Academic partnerships to make progress in research and innovation
A long-standing approach
In terms of research and innovation, the business world does not always have the time, skills and methodologies needed to explore increasingly vast fields. We can learn a lot from our relationship with the academic world, which provides a crossover of viewpoints and perspectives, and makes a decisive contribution to our understanding and the progress of our projects, services and practices. Our numerous partnerships include the Construction 4.0 Chair, jointly created with Central Lille engineering school to apply Industry 4.0 to our activities; our collaboration with the University of Nantes, resulting in the creation of Yhnova, the world’s first inhabited 3D printed house; virtual reality research projects in order to better interact with digital models or to train workers and prevent the emergence of musculoskeletal disorders; and the MixCity study into residents’ lifestyles and expectations of their neighbourhood and their homes, conducted by Bouygues Construction R&D and Linkcity, with the support of Alain Bourdin and Pauline Silvestre, researchers at the Paris School of Urban Planning (L’Ecole d’Urbanisme de Paris).
“Throughout my thesis, I had the opportunity to discuss a great deal with the experts and engineers at Tunnel Lab, the Tunnel department and the Methods and Prices department about the technical challenges relating to the subject. It’s important to stay connected to the reality of the “trade”. A thesis is not about making progress in research for research’s sake but about using research to provide concrete responses to what is needed on the ground.”
Mehdi Mahmoudysepehr
Construction 4.0 Chair doctoral student
“We have looked at the initial results of the field study by applying it to a few neighbourhoods during the design stage (La Maillerie, La Chocolaterie, Les Fabriques), and we’re very optimistic about the next phase.”
Gérard Lodetti
Deputy Managing Director Linkcity France Urban projects, about the MixCity study
Construction 4.0 Chair with Central Lille
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A five-year partnership
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More than thirty researchers, doctoral students, postdoctoral students, interns and student engineers
Further information
Did you know?
A remote-controlled crane prototype has been designed and tested at Ecole Centrale de Lille. Functional on a laboratory scale, it has provided the basis for the development of ideas with Bouygues Construction R&D on applying it to the real world.
Construction 4.0 Chair
With the Construction 4.0 Chair, Bouygues Construction R&D is exploring 3D printing systems as well as printable concrete by developing its own expertise in the process for the carrying, laying and casting of concrete.
Testing out a combination of wood and concrete
An increasing number of projects carried out as partnerships are centred around wood. The collaboration with Navier and IFFSTAR has resulted in a composite wood-concrete floor slab solution that uses adhesion rather than mechanical connection. A demonstration of the floor, intended primarily for tertiary buildings, has been set up at a construction site in Angers. The École Supérieure du Bois de Nantes is also a preferred partner for testing prototypes, and with its support effective wooden facades are now being tested for fire resistance.
