Region

Grand Est

Examples of partnerships with companies in the region

A start-up launches helium exploration and production in Europe

Partnership Extra&Co / Carnot ICÉEL - 45-8 Energy

Although helium is an essential input in the electronics, aerospace and medical industries, it is not produced in Europe and its price has trebled in less than five years. 45-8 Energy aims to seek out native helium and produce it locally in an environmentally responsible manner.

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Partnership Extra&Co / Carnot ICÉEL - 45-8 Energy

A start-up launches helium exploration and production in Europe

Although helium is an essential input in the electronics, aerospace and medical industries, it is not produced in Europe and its price has trebled in less than five years. 45-8 Energy aims to seek out native helium and produce it locally in an environmentally responsible manner.

Supporting Innovation

Helium is a highly volatile gas that easily passes through geological formations to reach the atmosphere. A start-up called 45-8 Energy is deploying a new method of exploration that involves measuring gas flow over time with specially-designed sensors. It came up with the idea of tracking surface gas as a means of detecting the deep, naturally-occurring reservoirs where the helium is trapped. To speed up exploration, it is necessary not only to identify the gas but to characterise fluxes (i.e., concentration, changes over time and in accordance with ambient conditions), and have this data in real time to be able to either approve or reject the potential viability of a site. For this, a strong and reliable sensor, tried and tested under real conditions is absolutely essential.
Because the company is taking up a major industrial sovereignty challenge by seeking out native helium that can be made rapidly available throughout Europe and with a greatly-reduced carbon footprint, this is the first sub-surface exploration project to be awarded the GreenTech Verte label by the French Ministry for Ecological Transition.

The client needs

45-8 Energy was set up near Metz in 2017 and its name refers to the latitude and longitude of the area of western Europe to be explored in its search for native helium and hydrogen. Because none of the benchmark sensors available on the market had proved suitable, the company wanted to develop a special sensor of its own. The Carnot Extra&Co consortium was set up to facilitate access to SMEs with R&D expertise in extracting raw materials. Following initial contact with the consortium made during “Geoenergy days” organised in the south-western French city of Pau, 45-8 Energy had a detailed discussion with the chargé d’affaires for the north-east of France. It was impressed by the project director’s grasp of the specific issues involved and was rapidly put in touch with the Carnot ICÉEL GeoRessources lab, which tested the sensor in real field conditions (i.e., temperature, pressure, humidity, gas mixture composition) using its hydrothermal experimental platform.

Partnership

Carnot ICÉEL Institute aims to tackle energy-related and environmental societal challenges and pave the way for more sustainable processing of natural resources. This is the background to its partnership with 45-8 Energy to develop new sensors, particularly for analysing locally-occurring helium and hydrogen. The goal is to obtain 20 remote measurements a day without any human intervention.
A long-term relationship has been established to unpick the “technological locks” on this development. The company has launched new R&D partnerships with the GeoRessources lab (1 PhD and 1 post-doctoral researcher) and other Carnot ICÉEL Institute labs such as LRGP (specialised in reaction and process engineering) who are working on gas separation. 
The company has performed an initial study in the Nièvre department following an application for an exclusive research permit for the exploration of helium, carbon dioxide and related gases. 45-8 Energy has been able to leverage the potential of this successful partnership to raise the funds needed to finance its future development.

September 2020

French Group Lebronze alloys commit to the health sector with new high-performance copper alloy

Partnership MICA Carnot Institute - Lebronze alloys

The MICA Carnot Institute showed and quantified scientifically the bactericidal properties of the already marketed Steriall range.

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Partnership MICA Carnot Institute - Lebronze alloys

French Group Lebronze alloys commit to the health sector with new high-performance copper alloy

The MICA Carnot Institute showed and quantified scientifically the bactericidal properties of the already marketed Steriall range.

Supporting Innovation

Lebronze alloys have been known for quite some time for using copper, a metal acknowledged to be showing a very strong micro-organism resistance, in particular against pathogenic bacteria.
However, the effects of a real activity in terms of sanitation and health protection obtained through quantitative information using sound and thorough scientific methods must be shown to both companies and the general public.

The research teams wanted to check and evaluate in real-life situations the benefits of door equipments, handles, handrails, railings as well as thrust plates required by very demanding healthcare establishments such as: hospitals, long-term care nursing homes ()…
Whereas stainless steel, widely used in door handles, remains almost inert, the French-manufactured Steriall alloy is highly effective. It has indeed proven to reduce the risk of infection through direct contact.

copyright : Steriall

The client needs

Lebronze alloys is a key player on the metal industry.  Thanks to strong growth the company invests each year several millions of Euros in R&D.The already Cu+-labelled Steriall product line has been on the market since 2012.

Nevertheless, the laboratory wanted to explore without bias the anti-bacterial qualities of the Lebronze alloy mixed metal so as to present convincing elements of the copper effects upon pathogenic factors.
Following a very first positive study with the MICA Carnot Institute in 2014, the company has renewed its partnership to measure the impact of the products in real usage situations.
The MICA Carnot Institute has put forward a two-stage evaluation protocol validated through both in vitro and in situ assessments.
BIOS* laboratory’s expertise in microbiology has enabled to bring about the much needed deliverables expected from the teams of the Eastern France-based foundry and supplying transformer.
Hence asserting Lebronze alloys’ ambition to value the beneficial aspects of their natural copper alloys for overall human health.

* Biomatériaux et inflammation en site osseux (Biomaterials and Inflammation in Bone Site)

 

Partnership

The MICA Carnot Institute supports innovation through its work on functional materials in the health, building and transport sectors. The Institute integrates 9 research laboratories and 8 technological resources centres based in the ‘Grand Est (Eastern France)’ region. BIOS first determined the given time necessary to kill opportunistic pathogenic agents in contact with various copper alloy touch surfaces.

