The CTP at the heart of an ecosystem

The CTP is a long-standing partner of the Carnot PolyNat Institute. Drawing on this network of locally-based scientific laboratories, it implements scientific resourcing actions with international renown (LGP2, Cermav, FCBA, 3SR, DPM, DCM, Rheology, etc.). PolyNat’s aim is to create new high-performance, innovative, functional bio-based materials and systems. Its scientists use physical chemistry, materials science, life sciences and biotechnologies to design guided self-assemblies of nanostructured materials and biosourced systems with high added value, using greener and more eco-efficient processes. So PolyNat is in tune with society’s drive to build a sustainable bioeconomy!

France’s CTIs (Technical Industrial Centres) are expected to play a pivotal role in disseminating the technologies driving the industry of the future and in supporting businesses. The CTP is actively involved in these initiatives, which involve several CTIs.

Created back in 2004, the InTechFibres partnership offers skills and resources for characterising biomass and recovering it to produce fibres and molecules. The main processes for producing lignocellulosic fibres can be explored in the laboratory or on a pilot. The partnership is driving advances in collective and collaborative research projects related to our themes. In 2022, several projects in this vein were set up at regional, national and European level. The scope of the partnership is currently being reviewed to address changes in the activities of the CTP and the FCBA.

In the context of implementing the EU SUPD¹ and applying it in France through the AGEC² law and the 3R³ decree, changes in the composition of packaging will require adaptations in the paper and board sector to meet substitution challenges, and in the plastics sector to meet recycling and reuse challenges - while also guaranteeing food safety and preservation at all times. The CTP, CTCPA and CT-IPC are pooling their expertise and have proposed to create a multi-site platform to address the changes to packaging brought about by this new regulatory framework. This project, called the Au3Ra, is currently being set up and will be financed through the ERDF funds of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes regional authority.

The decarbonisation of industry and its transition to a low-carbon energy system must be stepped up to respond to the pressing issues of environmental protection, climate change and limited resources. To achieve this, it is essential to mobilise all the players involved via a cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approach, so as to facilitate technology transfer and implement projects that harness the vast range of skills at the stakehol-ders’ disposal. It is with this aim that the ALLICE⁴ platform came into being in July 2018, at the instigation of CETIAT (the French technical centre for air handling and thermal industries), and has since then been joined by other CTIs. The CTP is set to get involved in this fine initiative this year, to join forces in the move towards a low-carbon industry.

The CTP is a stakeholder in the Bionanopolys project bringing together a number of European experts with the aim of transforming bio-based materials and developing a set of innovation and test bed services. To speed up this process, a single entry point (SEP) for stakeholders is currently being set up. The services proposed by Bionanopolys will be easy to access via an online tool. Among other things, the SEP will offer nine pilot lines in Europe for testing applications in various sectors such as packaging, textiles, agriculture, cosmetics, pharma-ceuticals and food, more than a third of which are covered by the CTP.