Coming from the ENS Rennes laboratories, Cailabs illustrates the trajectory that a French Deeptech can take to win in a highly strategic sector. In just over ten years, the company has become a recognized actor in advanced photonics, with solutions capable of transforming spatial communications by laser.
The technology developed by Cailabs corrects atmospheric turbulence to ensure very high speed transmissions between satellites and soil stations. While radio communications reach their limits in the face of the multiplication of constellations, laser is an alternative to increase transmission capacity, secure exchanges and reduce pressure on the electromagnetic spectrum.
This positioning has drawn the attention of public institutions and European funds, anxious to strengthen technological sovereignty. The DGA and Bpifrance support Cailabs via Definvest and the Innovation Defense fund. The European Investment Bank and the European Innovation Fund (EIC Fund) have also been committed to the financing tour.
Ambroise Fayolle, Vice-President of the BEI, underlines “space technologies are of increasing importance for both civil uses and for security and defense applications. As a European Union bank, the EIB supports Cailabs investments in production capacities as well as in the research and development of its laser communication technologies. This project is fully part of the BEI’s strategic priorities in terms of security and defense, as well as technological innovation as part of its Techeu program. »»
Jean-François Morizur, co-founder and CEO of Cailabs, recalls in a press release the ambitions of the company. “This fundraising reflects the solidity of our fundamentals and the confidence of investors in our strategic vision. It allows us to strengthen our industrial capacities and prepare for the next growth stage. »»
Founded in 2013 in Rennes, Cailabs develops photonic solutions for the space, defense, industrial and telecoms sectors, and also has an establishment in the United States. The company has already signed more than ten optical soil stations contracts. The announced financing round reaches 57 million euros, combining 37 million euros provided by the BEI and 20 million euros invested by Definvest, the Innovation Defense Fund (Ministry of Armed Forces and Bpifrance), Newspace Capital, the European Innovation Council (EIC Fund), Starquest Capital and Caive (Crédit Agricole Ille-et-Vilaine Expansion).
