide variety of experimental studies. The Department of Physics of Politecnico di Milano (POLIMI) has an established experience in the development of laser-based technologies for biomedical applications. The POLIMI group is devoted to development of photonics systems, integrated devices and software for optical imaging, including structured illumination microscopy.
Milano, Italy
The Institute for photonics and nanotechnologies (IFN) is part of the Italian National Research Council (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche – CNR), the largest public research institution in Italy. IFN-CNR, with a permanent staff of 78 people, is involved in more than 100 research projects funded by EU, Italian government, regional funding, private foundations and private industries. The femtosecond laser micromachining group has a solid expertise in the fabrication of integrated photonic devices both in glasses and in plastic for biophotonics, quantum technologies and imaging applications.
Cachan, France
Founded in 2016, Abbelight is a fast-growing company specialized in imaging solutions focusing on microscopy and unique single molecule detection. The portfolio integrates a constantly evolving knowhow on chemistry, optics and computer science to offer a complete solution, from sample preparation to data management, including an optimal bio-imaging platform that can be adapted to all researchers’, biotech labs’ and medical facilities’ needs. Abbelight is a French company developed by four passionate researchers who aim to help improve human health in various areas such as bacteriology, extracellular vesicles, neurosciences, structural biology… Today, Abbelight employs over 60 people who are all driven by the goal of providing the best solutions and support to our customers all around the world.
Brussels, Belgium
Laserlab-Europe AISBL is an international not-for-profit association, bringing together 47 leading laser research infrastructures in 22 European countries. Jointly, they are committed to coordinate operation and R&D efforts in order to facilitate the development of advanced lasers and laser-based technologies, and to promote the efficient utilisation of advanced laser facilities by users from academia and industry. The majority of the members provide open access to their facilities to scientists from all over the world to perform experiments in a large variety of inter-disciplinary research, covering advanced laser science and applications in most domains of research and technology.
