PUBLIC PARTNERS
LEM3 would like to thank its public partners for their support, in particular the European Union, the French government, the Grand Est region, the Moselle department, and the Eurométropole de Metz, Lorraine Excellence Initiative.I
RECENT PROJECTS
Below are some recent projects that have been made possible thanks to their support.
State-Region Plan Contract Grand Est Materials (Mat-GE) (2021-2027)
OVERVIEW
The State-Region Plan Contract Mat-GE (Matériaux Grand Est) project brings together the five universities in the Grand Est region that are developing research activities in the field of materials science. This project is led at the regional level by Christian Gauthier (ICS, Strasbourg) and a project leader has been identified at each university. For the University of Lorraine, the project leader is Jean-François Pierson (IJL, Nancy).
This project is supported by a community of 630 researchers and professors and 308 engineers and technicians from 20 laboratories. The CPER Matériaux Grand Est project is in line with the regional strategic priorities of “Adaptation to climate change” and “Regional competitiveness.”
Mat-GE is part of one of the region’s key themes, which is emblematic of the Lorraine region: materials. The development of a modern society necessarily involves increasing the range of technological solutions available to effectively meet the demands of individuals and businesses. Except for a few specific sectors, this growth requires the use of new materials that are increasingly efficient or offer new functionalities. Thus, the role played by materials science and engineering in our society is crucial, even fundamental. All types of materials and all methods of production are covered by this project.
The Mat-GE project is structured around four main fields:
- Polymers and soft matter.
- Nanomaterials.
- Metallic materials.
- Materials under extreme stress.
Partners
- LEM3
- CRM2
- Georgia Tech
- Institut Jean Lamour
- LCP-A2MC
- LMOPS
FINANCING
€4,527,000, including €1,972,500 from the ERDF (2021-2024)
LEM3 Contact
State-Region Plan Contract Materials and Societal Challenges (MatDS) (2015-2020)
Overview
The 2014-2020 State-Region Plan Contract (CPER) includes an action program entitled “Materials, Energy, Processes,” organized into three sub-programs (or projects), including the Materials and Societal Challenges (MatDS) project.
This project brings together researchers and professors from various laboratories belonging to the M4 and CPM clusters of the University of Lorraine. The Jean Lamour Institute (IJL) is one of them, alongside LEM3, LMOPS, CRM2, SRSMC, and LCP-A2MC. The Georgia Tech UMI GT-CNRS international joint unit is also a partner in this project, as is the Lafayette Institute.
MatDS is a large-scale project that is perfectly aligned with the priorities and Strategic Areas of Activity (DAS) defined in the regional innovation strategy (SRI) of Lorraine, now Grand Est.
The regional innovation strategy has resulted in the establishment of 12 priority sectors, including materials and mechanics, emerging 21st-century sectors (sensors, nanomaterials, smart equipment), chemistry, automotive, aeronautics, health, and biotechnology.
The region has also defined four major areas of future economic development, or Strategic Activity Areas (SAAs), corresponding to societal and environmental challenges for which the region has significant assets in terms of R&D and the dynamism of economic players likely to generate and bring innovation to market.
Health and materials are among the four identified DAS. One of the objectives, “boosting sectors of excellence and future growth,” includes promising themes such as “materials of the future” and “healthcare devices.”
“Materials of the future” refers to functional and multifunctional metallic, composite, and semiconductor materials combining multiple properties (mechanical, corrosion, thermal, etc.) and processes (development, heat and surface treatments, low-impact and clean processes, etc.).
GOALS
- Develop sensors and smart devices using techniques such as micro- and nanotechnologies.
- Develop materials for energy applications in fields such as photovoltaics, thermoelectricity, and magnetocaloric materials.
- Develop and optimize new materials for environmental applications and improve existing materials.
- Develop new materials for industrial fields such as automotive and aeronautics, and develop biotechnological or biomedical applications for materials.
- Design new materials and study manufacturing processes and manufactured products, right through to the performance of structures in service.