The researchers then compared the microbial populations of a variety of handle types inside 5 nursing homes.
The study has confirmed that the examined bacteria have been found to survive for several months on a said support, but 90% did not by simple alloy (Steriall series) contact.
The taking methodology used made it possible for Lebronze alloys to move forward in terms of strategy against microbial resistance. It is also at the origin of a draft standard with the French Standardization Association (Association Française de Normalisation, AFNOR) on the measurement of anti-microbial activities of non-porous surfaces.

December 2018

2 Carnot Institutes work together on consumer-oriented product development

Partnership Energies du futur - Leti Carnot Institutes- Bubendorff

Industry leader of built-in motorised blinds Bubendorff markets devices designed to automate with no auxiliary voltage supply, even when installed north!

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Partnership Energies du futur - Leti Carnot Institutes- Bubendorff

2 Carnot Institutes work together on consumer-oriented product development

Industry leader of built-in motorised blinds Bubendorff markets devices designed to automate with no auxiliary voltage supply, even when installed north!

Supporting Innovation

The ‘ID2 Autonome’ controlled blind automated system comes complete with a blind, batteries and remote control pack offering outstanding energy savings thanks to a 100% solar return.
To ensure consistent system performance even with poor solar insolation a systematic methodology for efficient-energy use was approached so as to optimise a specified set of energy expenses (stand-by mode, radio contact between the blind and the remote control, the blind motor system…). The selection of the appropriate battery type has been decisive to meeting the French manufacturer’s Seal of Approval and 7-year warranty. The products have been available to consumers since 2012 and help the company keep its number one position in the French market.

The client needs

The small, family-run Alsace-based Bubendorff enterprise has been specialising in the manufacture of roller shutters since 1959. While constantly striving to improve competitiveness, the manufacturer keeps investing substantially in research and development through logistical proficiency and innovative solutions to help each of their clients reduce their environmental impact. It is on this basis that Bubendorff approached and started discussions with LITEN, a section of the “Energies du futur” Carnot Institute , prompting the idea of a useable solar powered blind motorised system to suit one’s new or soon-to-be-renovated building/house whatever the light exposure. This requirement means increased efficiency, and optimisation of the entire energy system.

Partnership

The “Energies du futur” Carnot Institute has determined  the high-performance battery complying with optimized charging and discharging parameter assessment. The CEA LETI*, Carnot Institute, enables significant gains in energy efficiency by dividing total radio communication consumption by 100, compared to the earlier generations of radio system. Such co-operation with Bubendorff has resulted in the launching of a comprehensive range of sustainable blinds whose energy-efficiency is enhanced when they are controlled according the ratio  amount of sunshine / temperature.

* Research institute for electronics and information technologies

January 2017

At the heart of a winning strategy is collaborative robotics

Partnership ARTS Carnot Institute - Kuka

The ARTS Carnot Institute helps Thyssenkrupp Presta France tostrengthen its production tool.

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Partnership ARTS Carnot Institute - Kuka

At the heart of a winning strategy is collaborative robotics

The ARTS Carnot Institute helps Thyssenkrupp Presta France tostrengthen its production tool.

Supporting Innovation

By co-ordinating highly sensitive tasks both humans and robotic systems can perform very closely in order to bring improvements in both productivity and agility to the production teams. The on-site integration of LBR* iiwa, Kuka’s collaborative robot, into these OEM’s** highly automated production facilities is considered very innovative. Not only in terms of state-of-the-art technology but also regarding its contribution in relation to comfort at the workstation, new material architectures and process simplification. Beyond selecting the appropriate hardwares the real innovation revolves around the approach to setting an industrial policy for Industry 4.0 developed and tested based on multiple scenarios, while winning over the operators’ support) at the same time.

* Lightweight robot (Leichtbauroboter)

** Original equipment manufacturer 

The client needs

Thyssenkrupp Presta France [attention, boutons des versions anglaise et allemande non actifs sur le site web de l’entreprise], which employs about 1200 people spread over 2 highly automated production facilities (Florange and Fameck), have been ensuring assembly of steering columns and EPS (Electric Power Steering) systems since 2001 and 2011 respectively. Praised by all the major car brands the company delivers on a just-in-time basis security components that can be found on nearly 1 car out of 7 around the world. To maintain and reinforce its position globally, the foundations for developing one’s production base remain insufficient. New solutions must be tried and tested constantly and the production teams driven to technical perfection regularly. Such endeavour could only be achieved through an influx of external resources with a long-term vision in line with the company’s values.

Partnership

With its strong network of 20 research labs spread over 15 production sites across 9 regions the ARTS Carnot Institute has the capacity to respond to a high volume of ad-hoc industrial inquiries quickly and efficiently and to provide decisive technological expertise at knocking down the technological barriers [OU unlocking the technological bolts]. In view of the appropriate Thyssenkrupp requirements, the ARTS Carnot Institute has developed a robust co-robot cell to assess the robot’s ability to perform specific rack ? assembly operations using different configurations and [steering ?] types. While affirming the need of a global vision, the ARTS Carnot Institute has provided impetus and supported Thyssenkrupp Presta France’s  exemplary Industry 4.0 approach in the region to allow the business impact of collaborative robotics (ColRobot) to be encouraged, notably by the launch of a specialised Master’s Degree Programme at ENSAM Lille*.

*Arts et Métiers Paris Tech

December 2016

Regions

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Bretagne
Centre-Val de Loire
Grand Est
Hauts-de-France
Île-de-France
Normandie
Nouvelle-Aquitaine
Occitanie
Pays de la Loire
Région Sud
Implemented throughout France

Les instituts de la région