Innovation & Research
Research at Cerema is strongly linked to its other activities, and helps to connect the organisation with the state-of-the-art, particularly by strengthening its role as a “knowledge broker”, mediating between research and the regions of France.
Innovation at Cerema is driven by the community’s needs and habits. It is just as focused on services and methods as it is on the tools we use. It takes into account environmental, economic and societal factors. It is also open to outside input. After all, the complexity of the issues facing government bodies mean that Cerema cannot innovate alone. Lastly, Cerema aims to support and facilitate the dissemination of third party innovation to different regions.
Within the field of collaborative research, the Carnot Network’s Clim'adapt programme supports businesses, industry, engineers, and local authorities in using research and innovation to find solutions to the challenges of a transition to a low-carbon economy that consumes fewer resources, cares for the environment, and is fairer for all, with a special focus on risks, the environment, mobility, and urban planning.
Cerema is a partner that harnesses research and innovation.
Our research teams Carnot Network Clim’adapt
International projects
Cerema deploys high-level expertise all over the world, as the legacy of 60 years’ experience covering climatic, environmental and social issues (digital revolution, new types of use, ageing, etc.). It is a preferred partner for local institutions and companies in solving complex issues in sustainable regional development, or when multi-disciplinary skills are required.
These projects fall under three themes:
- high level European research and innovation projects
- contributions to development aid projects
- international partnerships and exporting French expertise
Standardization
Standardization is one of Cerema’s core concerns. Cerema contributes to the quality and maintenance of a project, as well as to public health and safety. It also facilitates the sharing of innovation and supports economic development.
Cerema identifies and proposes drafts for standards that could have an impact on activities within its remit, and fields questions from stakeholders.
By encouraging regional stakeholders to take ownership of standards, and supporting local authorities at different stages of the decentralisation process, Cerema is positioning itself as a point of contact that enables local authorities’ constraints and concerns to be taken into account in the standardization process.
More than 150 of our agents are involved in French and international standardization bodies (a large number of whom are members of standardization boards governed by BNTRA, the Transport, Roads and Amenities Standardization Board).
Support for public policies
Active in the scientific and technical fields, sustainable development and its impact on society, and the management of regions and cities, Cerema harnesses its knowledge and expertise to improve living standards in the community.
Cerema is a technical expert in a variety of fields (urban planning, transport, infrastructure, risks, construction, the environment, etc.), and has positioned itself as a facilitator that can leverage expertise in a variety of trades to better serve communities and their projects. A public body, Cerema is a neutral, impartial stakeholder that primarily works where State and community needs are greatest, and in the most complex situations.
What we do