National and European Contracts

 

R&D activities are evolving within a scientific and technological environment in close contact with the rest of the world. The LCPC is thereby assured of: the scientific quality of its output, access to a pool of complementary skills and knowledge, and an appropriate forum for disseminating its results.

The laboratory is engaged in providing effective resources for export initiatives involving French technology and engineering know-how, in particular through technical studies as well as support to design firms and companies via expert evaluation and project supervision assignments.

Development of the European partnership

LCPC maintains a strong European component to its activity base, by virtue of participating actively in the 5th RTD Framework Program. As of the end of 2001, the laboratory had participated in some 35 active programs, including:

• as part of the "user-friendly information society" program: HARMONOISE, for the elaboration of a road noise measurement method
• as part of the "competitive and sustainable growth" program:
       - SAMARIS, for pavement materials,
       - SAMCO, for the evaluation and monitoring of structures,
       - TREE, for the network of large-scale research facilities and transportation infrastructure,
       - SCORE, for the cold recycling of bituminous emulsions and foams,
       - LIFETIME, for the life span of buildings and civil engineering structures,
       - ECOSERVE, for the life cycle analysis of pavement surfacing materials,
• as part of the "Energy-environment and sustainable development" program:
       - SESAME, for the study of site-specific effects during earthquakes
       - EUROSEIS-RISK, for the estimation of seismic movements, site effects and soil-structure interaction.

Moreover, the laboratory participates in the European thematic network entitled "Environment-friendly construction technologies" led by the European Council for Construction Research Development and Innovation (ECCReDI). The LCPC is a member of this network’s Executive Committee and is responsible for coordinating projects under the "road research" topic heading.

In conclusion, the LCPC has been allocating sizable human and material resources towards European regulatory missions through both ongoing standardization efforts organized by the European Committee for Standardization and inspections and controls carried out in plants that produce imported goods for use in public administration projects.