Collaborative research
Since its founding, collaborative research has been at the heart of Mines Paris – PSL’s mission. By combining the scientific excellence of its laboratories with the challenges faced by businesses and public sector stakeholders, the School fosters collaborations that contribute to the emergence of innovations with significant economic, technological, and societal impact.
These partnerships transform real-world challenges into structured research projects, drawing on high-level scientific expertise and state-of-the-art experimental resources.
Mines Paris – PSL thus offers a range of collaboration models tailored to each research and development project, with dedicated support at every stage—from defining the need to finalizing the contract and commercializing the results.
Partnership-Based Research
A Driver of Innovation Between Science and Industry
Partnership-based research refers to collaboration between a public research laboratory and a socio-economic actor, regardless of its size. It aims to generate new knowledge while addressing concrete innovation challenges. It is based on:
1.
Research and Development Activitie
2.
Sharing of Resources and Funding
3.
A contractual framework defining intellectual property and the commercialization of results
Research in Service of Socio-Economic Stakeholders
Since its founding, Mines Paris – PSL has maintained close ties with the socio-economic sector and has supported companies, local governments, and public entities in their research, innovation, and technological development projects. Through its laboratories, recognized scientific expertise, and network of partners, the School offers a full range of collaborative research opportunities, from providing expert advice to large-scale collaborative projects.
1st
Mines Paris – PSL ranks first in terms of the volume of its contract-based activities within the French academic community
27.3 M€
ARMINES’ contribution toward the 70 M€ research budget of Mines Paris – PSL
20 clusters
Carnot Institute M.I.N.E.S. Competitiveness Clusters
A Structured Ecosystem for Innovation
A Comprehensive Framework Supporting Collaborative Research Projects
Mines Paris – PSL relies on a comprehensive framework that brings together ARMINES, the Institut Carnot M.I.N.E.S, and the PSL University Innovation Hub (PUI) to develop, fund, and ensure the success of R&D projects.
ARMINES
ARMINES is the contract research organization affiliated with Mines Paris – PSL. It is responsible for setting up, managing, and monitoring collaborative research projects.
It provides a contractual and operational framework that enables companies to collaborate effectively with the School’s laboratories.
This system ensures streamlined project management and tailored support for each collaboration.
Carnot Institute M.I.N.E.S
Mines Paris – PSL and ARMINES are members of the Institut Carnot M.I.N.E.S, which brings together several leading research institutions.
The Carnot label recognizes organizations committed to conducting collaborative research of the highest caliber, known for their professionalism, responsiveness, and scientific excellence.
Awarded by the French government and renewed continuously since 2006, it serves as a guarantee of reliability for industrial partners.
PSL University Innovation Hub (PUI)
Mines Paris – PSL participates in the PUI PSL, which brings together research and innovation stakeholders from the PSL ecosystem.
This initiative facilitates access to complementary expertise and strengthens the capacity to support complex innovation projects.
Initiate a research collaboration
With Mines Paris – PSL
Collaborative research enables a company, local government, or institution to tap into the scientific expertise of a public laboratory to address a technological challenge, accelerate an innovation project, or explore new development opportunities.
Collaborating with Mines Paris – PSL means:
- Accelerating research and development projects
- Reducing scientific and technological risks
- Gaining access to cutting-edge expertise and specialized equipment
- Exploring new markets or applications
- Strengthening innovation capabilities
- Benefiting from R&D support programs (CIR, CICo)
- Expanding your scientific network and visibility
Terms of Collaboration
Expert Services and Access to Platforms
Operational support that leverages the laboratories’ equipment and expertise to conduct specific tests, measurements, characterizations, or studies.
CIFRE theses or equivalent programs
A program that allows a company to hire a doctoral student whose research is conducted in partnership with a public laboratory. The dissertation is jointly supervised and culminates in a doctoral defense, with financial support provided specifically to the company.
Collaborative Studies and Research Projects
Projects carried out in collaboration between public and private partners, based on the sharing of resources, aimed at generating new scientific knowledge and results that can be applied to innovation.
Industrial Chairs
A large-scale collaboration between one or more companies and a research team focused on a strategic topic. These projects may receive public co-funding—notably from the ANR—in an amount equal to that contributed by the companies, up to a maximum of 1.2 M€ over 4 years.
Joint Laboratories
An integrated collaboration framework between a company and a public research laboratory, enabling the conduct of a long-term joint research program. These initiatives may be funded by the ANR up to 363 k€, including a seed phase and up to 4 years of operations.
How do you start a project?
Our commercialization teams, technology transfer engineers, and project managers will assist you in:
- Identifying the relevant scientific expertise
- Referring you to the appropriate laboratories
- Defining the project structure
- Securing funding
- Finalizing contractual and commercialization arrangements
Each project results in a detailed technical and financial proposal, followed by a contract that defines the terms for implementation, financing, and use of the results.