Distributed Materials–Processes–Energy development platform for the industry of the future
MAPE is an equipment project funded under the State-Region Planning Contract (CPER), a funding programme for regional development. The CPER comprises four thematic strands; MAPE falls within the one focused on supporting the transitions needed to make our development model sustainable. The project is co-funded by the European Union, the Pays de la Loire Region, Nantes Métropole, CARENE (Saint-Nazaire Agglomeration) and the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation.
MAPE aims to create an experimental platform distributed across four laboratories: LTEN (Thermal and Energy Engineering), GeM, GEPEA (Process Engineering) and IREENA (Electrical Energy). The project, with a total cost of €4.5 million, is part of a drive to develop a more environmentally friendly Industry of the Future. MAPE thus aims to implement new materials, study their durability under severe environmental conditions (temperature, humidity), and optimise their manufacturing and recycling processes, while taking into account the associated energy efficiency considerations. Centred on the materials–processes–energy triad, the equipment will include advanced tools for in-situ materials characterisation, facilities for studying polymer and composite materials during their initial manufacturing or recovery processes, and laboratory-scale test benches for energy storage and production solutions.
MAPE is structured into four complementary and balanced strands, providing a comprehensive response to the challenges addressed:
- In-situ microstructural and mechanical analysis tools
- Processes and instrumentation
- Recycling – Recovery
- Energy – production and storage