Technology research institutes / Institutes for energy transition

The "aeronautics, space, and embedded systems" ecosystem in Aquitaine benefits from the expertise of a leading player: the Antoine de Saint-Exupéry Institute for Technological Research, which brings together 38 academic partners and more than 80 industrial partners. At two sites, Toulouse Aerospace and the Bordeaux-Talence campus ofArts et Métiers, teams are working to develop breakthrough technologies in three areas: high-performance multifunctional materials, more electric aircraft, and embedded systems.

Materials have a major impact on both costs and production methods, and represent a key driver of innovation. Research focuses on a wide range of topics, including performance, functionality, design, modeling, and environmental constraints, with the aim of developing optimized materials.

An 8,400 m² space on the Bordeaux-Talence campus

In the field of more electric aircraft, the challenge is to reduce the weight, size, and cost of electrical systems, while ensuring their robustness and reliability and limiting risks. Finally, with regard to onboard systems, the objective is to develop technologies that improve their autonomy, performance, and communication capabilities.

These three fields of research are currently being explored by more than 200 researchers, who have access to the infrastructure necessary for their investigations. Since 2016, the Arts et Métiers campus Arts et Métiers Bordeaux-Talence has had an 8,400 m² building dedicated to the work of the IRT Antoine de Saint-Exupéry: this is a multi-partner training and technological innovation space , whose initial research themes focus on ceramic matrix composite materials and innovative assemblies.

The Jules Verne Institute for Technological Research, founded in 2012, is dedicated to manufacturing, particularly technological breakthroughs in manufacturing processes. It brings together 42 industrial partners—international groups and SMEs—and 14 academic partners, including Arts et Métiers.

Research is conducted in three areas: integrated product/process design, flexible and intelligent systems, and innovative processes. With regard to the latter, the IRT's objective is to develop technologies for the implementation and assembly of composite, metallic, and multi-material components, as well as related elements (tool optimization, process monitoring, non-destructive testing, recycling, and recovery).

Technology transfer in the field of manufacturing processes

While this work is at the heart of the IRT's activities, its ambitions go further. In particular, it aims to exploit research results through a strategy of technology transfer and commercialization. The IRT Jules Verne also offers services to businesses, in conjunction with the EMC2 competitiveness cluster. The Institute also aims to enhance the appeal of industrial professions through its Manufacturing Academy training program.

The research teams involved in IRT Jules Verne are mainly concentrated in technocampuses, shared technological research platforms: the first, Technocampus Composites, is dedicated to the implementation of high-performance composite materials; the second, Technocampus Ocean, deals with metal processes and offshore structures. The IRT is also located on the Angers campus ofArts et Métiers, which has a key piece of equipment: a multi-axial test bench used to perform mechanical characterization tests on large structures.

Since 2013, the M2P (Materials, Metallurgy, and Processes) Institute of Technological Research has been dedicated to the entire production chain for materials, primarily metals. Located on theArts et Métiers campus in Metz, it conducts its work in several different areas.

The first concerns improving the mechanical properties of products through the design and control of microstructures. Researchers are working on a variety of topics, from the development of metals and metal powders to the recycling of widely used materials. The IRT is also committed to improving the mechanical and chemical properties of surfaces and enhancing their durability. Another objective of the Institute is to design multi-material assembly processes, particularly for mechanical assemblies (nailing, screwing, clinching, riveting, etc.).

ThreeArts et Métiers laboratoriesArts et Métiers the heart of the IRT

The teams' work is supported by the IRT's 11 technology platforms. Developed in collaboration with its industrial partners, these platforms address a wide range of needs, including the development of metallic materials, thermal and thermochemical treatments, parts preparation, modeling, life cycle analysis, and recycling.

The involvement of partners, both industrial—more than fifty, ranging from SMEs to large groups—and academic—11 leading institutions—contributes to the dynamism of the IRT. Arts et Métiers a major role with the participation of three laboratories: MSMP (Mechanics, Surfaces, Materials and Processes Laboratory), LEM3 (Microstructures and Materials Mechanics Laboratory) and LCFC (Design, Manufacturing and Control Laboratory).

The construction industry remains a major sourceof CO2emissions, energy consumption, and waste. The challenges of the energy transition therefore concern it first and foremost. It was to respond to these challenges that ITE INEF4 was launched in 2014. This interdisciplinary platform, bringing together public and private research centers and companies, focuses its activities on the sustainable construction and renovation sector.

More than 80 companies are currently involved, as well as several universities and schools, including Arts et Métiers the I2M (Institute of Mechanics and Engineering) laboratory on the Bordeaux campus. All of these players are working to develop technological solutions dedicated to the construction of sustainable and high-performance structures.

Innovation at the service of sustainable construction

Three main objectives are prioritized. The first is technological innovation for low-carbon buildings, both new and renovated; for example, the integration of energy production and recovery systems into facades, or the development of wood construction systems.

The work also focuses on integrated digital design, from buildings to neighborhoods, with a particular emphasis on incorporating energy performance, comfort, quality, and safety criteria into optimization methods.

The third area of research concerns smart buildings and networks. How can human and social aspects, comfort, and health be integrated into the design of technological systems, buildings, and neighborhoods? What innovative solutions can be proposed to manage high-performance buildings and energy networks? These are all key issues that ITE INEF4 aims to address.