Research Centre
Materials and Processes

A reference centre for supporting stakeholders in civil engineering, plastics processing and composites in the deployment of new materials and processes to serve society, industry and a healthy environment

Mahfoud

BENZERZOUR

Director of the Materials & Processes Research Centre

A centre dedicated to three key themes

IMT Nord Europe’s Centre for Education, Research and Innovation in Materials and Processes (CERI MP) focuses its research on three scientific areas:

Advanced Technologies & Materials,

Circular Economy & Eco-Materials,

Mechanics, Materials & Digital Processes.

For the deployment of new materials and processes required for ecological and industrial transitions.

With a main focus on transport and civil engineering, the Centre for Education, Research and Innovation in Materials and Processes (CERI MP) covers a wide range of applications, from the agri-food industry to the medical sector and renewable energy. The Research Centre actively studies a wide range of materials, including in the area of civil engineering (hydraulic binders and geopolymers, concretes, bituminous materials, sediments, slag, bottom ash, biobased materials, 3d printing), polymers (thermoplastics, blends of polymer, biobased, recycled materials, compounding, 3d printing) and composite materials (thermoplastic and thermosetting matrices, conventional and biobased reinforcements, RTM, infusion, laser welding).

An environmental approach

The implementation process-final properties link is addressed systematically by integrating significant environmental aspects, from the recovery of waste and other alternative materials to ecodesign, which increases the recyclability of products, integrates them into circular economy loops or prioritises renewable and biobased raw materials.

CERI MP also addresses mechanics and digital materials with multi-scale and multiphysical modelling of materials and processes. New tools are being developed, for example, for modelling complex phenomena, supporting decision-making, and managing waste streams for reuse or recovery. Finally, the instrumentation of parts and structures in order to create their digital twin represents a growing field.

CERI MP brings together about 100 people, including 35 research professors.

The CERI MP testing resources are divided into three centres located in five buildings on the Lahure campus in Douai, covering a surface are of over 10,000 m2:

Forming and Prototyping,
Multiphysics Testing and Material Durability,
Analytical Testing and Observations.

CERI MP is governed by:

A Steering Committee comprising the Director and three deputy directors (Education, Research and Innovation). The Steering Committee decides on the main guidelines and manages daily operations,
An Enlarged Steering Committee comprises the Steering Committee, the three research area leaders, four staff representatives (Professors; Assistant Professors; Engineers, Technicians and Administrative Staff; PhD/Postdoctoral students), a representative of the three testing resource centres and the Director of Development. The Enlarged Steering Committee proposes the guidelines and options related to the management of daily operations.

The Materials and Processes Research Centre in Photos

Related themes

Mechanics, digital processes and materials

Advanced Materials and Processes

EcoMaterials and the circular economy

OUR PROJECTS

ALL PROJECTS

CIRMAP project

A centre dedicated to three key themes IMT Nord Europe’s Centre for Education, Research and Innovation in Materials and Processes (CERI MP) focuses its research on three scientific areas: Advanced Technologies & Materials, Circular Economy & Eco-Materials, Mechanics, Materials &…