Best Chemicals and Materials Companies in France
The 564 best Chemicals and Materials companies in France in 2026, ranked by funding and momentum. Funding, investors, founders, valuation, tech stack and live signals. Top: Imerys.
France's Chemicals and Materials sector is the focus here: 564 tracked companies, $1.9B in disclosed funding, ranked by equity raised and recent momentum. No unicorns yet, but the numbers tell a story worth paying attention to.
Imerys leads the field at $1.6B, which is frankly in a different weight class from everyone else in this directory. Soitec sits at $196M, Arkema at $69M, and then you get a long tail of early-stage players like TiHive ($7M) and Nova Carbon ($2M) that are betting on exactly where the sector is heading: green infrastructure, urban sustainability, materials that fit a city planning agenda that's gone from niche to policy priority. Median install growth of roughly +18% year-on-year across 32 chemicals and building materials apps tells you the demand signal is real, even if overall coverage is flat. So the question isn't whether this space is moving, it's which companies are positioned for the themes actually pulling capital right now. Bpifrance and the EIC Fund are the names I'd watch on the investor side, alongside Europa and Aquiti Gestion, because their activity tends to signal where the next funding rounds will land.
Our analysis of 234 Chemicals and Materials companies
$21.9b in tracked funding; 57% of the stack-profiled cohort runs cloud-native; funding activity peaked in 2025.
Ranked: Best Chemicals and Materials companies in France
| # | Company | Disclosed funding | Last round | Employees | Founder | Tech stack | Market signals (1y) | Patents & IP focus | Recent signals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Imerys Provides mineral-based specialty solutions for industry | $1.6B | 29 mo ago | 175 | Conrad Keijzer CEO | DrupalPHPDebian+20 | 13 signals ▼35% Earnings · Announcements · Regulatory | 194 patents Mineral building tiles and calcium carbonate additives for paints, plastics, and paper. | — |
| 2 | Soitec Manufacturer of engineered semiconductor substrates | $196M | 42 mo ago | 2,157 | Jean Lamure Co-Founder | YouTubeBootstrapMicrosoft Advertising+17 | 17 signals ▲240% Board · Earnings · Leadership | 9 patents Advanced silicon carbide substrate processing and composite SOI structures for high‑power RF electronics | 1 job opening |
| 3 | Arkema Provider of chemical products | $69M | 13 mo ago | 2,793 | Tony O'donovan President & CEO | Apple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365CKEditor+23 | 13 signals ▼80% Leadership · Announcements · Fundraising | 854 patents Polymer emulsions for low-odor waterproof coatings and advanced semicrystalline polymer processing | — |
| 4 | Sophim Manufacturer of squalane products | $22M | 32 mo ago | 49 | Jacques Margnat CEO & President | WordPressMySQLPHP+19 | — | 9 patents Extraction of squalene, sterols, vitamin E and production of hydrogenated lecithin emulsifiers. | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 5 | Elydan Group Design and supply polymer products and solutions for the infrastructures, networks and buildings | $20M | 59 mo ago | 400 | — | WordPressApple iCloud MailMySQL+27 | — | 7 patents Underground non‑metallic pipeline identification using omnidirectional embedded sensors | 1 launch |
| 6 | TiHive Provider of imaging, sensing and detection services | $7M | 8 mo ago | 19 | Hani Sherry Co-Founder & CEO | WordPress Block EditorWordPressProton Mail+17 | — | 25 patents Patents concentrated in computing, sensing & instrumentation | 1 launch |
| 7 | Prochimir Manufacturer of technical films | $5M | 138 mo ago | 85 | Vianney Lescroart CEO | — | — | 13 patents Advanced multilayer polymer films for waterproof breathable and specialty coating applications. | — |
| 8 | Emulsar Produces ingredients in the form of emulsions | $4M | 81 mo ago | — | Christophe Arnaud Co-Founder | — | — | — | — |
