Lafarge R&D works in close partnership with the world's leading research institutes, schools and universities, to facilitate progress in research into building materials. The Group is thus able to share its experience and knowledge while benefiting from complementary expertise.
Prestigious international partnerships |
|
Lafarge works in close collaboration with the most respected institutes and universities in the world:
Research contracts, internships, university exchange programs, seminars and visits are organized within the framework of these partnerships. A publication policy for international reviews has also been implemented. |
Lafarge and MITFranz-Josef Ulm, Professor of Civil Engineering and Environment at MIT, United States. "Within the framework of a partnership with Lafarge, I study the mechanical characteristics of cement at the nano-scale*, that is, at an infinitely small scale. This is a very interesting scientific approach that reveals properties which were unknown before now. Our work will result in the design of extremely high-performance materials and will allow us to increase their lifespan. In my opinion, Lafarge is the only player in the building industry which has mastered this nanometric approach to materials." * Nano-scale : (10-9) |
Initiatives to make advances in materials science |
|
Lafarge was behind the creation of the European network Nanocem, founded in 2004 and which today has a membership of around 30 industrial and academic partners. Its mission:
Lafarge is also working closely with the Concrete Sustainability Hub (CSH) created by MIT in 2009, in collaboration with the Portland Cement Association and the Ready Mixed Concrete Research & Education Foundation. The CSH aims to address sustainability and environmental issues in the concrete sector and to accelerate emerging breakthroughs in concrete science and engineering, with $10 million of sponsored research funding over a five-year period. |
A Research Chair in construction materials |
|
Lafarge signed a new partnership in June 2011 with the prestigious French engineering school Ecole des Ponts ParisTech, covering two areas:
The aim is to:
|
ViewpointThe Ecole des Ponts: "Over the last 10 years, we have observed the development of a veritable engineering science in cement materials which is based on expertise in a wide range of different disciplines. We established this research chair to demonstrate that these complex materials can be approached in an interdisciplinary manner. Lafarge brings a new, more pragmatic perspective and its worldwide scope is essential for recruiting high-level international students." |