Arts et Métiers alongside five academic partners to develop a new approach to engineering research that is more environmentally friendly.
Officially launched on April 1, 2025, at the École nationale des ponts et chaussées,the UAR UTOPII —Transdisciplinary Unit for Guidance and Forecasting of the Environmental Impacts of Engineering Research—brings together six major higher education and research institutions: CNRS Engineering, Aix-Marseille University, the École nationale des ponts et chaussées (ENPC), the École nationale supérieureArts et Métiers ENSAM), INSA Lyon, and Sorbonne University.
A collective ambition for more responsible research
The UAR UTOPII has a clear ambition: to assess the environmental impacts of research in a more detailed, comprehensive, and forward-looking manner, particularly in the fields of engineering and emerging technologies.
This initiative is a continuation of efforts already undertaken by the French scientific community. The GDR Labos 1point5, launched by the CNRS, INRAE, ADEME, INRIA, and Sorbonne University, has made it possible to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions associated with laboratory operations. UTOPII enriches this approach by broadening the scope of analysis: beyond GHG emissions, it now integrates a systemic and multi-criteria approach to environmental impacts.
Life cycle analysis at the heart of the approach
To rigorously assess these impacts, UTOPII uses a recognized methodology: life cycle assessment (LCA). This method measures the environmental effects of a product, service, or activity throughout its entire life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials to the end of its useful life.
In the context of research, LCA not only makes it possible to evaluate current practices (equipment, travel, consumption), but also to project the future effects of scientific innovations on the environment: resource consumption, biodiversity, toxicity, human health, etc. This forward-looking approach, which is still in its infancy, paves the way for more responsible engineering that is in tune with contemporary ecological challenges.
A unit structured around two components
UAR UTOPII will focus its activities on two complementary areas:
A research component, which aims to develop new environmental assessment tools specifically tailored to scientific projects. This will involve producing methods, indicators, and cross-cutting analysis grids to better understand the overall and delayed effects of research on the environment.
A support component, which will offer researchers and laboratories a range of practical services: assistance with self-assessment, training, a shared database, simulation tools, etc. These tools will be developed jointly with the research units and tailored to their needs, in line with eco-design approaches and existing initiatives.
A network of environmental advisors will also be set up to ensure the circulation of knowledge, the dissemination of best practices, and the integration of methodologies developed in research structures.
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Contact
UAR UTOPII contact: Myriam Saadé – myriam.saade@cnrs.fr