Partners
- LEM3
- CRM2
- Georgia Tech
- Institut Jean Lamour (porteur)
- Institut Lafayette
- LCP-A2MC
- LMOPS
- SRMSC
FINANCING
€7,415,444.69, including ERDF: €2,414,032.04
LEM3 Contact
LabEx DAMAS (2012-2024)
Overview
The Laboratory of Excellence on Design of Alloy Metals for low-mass Structures (LabEx DAMAS) was created to support fundamental research in the field of metallurgy. It creates a new research dynamic by bringing together scientists from the IJL and LEM3, specializing in materials science and mechanics, in joint working groups. It aims to develop fundamental research of excellence and increase the international attractiveness of Lorraine in the field of materials science.
During its activity, LabEx has had two joint directorships between LEM3 and IJL:
- 2012-2021: under the direction of Laszlo Toth (LEM3) and Sabine Denis (IJL)
- 2021-2024: under the direction of Thierry Grosdidier (LEM3) and Benoît Appolaire (IJL)
Goals
- Develop excellence in fundamental research in metallurgy.
- Improve the mechanical performance of metals and the lightness of metal structures.
- Increase Lorraine’s international appeal in the field of metallurgy.
- Contribute research findings to the socio-economic development of Lorraine.
Partners
- LEM3
- Institut Jean Lamour
Financing
€10,470,297 (PIA)
LEM3 Contact
JOINT LABORATORIES AND INDUSTRIAL CHAIRS
Laboratory for the Study and Modeling of Printed Circuits (LEMCI)
Overview
LEM3 and the SME CIMULEC have created a joint laboratory dedicated to the reliability of printed circuit boards for high value-added applications. This joint LEMCI laboratory, funded by the ANR for an initial period of three years, began operations in March 2015.
This joint laboratory develops R&D synergy between LEM3, a public research laboratory, and CIMULEC, an SME that manufactures multilayer and special printed circuit boards.
Result of collaboration between LEM3 and CIMULEC, it has created a center of expertise for printed circuit boards in Lorraine. Its objective is to offer predictive digital solutions for the operational reliability of advanced printed circuit boards.
LEMCI offers support for the deployment of research and development projects. To do this, it offers a characterization platform (low-capacity tensile testing machine, peeling, TMA, SEM) to define the behavior of materials found in printed circuit boards (thin films a few tens of micrometers thick), among other things. LEMCI can also provide CAD and digital simulation resources to validate proposed designs and anticipate potential problems.
Partners
- LEM3
- CIMULEC
Financing
€300,000 € (ANR)
LEM3 Contact
Laboratory for Research and Innovation in Tools for Advanced Cutting Processes (LARIOPAC)
Overview
As part of this joint laboratory (LabCom), new innovative solutions are being proposed for the development of a new family of smart tools with control over material-product-process interactions. The laboratory’s expertise in developing advanced theoretical approaches and Evatec-Tools’ design expertise are being deployed for the development, manufacture, and marketing of these special tools.
Goals
The LARIOPAC project aims to develop a new generation of cutting tools capable of self-managing wear during the machining process. The innovative work undertaken in this field will enable the companies involved to increase their productivity and competitiveness. The aim is therefore to develop the scientific and technological background necessary for the implementation of a new concept for the global multi-physical design of machining tools: SMART TOOLS.
Partners
- LEM3
- INSIC
- Evatec-Tools
Financing
€300,000 (ANR)
LEM3 Contact
Chair in Printed Circuits (EFICI)
Overview
The “Printed Circuits” chair aims to analyze the mechanical performance of printed circuits under complex loads.
It is hosted by LEM3. The chair is unique in that it brings together industrial partners: CIMULEC, CSI-SUD OUEST, SYSTRONIC, and local authorities, including the Eurométropole de Metz, the Moselle Department, and the Grand Est Region. The chair is backed by the NIT Foundation of the University of Lorraine.
All industrial products now feature electronics, making them smart, interactive, and connected to their environment. A key component of the electronic system is the printed circuit board, which supports the components and ensures the proper interconnection and control of the product.
