​Oleksandra Yeromina, a researcher at CEA-IRIG/SYMMES, was awarded the 2026 i-PhD Award for her QDLab project, which has been incubated since March 2025 in the CEA’s Magellan program. This project aims to revolutionize optical detection in the short-wave infrared (SWIR, 1–2.5 µm) using an innovative and highly scalable material based on indium antimonide (InSb) quantum dots, which comply with RoHS and REACH standards. Target applications include defense, machine vision, agriculture, and autonomous vehicles (LIDAR, DMS)​. 

Co-founded with Peter Reiss, QDLab has already secured funding from BPI BFTLab and the DGA, and is also participating in a Horizon Europe project (the HortiQD project). The i-PhD Award offers a one-year acceleration program: coaching, business training, mentoring by entrepreneurs, and visibility among investors. This springboard prepares winners for calls for proposals such as i-Lab. This distinction highlights the excellence of CEA research and its commitment to commercialization. QDLab embodies the potential of deep-tech innovations emerging from our laboratories.​