The NewSpace pioneer in atmospheric environmental monitoring, GRASP Earth, strengthens its capabilities through an alliance with CIMEL.
CIMEL’s entry into the GRASP Earth group enhances the integration of ground- and space-based atmospheric observations, which is key to delivering scientifically validated data for climate, air quality, and environmental decision-making.
Lille, Paris, 5 February 2026 – GRASP and CIMEL ELECTRONIQUE today announced their strategic alliance, shaping the GRASP Earth group as the NewSpace leader in atmospheric environmental monitoring. By integrating CIMEL’s expertise in scientific instrumentation with GRASP cutting-edge data processing—and building on the proven success of its GAPMAP constellation demonstrator—GRASP Earth will bridge ground-to-space monitoring of the atmosphere. This will enrich local and global Earth Observation and provide actionable data for climate research, meteorology, air quality, and environmental protection, empowering scientists, space agencies, cities, and industries with unprecedented accuracy and scientifically validated insights.
Monitoring atmospheric composition, aerosols (particles), gases and clouds, is critical for climate, meteorology, air quality and public health, as well as for vital satellite surface imagery applications. Yet it is necessary to leverage several hi-tech instrument types as well as high performance synergetic data analysis to provide a relevant picture of the complex and moving Earth atmosphere system at all scales, from local to global, and from the surface to the upper atmosphere.
With the alliance, GRASP Earth aims to become a global leader in atmospheric monitoring. By integrating CIMEL’s renowned expertise in ground-based reference instrumentation and deploying its own GAPMAP constellation—equipped with proprietary multi-angle polarimeter technology—GRASP Earth pursues a clear vision: combining ground-based precision, global satellite coverage, and advanced retrieval algorithms to deliver end-to-end measurement and processing approaches that ensures scientifically validated data of atmospheric composition.
“This alliance is the natural next step after years of working side by side in a field where our strengths align perfectly. For our partners and customers, it means even more powerful solutions—combining CIMEL’s instruments with GRASP cutting-edge algorithms. And for us, it’s a proud milestone: expanding our expertise into NewSpace instrumentation. A thrilling new chapter for CIMEL!”, Didier Crozel, CEO of CIMEL ELECTRONIQUE stated.
Within the alliance, CIMEL will extend its industrial expertise to manufacture the satellite borne polarimeters in its facilities in Paris. “This strategic move not only perfectly complements GRASP’s current product catalog with solutions for monitoring the Earth from ground and space—all powered by our algorithms—but also reinforces our position in Europe, adding key industrial capabilities in France.”, David Fuertes, CEO of GRASP Earth highlighted. Both companies will pursue their current operations and at the same time join forces, collaborating with partners and customers to harness holistic observations from the surface to the orbit and power operational atmospheric data chains at local, regional and global scales.
This alliance reinforces GRASP Earth’s unique global positioning—grounded in France’s heritage in atmospheric sciences and Earth Observation—while advancing French and European leadership and autonomy in the NewSpace industry and environmental monitoring.
About GRASP Earth
GRASP Earth is a pioneer in atmospheric monitoring, leveraging its advanced algorithms to transform measurements into detailed information about physical properties of the Earth’s atmosphere and surface. Its vision is to integrate ground- and space-based observations—including its own GAPMAP constellation—to deliver a comprehensive, holistic view of aerosols, gases, and clouds, that empowers climate scientists, environmental regulators, industries, and local governments to better monitor, understand and act.
Website: www.grasp-earth.com
About CIMEL ELECTRONIQUE
CIMEL is a global leader in atmospheric instrumentation, designing and manufacturing high-precision instruments for ground-based and spaceborne applications. With decades of expertise, CIMEL’s solutions are trusted by scientific networks and space agencies worldwide. In particular, more than 600 CIMEL photometers permanently run in AERONET, the worldwide reference aerosol observation network, federated by NASA. The company’s instruments support critical applications in climate research, air quality monitoring, and satellite calibration.
Website: www.cimel.fr
Press contacts
- GRASP Earth: office@grasp-earth.com
- CIMEL: communication@cimel.fr