| 9 | Kemica Coatings Manufacturer of waterproofing and floor coatings for various applications | $4M | 74 mo ago | — | Rene Massard Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+23 | — | 5 patents Food-safe resin formulations and anti-adhesive metal surface coating technologies. | 4 launchs |
| 10 | Alsachimie ALSACHIMIE - Le principal acteur du Polyamide en Alsace | $3M | 39 mo ago | 311 | — | TYPO3 CMSPHPBootstrap+13 | — | — | — |
| 11 | HYMAG'IN Manufacturer of ferrite-based materials for electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequency solutions | $2M | 28 mo ago | 7 | Philippe Bouteiller Co-founder / CTO | JimdoMustacheModernizr+11 | — | — | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 12 | Synovance Manufacturer of dyes and colors | $2M | 36 mo ago | — | Brian Jester Founder | — | — | 4 patents Chromatin architecture engineering to modulate gene expression in synthetic biology. | — |
| 13 | Dionymer Developer of circular biopolymer solutions by converting industrial organic waste into biodegradable… | $2M | 30 mo ago | 6 | Thomas Hennebel Co-Founder & CEO | ReadymagVimeoBackbone.js+18 | — | 3 patents Extracting volatile fatty acids for bioplastic (PHA) production via microbial fermentation | 2 internships |
| 14 | ICTYOS Manufacturer of leather products | $2M | 37 mo ago | 5 | Emmanuel Fourault Co-Founder | Cart FunctionalityShopifyPageFly+28 | — | — | — |
| 15 | Nova Carbon Provider of carbon fiber products | $2M | 24 mo ago | 6 | Hugo Cartron Co-Founder & CEO | DatoCMSReactReact Router+9 | — | — | 1 internship · 3 partnerships |
| 16 | NaturePlast Manufacturer of bioplastic materials | $1M | 55 mo ago | 15 | Thomas Lefevre Founder & CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+21 | — | — | 1 launch |
| 17 | SPECIFIC POLYMERS Manufacturer of functional monomers and polymers | $1M | 57 mo ago | — | Cedric Loubat CEO | Cart FunctionalityWordPressMySQL+42 | — | 42 patents Polymer-based proton-conducting membranes for fuel cells and advanced plastic materials | 4 launchs · 1 partnership |
| 18 | Epma Provider of powder metallurgy industry resources and networking opportunities | $973K | 89 mo ago | — | — | Cart FunctionalityWooCommerceWordPress+20 | — | — | — |
| 19 | Processium Provider of design and development services for chemical industry | $612K | 60 mo ago | 51 | Pascal Rousseaux Founder & CEO | Apple iCloud MailMicrosoft 365Ruby+14 | — | 6 patents Microwave‑assisted organic synthesis and photocatalytic wastewater purification technologies. | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 20 | Vfp-Ink-Technologies Manufacturer of functional and decorative screen printing inks and varnishes | $519K | 45 mo ago | — | — | Webflow EcommerceCart FunctionalityWebflow+12 | — | — | 1 partnership |
| 21 | INNOV’IA Provider of market research services | $341K | 56 mo ago | 350 | Alain Grizeau CEO | WordPressMySQLPHP+25 | — | 20 patents Stable pharmaceutical powder formulations and manufacturing processes for active ingredients | 1 partnership |
| 22 | edelris Home - Edelris | $315K | 80 mo ago | 63 | — | WordPressMySQLPHP+10 | — | 30 patents Hepatitis B antiviral drugs and FXR receptor agonist therapeutics | — |
| 23 | Sicat Manufacturer of silicon carbide products | $291K | 128 mo ago | — | Stephane Wambergue CEO | — | — | 73 patents Patents concentrated in chemistry & materials | — |
| 24 | Corso Magenta Provider of smart dry paint films for RFID shielding, sustainable protections, decorations, fast repair, and… | $271K | 65 mo ago | — | Stanislas Chevallier Founder & CEO | — | — | 57 patents Film-assisted molding processes for component fabrication and painted surface repair solutions | — |
| 25 | Technima France Manufacturer of marking paints and technical spray products | $171K | 49 mo ago | 400 | — | PrestaShopDoofinderMySQL+27 | — | — | 1 internship |
