The research into materials covers study of their creation and design as well as the manufacture of industrial products. The study of the physical structure of the various materials (metals, polymers, ceramics, composites, biomaterials, etc.) and their properties leads to numerous industrial applications. Research on composite materials is also a key part of research activities at Centrale Nantes.
Robotics is the set of techniques allowing the design and creation of autonomous machines or robots. At Centrale Nantes, researchers are seeking to resolve current and future challenges posed by industry and society at large with work on humanoid robotics and bio-inspired robotics, autonomous robots and their interaction with the environment.
Improving energy efficiency, developing renewable energy and storing energy are among the main challenges facing engineers today. Our researchers are working on developing renewable energies (electric vehicles, marine renewable energies) as well as improving fossil energy systems (engines).
Manufacturing deals with various manufacturing sciences and practices, ranging from design to development of systems, processes, machines, tools and equipment. Additive manufacturing refers to mainly computer-assisted processes whereby material is added layer-by-layer. Centrale Nantes is a major player in this field with 20+ years of expertise and major testing facilities.
This research theme covers various fields related to sustainable development such as: sustainable urban planning, microclimatology, public planning policies, the adaptation of cities to climate change, building sustainability etc.
Civil engineering research aims to master the phases of design, construction, operation, rehabilitation and deconstruction while taking account of environmental risks and the durability of materials. Numerous research activities in civil engineering are underway at Centrale Nantes, in particular the development of innovative concrete.
Numerical simulation has become an essential tool in industry, across all sectors of activity. Within this context, several research groups are interested in numerical methods and modeling adapted to different fields (naval, MRE, product life cycle, etc.) Centrale Nantes researchers also have access to supercomputing facilities. High performance computing leads to reduced testing costs, facilitates optimization and promotes creativity and exploration of new solutions.
Computer science and bioinformatics combine digital technologies and biological sciences to analyse vast sets of biological data. This field includes the development of algorithms and software to understand the genome, model biomolecular structures and optimise biomedical research, opening up innovative prospects for health and biotechnology.
Industrial engineering optimises production and resource management to improve the performance of production systems. By integrating engineering methods, logistics and operations management, it aims to improve the efficiency, quality and sustainability of industrial processes in various sectors, such as the automotive, energy and supply chain sectors.
Research in fundamental and applied mathematics provides engineers with powerful tools for modelling, analysing and optimising complex systems. By linking theory and practice, this field supports innovation in sectors such as engineering, data science and finance, responding to tomorrow's technical and industrial challenges.
Automation, signal processing and embedded systems are the key fields for designing, analysing and controlling dynamic systems. Combining control techniques and data extraction, these disciplines lead to the development of high-performance, optimised autonomous solutions for industry, healthcare, transport and much more.
