Abstract

Stages in the creation of DiamLite, a start-up devoted to the industrial production of fluorescent nanodiamonds, are described from the first experiments that led to developing the basic concepts till the process of setting up a company with help from the Ministry of Research.{ This project emerged out of a dozen years of collaboration between the Center of Materials at Mines ParisTech and INSERM Unit 829.} By recounting this adventure, marked with difficulties as well as opportunities, we can identify the points with a strong (positive or negative) impact; and draw a few general lessons about the complementarity between the basic research at the origin of the technological breakthrough and the partnership research that has served as the main relay between intellectual concepts and the satisfaction of needs in society.