Projects and Collaborations

The Priority Research Programme and Equipment (PEPR) Origins is a national initiative launched in 2022, with a budget of 45.5 million euros over seven years. This programme aims to develop innovative instruments and software to explore the origins of planets and life. In 2023, seventeen instrumental projects were initiated within this framework.

Among these projects, the Flexible Electronics Department makes a significant contribution. Through its expertise in microelectronics and communicating objects, FEL develops flexible and autonomous electronic devices, essential for measurement instruments deployed in various environments. These technologies enable the collection of precise and reliable data, thus facilitating the study of conditions conducive to the emergence of life on Earth and potentially on other planets.

The RESORB project, funded by the European Horizon 2020 programme, aims to develop implantable and bio-resorbable chemical sensors for real-time monitoring of clinical markers in vivo. These sensors, designed to dissolve naturally in the body after their mission, offer an innovative alternative to permanent devices, thus reducing the risks associated with surgical interventions for their removal.

The Flexible Electronics Department plays a key role in this project by contributing its expertise in flexible electronics and micro-batteries. The faculty researchers focus on the development of ultra-thin, autonomous and conformable electronic devices, adapted to flexible and stretchable substrates. This expertise is essential for designing high-performance and reliable bio-resorbable sensors, capable of integrating seamlessly with biological tissues while ensuring precise monitoring of physiological parameters.

The HYPERSLIM project, funded by the French National Research Agency (ANR), aims to develop a stretchable lithium-ion micro-battery offering a surface capacity greater than 1 mAh·cm⁻², capable of withstanding mechanical deformations of up to 100%. This innovation is essential for powering portable electronic devices and wearable technologies requiring flexible and durable energy sources.

The Flexible Electronics Department at Mines Saint-Étienne plays a central role in this project by contributing its expertise in heterogeneous integration on flexible substrates and in the development of stretchable sensors. The faculty researchers focus on the design of micro-batteries capable of maintaining high electrochemical performance while being subjected to significant mechanical stresses. This approach involves the use of advanced materials and innovative manufacturing techniques to ensure the reliability and efficiency of micro-batteries in various applications, such as smart interfaces, the Internet of Things (IoT) and biorobotics.