MAÅGM associates

Founded by six experts in optics and mechanics, MAÅGM is dedicated to using the science of light to provide scientific instruments for Earth sciences. Our cutting-edge technology, developed in collaboration with renowned laboratories, places optics at the heart of measurement devices that explore the planet—and not just the Earth !

A skilled and balanced team

Arnaud Gaillot

“Trained as an engineer at Ecole Centrale, he worked for 8 years at iXblue, during which time, as the director of the mechanical department, he notably designed the inertial navigation central unit for the world’s most precise underwater navigation, a navigation central unit for space launchers, several underwater positioning systems down to 6000 meters, and a rotation seismometer. He currently serves as the director of the mechanical department at DS Smith Systems.”

A skilled and balanced team

Paul-Eric Pottie

“Holding a Ph.D. in physics and specializing in optics and metrology systems, he is an expert in optical time-frequency transmission technologies. In this capacity, he co-directs the research infrastructure REFIMEVE, which provides signals and data to numerous research laboratories in France and enables all optical clock comparison throughout Europe. As a recognized researcher at the Paris Observatory’s SYRTE, he also possesses a deep understanding of innovation funding, consortium building, and research valorization.”

A skilled and balanced team

Damien Ponceau

“After being graduated as a mechatronics engineer from ENSIL, he started his career at the French Atomic Energy Agency (CEA). Here, he became a senior expert in mechanics and seismics designing the world’s most precise wide-band seismometers for the French Atomic Energy Agency (CEA). After a stint in marine seismic exploration at CGG, he continued his career at iXblue, leading the motion system division and then the railway navigation divisions. Following three years as the technical director at Scalian System, overseeing nearly 400 expert consultants in critical software and system engineering, he joined Sodern, where he now serves as the head of star trackers and camera operations.”

A skilled and balanced team

Hervé Arditty

“Trained as an engineer at Ecole Centrale, after a doctorate in EE he continued his education at Stanford, where he became one of the founding fathers of fiber optic gyroscope technology. A prominent figure in the high-tech industry, he founded, developed, and passed on the legacy of companies such as Photonetics and iXblue. Through his iXcore foundation, he also supports scientific research in France. Today, he presides over iXcampus, a model designed to foster symbiosis between businesses and educational institutions. His remarkable journey has earned him membership in the French Academy of Technologies.”

A skilled and balanced team

Hervé Lefevre

“One of the founding fathers of fiber-optic gyroscope technology, he has been a brilliant inventor throughout his career, holding over 60 patents. After studying physics and optics at École Normale Supérieure de Saint-Cloud, Thomson-CSF central research laboratory and Stanford University, he designed the tunable laser called Tunics, which contributed to the success of Photonetics. Subsequently, he served as Chief Science Officer (CSO) at iXsea, then iXblue, and now exail. His expertise in optics-photonics also led him to become the president of the French Optical Society and the European Optical Society, and finally, a member of the French Academy of Technologies.”

A skilled and balanced team

Frédéric Guattari

“Trained in physics at the École des Mines and specializing in optics within the ‘laser and matter’ Master, he built his expertise in optics during his 15-year tenure at iXblue (now exail). Over this period, he filed more than 10 patents, transitioning from project manager to expert. Eventually, he founded and led the division dedicated to using fiber optic gyroscopes for measuring ground rotations: blueSeis. After the division’s discontinuation, leveraging his connections within the scientific community, he assembled a team around the project of using light to enhance Earth observation, founding MAÅGM with the associates herein”

A skilled and balanced team