| 26 | nanovation Provider of nanotechnology coatings solutions for building and automotive glass, industrial surfaces… | $164K | 72 mo ago | — | Ferechteh Teherani Co-Founder & CEO | — | — | 3 patents GaN LED substrate/buffer layer processes and anti‑glare coatings for wide‑bandgap oxides | — |
| 27 | Minapath Provider of research and measurement services for exposures to mineral particles and fibers in human tissues | $115K | 90 mo ago | 3 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 28 | Futuramat Formulator and compounder of bioplastics and eco-designed materials | $304 | 114 mo ago | — | — | — | — | — | 1 launch · 1 partnership |
| 29 | Air Liquide Supplier of gases & chemical products | — | 23 mo ago | 65,200 | Francois Jackow CEO | Cart FunctionalityDrupalAlgolia+38 | 53 signals Contracts · M&A · Acquisition | 20,854 patents Industrial gases production, cryogenic separation, high‑temp furnaces, compressors, and heat exchangers | — |
Top 12 Chemicals and Materials companies in France
#1
Public · Puteaux, Ile de France · founded 2004 · 2793 employees$69.5Mraised▾
Arkema Group which was set up by French oil major Total is a chemical materials company that designs materials and creates new use cases for them. They have expertise in lightweight & design materials, sourced materials, energy, water management, electronics, and home insulations. The company operates in three business segments high-performance materials, industrial specialties, and coating solutions. Their R&D division runs an incubator for developing and identifying new products. In 2022, the company recorded annual revenues of $11.63B and a net profit of $0.8B
- May 2025Grant (prize money)$3.9M
- Apr 2024Grant (prize money)$10.2M
- Sep 2023Grant (prize money)$2M
- Jul 2023Grant (prize money)$2.3M
#2
Series B · Meylan, Auvergne Rhone Alpes · founded 2017 · 19 employees$7.5Mraised▾
Provider of imaging, sensing and detection services
- Oct 2025Series B$9.4M
- Sep 2021Grant (prize money)$58.2K
- Sep 2020Series A$7.5M
- Sep 2020Grant (prize money)$2.7M
#3
Acquired · Paris, Ile de France · founded 1880 · 175 employees$1.6Braised▾
Imerys provides mineral-based specialty solutions for industry. It transforms a range of minerals to bring enhanced industrial functionalities like heat resistance, mechanical strength, conductivity, coverage, barrier effect that are essential to its customers’ products and manufacturing processes. Its business groups consist of energy solutions and specialities, filtration and performance Additives, Ceramic, and high resistance materials.
#4
Public · Bernin, Auvergne Rhone Alpes · founded 1992 · 2157 employees$196Mraised▾
Manufacturer of engineered semiconductor substrates. It develops and produces silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafers using proprietary Smart Cut™ technology. These substrates enhance energy efficiency and performance in microelectronics for applications such as mobile communications, automotive, and AI. The company operates manufacturing facilities and collaborates with industry partners to supply its products globally. Its business model includes both direct sales and licensing of its technology to other manufacturers.
- Dec 2022Grant (prize money)$1.1M
- Jun 2022Post IPO$158.1M
- Jan 2022Grant (prize money)$37.5K
- Oct 2021Grant (prize money)$3.2M
#5
Series A · Peyruis, Provence Alpes Cote d Azur · founded 1988 · 49 employees$22.3Mraised▾
SOPHIM is a manufacturer of squalane products. Product catalog includes waxes, butter, oil, hydrogenated Plyisobutene, and more. The company claims that the products are made up of vegetable extracts. The products are used in medicines, cosmetics, veterenary applications, and other.
- Oct 2023Series A$21.1M
- Jul 2012Unattributed$1.2M
#6
Seed · Merignac, Nouvelle Aquitaine · founded 2022 · 6 employees$1.5Mraised▾
Nova Carbon is a company that aims to democratize the use of carbon fiber by developing high-performance semi-finished products made from carbon fiber. They are focused on creating sustainable carbon fiber solutions.