The industrial chair aims to refine understanding of the degradation mechanisms that cause printed circuit boards to lose reliability in harsh environments. The scientific barriers currently hindering the deployment of the latest technologies in equipment are at the heart of the research conducted within the chair. First and foremost, it aims to support the electronic systems sector in the aeronautics, space, and military fields. This need is crucial because the European printed circuit board industry is suffering from competition from emerging countries. However, for the targeted applications, European independence must be maintained. The ever-faster arrival of disruptive technologies in designs no longer allows for sufficient experience to be accumulated. It is therefore necessary to intensify research on printed circuit boards.
Partners
- LEM3
- CIMULEC
Financing
€300 000 (ANR)
LEM3 Contact
Start-up
Pint
Founded in 2021 on a passion for metallurgy, Pint emerged from research on additive manufacturing conducted at LEM3 with a clear vision: to provide cutting-edge metallurgical and mechanical solutions. Since its creation, Pint has consolidated its expertise and know-how to best meet industrial needs. Pint has been hosted at LEM3 since its foundation by Paul Didier, a former doctoral student at the laboratory.
RESEARCH GROUPS AND FEDERATIONS
GE@2M
Created in February 2021 after approval by the region’s five universities, the Federation of Materials Mechanics, GE@2M, is part of the strong momentum of a rapidly evolving Grand Est region. Assuming a structuring role, this federation is the result of a long process of reflection involving all the teams in the Grand Est region whose research is related to the field of materials mechanics.
Hydrogen Research Federation (FRH2)
It brings together more than 300 permanent researchers (CNRS researchers, university lecturers and engineers) and 300 doctoral students from 30 laboratories actively involved in the field of hydrogen. The federation benefits from the synergies of such a grouping and affirms the CNRS’s position as a key player in international R&D.
The FRH2’s mission is to unite and coordinate the efforts of its teams in the production of CO2-efficient hydrogen, its purification and storage, and to advance the design of complete systems ranging from the production to the use of this gas via fuel cells.
Osteoarticular Mechanobiology Engineering (IMOA)
Engineering Augmented by Data, Learning, and AI (I-GAIA)
Engineering sciences have achieved proven maturity in modeling, simulation, and testing, the three main pillars of engineering, which have enabled unprecedented technological development in all fields: space, transportation, energy, machinery, civil and industrial infrastructure, industry, etc.
Existing models, the legacy of centuries of fruitful scientific work, have been validated and calibrated, proving to be accurate and robust. Uncertainty has been controlled, models have been verified and validated, and the technological achievements accomplished are proof of this.
Models have “grown” alongside increasingly advanced and powerful experimental techniques, enabling access to ever finer scales and ever greater precision for observation, measurement, interaction, etc. Models have also benefited from advances in mathematical solution techniques, which are increasingly accurate and faster, capable of solving problems of unprecedented size when combined with high-performance computing platforms. It has therefore been possible to design, optimize, diagnose, predict, and prescribe (the engineer’s job!).
The 21st century has arrived with new challenges: the dream or need to handle increasingly large and/or increasingly sophisticated systems, which are often uncertain and almost always complex, etc., and not only designing, but also supporting engineering objects throughout their life cycle (the ease of accessing, transmitting, storing, and manipulating data, etc., has facilitated and made this task possible). More than ever, we are tackling increasingly rich systems and behaviors, which we want to describe accurately and predict effectively, etc. In short: to work quickly and well (the engineer’s contract!).
Academic SOCIETIES
French Association of Mechanics (AFM)
The French Association of Mechanics, created in 1997 under the impetus of the High Committee for Mechanics (HCM) and the University Association for Mechanics (AUM), with the decisive support of the Federation of Mechanical Industries (FIM), is a learned society representing Mechanics in France as a whole.
The AFM was created as a result of the desire of 17 scientific associations, some of which decided to merge completely, and numerous major industrial players in the field of mechanics. The AFM therefore took on the role of representing this “unique dynamic” created by the coming together of French mechanics.
French Society for Metallurgy and Materials (SF2M)
The French Society for Metallurgy and Materials (SF2M), founded in January 1945, is a non-profit scientific association of general interest. It has approximately 1,000 individual members (from industry and academia) and 15 partners (industrial groups or federations). It is a place for meeting, training, and exchange, a driving force for the dissemination of information and innovation, and a focal point in a national and international network in the field of materials, their manufacture, and their use.