french institute of science and technology for transport ... - Ifsttar

3_APPLICATION OF RESEARCH FINDINGS, TIES WITH INDUSTRY AND EXPERT APPRAISALS
The ErgOptim project has been integrated within the
subsidiary LIER. The LCPC Experts start-up makes its
first successful steps. Creation of Transpolis SAS, which
is a shared innovation platform for innovative urban
public transport.
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ERT − Europe Recherche Transports − is a subsidiary
100% owned by IFSTTAR whose goal is to help set up projects
and manage researchers in the framework of the coordination
of European and national projects.
In 2011, its turnover exceeded €570,000 for the management
of 11 European projects. Two European projects were
completed in 2011, the OPTIMUM project got under way, and
the launch phases of the new SECRET and EVEREST projects
took place. ERT’s recognized position in the area of transport
continues to draw strength from its role as a national transport
contact point for the European Commission.
For LIER, 2011 saw total turnover of €1,652M. Once again
there were considerable contrasts between its different activities.
Its testing activities have suffered considerably as a result
of the economic downturn and are still awaiting the redrafting of
the standards for safety barrier terminals and transitions. LIER’s
numerical simulation activities continue to increase, by 21% to
a level of €350,000, 42% of which was for customers abroad.
In order to foster its international activities, LIER has set up
two branches abroad, one in Poland and the other in Turkey.
A new activity, “ErgOptim”, that sets out to exploit knowledge
and tools that have been developed by IFSTTAR in the area
of vehicle ergonomics was adopted at the end of 2011. A
first programme of “CE marking” certification was carried
out in partnership with ASQUER. The new tax
refund for investment in research and development
enabled LIER to balance its finances, apart from
provisions for non-recurring expenditure.
The need to relocate its test tracks has prompted
LIER to play an active role in the LUTB
competitiveness cluster, in connection with
a shared innovation platform known as
TRANSPOLIS. This project has resulted
in the creation of a company, TRANS-
POLIS SAS, which was incorporated on 3
November 2011 by IFSTTAR with a number
of partners from industry (Renault Trucks,
Colas, and the PMEs Adetel Group, Aixam,
Eve Systems and Vibratec). IFSTTAR has a
45% holding in this new subsidiary.
In the case of the young start-up CIVITEC, a
subsidiary in which IFSTTAR has held a 75%
stake since the end of 2008, 2011 has been
marked by a first industrial success (an order from
ZODIAC) which rewards the excellent work of the
team of developers and the company’s effective marketing
structure. Its ability to call on scientific experts from
IFSTTAR laboratories and members of the Institute’s governance
bodies has also enabled it to gain the support of the main
players in the national and international motor vehicle market.
The Pro-SIVIC ® simulation and validation software packages for
the in-vehicle environmental detection chain have proved their
validity. 2012 should consolidate this position. IFSTTAR has
a 15% stake in CERTIFER, a railway certification and expert
appraisal body which is continuing to grow with the support of
IFSTTAR experts. Its turnover in 2011 amounted to €5.774M, a
21% increase, and net accounting income reached €495,000,
a 43% rise. In 2012, the intention is for CERTIFER’s infrastructure-related
activities to mobilize IFSTTAR’s expertise.
IFSTTAR took part in and assisted the creation of the
CITILOG start-up company. The world leader in automatic
image-processing based road traffic incident detection was
faced by a drop in its level of activity in 2010, but the situation
levelled out in 2011. The company’s return to profitability is
expected to be confirmed at the end of the financial year, on
31 December 2012.
LCPC Experts was set up at the end of 2010 in order to promote
French research and expertise in the field of civil engineering
by offering high-level expert appraisals, in particular
internationally.
2011 saw the first year of its activities and its first contracts,
with French public sector infrastructure owners such as
ANDRA, GRT Gaz, RFF, engineers and firms in the private
sector such as Tractabel, Beckaert, and the European Commission.
The outlook seems very promising. A first international
contract has been obtained for a geotechnical expert appraisal
for a railway under construction in Saudi Arabia.
@ CONTACT
dominique.fernier@ifsttar.fr
ifsttar French Institute of Science and Technology for Transport, Development and Networks