- Jun 2024Seed$1.5M
#7
Seed · Saint-Martin-d'Heres, Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes · founded 2019 · 7 employees$2.4Mraised▾
Manufacturer of ferrite-based materials for electromagnetic compatibility and radio frequency solutions. The company provides powders and semi-finished products for additive manufacturing. These products address electromagnetic interference challenges, functioning as microwave absorbers and passive components. Target markets include aerospace, defense, telecoms, and various industrial sectors.
- Feb 2024Seed$2.4M
#8
Seed · Pessac, Nouvelle Aquitaine · founded 2021 · 6 employees$1.6Mraised▾
Dionymer is a biotech start-up focused on circular economy by developing a technology to transform organic food waste into biodegradable polyhydroxyalkanoates, which can be used as raw materials in the plastic industry, textiles, or cosmetics. They have raised €1.5M in funding and are committed to the circular economy.
- Dec 2023Seed$1.6M
#9
Series A · Saint Etienne de Saint Geoirs, Auvergne Rhone Alpes · founded 1962 · 400 employees$20.3Mraised▾
Design and supply polymer products and solutions for the infrastructures, networks and buildings
#10
Funding Raised · Grand Est · founded 2019 · 311 employees$3.5Mraised▾
Le site industriel Solvay Chalampé devient une Joint-venture (co-entreprise) du nom de ALSACHIMIE détenue à 51% par BASF et 49% par Domo Chemicals. Nos produits sont destinés aux industries de l’automobile, du textile, des biens de consommation, ou encore de l’électronique et de l’électricité.
- Mar 2023Grant (prize money)$2.1M
- Feb 2023Grant (prize money)$1.3M
#11
Seed · Bry-sur-Marne, lle-de-France · founded 2017$2.2Mraised▾
Manufacturer of dyes and colors
- 2023Grant (prize money)—
- Feb 2022Grant (prize money)$2.2M
- Seed—
#12
Seed · Saint Fons, Auvergne Rhone Alpes · founded 2018 · 5 employees$1.5Mraised▾
Operator of an ecological tannery intended to produce marine leathers. The company's leathers are developed by recycling fish skin that is obtained from the food industry in an ethical approach to maintain a circular and sustainable economy, enabling customers to have environment-friendly products that are made by keeping sustainability factors in mind.
Funding & investor landscape
Notable founders
Market landscape — 10 sub-themes by coverage
Share of Chemicals and Materials coverage by sub-theme.
Regulatory-risk over time rising
Funding & growth over time
funding rising · growth rising
How research on Advanced Materials is moving in France
A read on the academic research around Advanced Materials — which themes are gaining ground, the institutions and researchers driving them, and how the tone is shifting. Based on 254 France-affiliated papers.
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique101
- Ingenierie des Materiaux polymeres28
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne18
- Franche-Comté Électronique Mécanique Thermique et Optique - Sciences et Technologies15
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 113
- Actuator5→20
- Smart material5→18
- Elastomer1→11
- Shape-memory polymer1→7
- Composite material3→8
- Smart material11→19
- Nanotechnology2→8
- Piezoelectricity3→7
- Vibration control1→4
- Finite element method4→6
- Nanotechnology3
- Field (mathematics)3
- Smart material3
- Spin crossover1
- State of matter1
Where advanced materials is researched across France
Location clusters by institution affiliation — each city's volume, stance tone, and a quick read on its hot topic, what's advancing, the opening opportunity, and the main concern.
Who's filing advanced materials patents in France
France advanced materials patent filing is cooling — 16,694 filings from 7,977 assignees (2016–2025), led by Centre NAT RECH Scient, Commissariat Energie Atomique, Saint Gobain CT Recherches; annual filings 1819→1280.
- Centre NAT RECH Scient4145
- Commissariat Energie Atomique3922
- Saint Gobain CT Recherches1930
- Lafarge1138
- Safran Ceram902
- Snecma827
- Arkema France817
- Safran638
Common questions
Rohit lives in the feed. He covers what's moving right now — the funding rounds, launches and shifts breaking across the trade press — and ties them back to where the sector is heading.