LYNRED

Their core work

LYNRED is a French industrial manufacturer of infrared detectors and thermal imaging sensors, specializing in Mercury Cadmium Telluride (MCT) focal plane arrays. They develop cooled and uncooled infrared detection technologies for applications spanning defence, space observation, Earth observation, and autonomous driving. Their H2020 work focuses on pushing infrared imaging from traditional scientific and defence uses into smart embedded systems for automotive safety, making them a bridge between photonics hardware and AI-driven perception systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

LYNRED's H2020 trajectory shows a clear pivot from component supplier to intelligent systems integrator. Their early participation (EXIST, 2015) involved contributing imaging sensor expertise to a broader consortium, while their middle period (ASTEROID, 2017) saw them take the coordinator role for space-grade infrared detectors. By 2019, HELIAUS marked a decisive shift toward automotive applications, combining their detector hardware with machine learning and embedded processing — signaling a move up the value chain from raw components to smart sensing solutions.

LYNRED is moving from scientific and defence infrared hardware toward AI-augmented thermal perception for automotive and mobility markets — expect future work at the intersection of IR sensors and edge AI.

How they like to work

LYNRED predominantly leads its projects, coordinating 2 out of 3 H2020 efforts and securing the largest funding shares. With 32 unique partners across 9 countries, they build broad European consortia rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators. Their coordination track record and industrial scale make them a natural anchor partner for consortia needing credible hardware integration and demonstration capability.

LYNRED has built a network of 32 distinct partners spanning 9 European countries, reflecting both the space and automotive sectors' need for cross-border supply chains and testing infrastructure. Their consortia tend to be mid-to-large, mixing academic research groups with industrial integrators.

What sets them apart

LYNRED occupies a rare position as a large-scale European manufacturer of infrared focal plane arrays — a market dominated by very few companies worldwide. Their ability to coordinate EU projects means they don't just supply components; they define the roadmap for how infrared technology gets applied in new markets. For consortium builders, they offer something hard to find: actual production-scale IR detector capability combined with willingness to lead collaborative R&D.

Highlights from their portfolio

• HELIAUS
  Their largest project (EUR 2.1M) and a strategic bet on autonomous driving — combining infrared hardware with ML, signaling their commercial direction.
• ASTEROID
  Coordinated a space-grade infrared detection project bridging astronomy, Earth observation, and defence — demonstrating their ability to serve multiple high-reliability markets simultaneously.