Partnerships & scientific networks
In addition to the coordination structures described below, the department's teams maintain close ties with a number of academic partners (CEREMA, IRSTEA, INERIS, IRSN, Institut des Matériaux de Nantes, Météo France, CEA) and industrial partners (EDF, ANDRA, Total, Eiffage, Sixense, Sercel, Fugro, Terre Armée, Ingerop, SNCF, etc.). In addition to this landscape, there are learned societies and associations in which department staff hold leadership positions: CFMS and CFMR, CGI, AFPS for geotechnics and seismic risk, SHF, ASTEE, GFHN for water and soil, COFREND and AGAP Qualité for geophysics and NDT
Regional coordination structures
The GERS department was one of the founding members of OSUNA in 2008, along with the laboratories of the University of Nantes (LPG, LETG, MMS), the CNAM in Le Mans, the Subatech laboratory at the Ecole des Mines de Nantes, and IFREMER at OSUNA. GERS is the lead partner for the “urban environments” theme and co-lead partner for the “geophysics” theme. OSUNA has been the venue for several major research projects involving teams from the GERS department: RS2E, Vibris, Pollusols, Prose (project funded through the WEAMEC regional program). It is also a place where regional experimental equipment is shared. Fruitful collaborations have been established within OSUNA between the GeoEND and EE teams and those of the LPG, LETG, and Subatech, as well as with OSUR and, in particular, the Géosciences Rennes laboratory.
The GERS department was one of the founding members of IRSTV, created in 2006, bringing together a vast research community, unrivalled in France, focused on the subject of “cities”: Ecole Centrale de Nantes, Agocampus, BRGM, the Universities of Nantes, Maine, La Rochelle, CSTB, ENSA Nantes, etc. The IRSTV led to the creation of the ONEVU observatory. Today, it is a place for collaboration and the development of national and European projects (Nature4cities, Fewmeter, Urbinat, participation in COST TU 1201 urban allotment gardens and COST TU 1206 Sub-Urban). The creation of JPI Urban Europe and UERA stems from the French part of IRSTV's work. For the past two terms, IRSTV has been headed by a researcher from the EE laboratory in GERS.
National coordination structures
The GIS, created in 2013 and renewed in 2017, is an offshoot of the Société Hydrotechnique de France, which aims to promote and develop research activities in the field of hydraulics. It has 17 members, including Ifsttar. It is essentially a forum for exchange, coordination, and project proposals. Two ANR projects coordinated by the department's teams have been developed within or with the support of the GIS: the ANR SSHEAR and PICS projects.
It was created in 2017 and aims to bring together the French scientific community at the interface of physical acoustics, theoretical mechanics, and applied mathematics. It brings together 21 laboratories. Fabien Treyssède is its co-director.
Created in 2000, the RAP aims to develop the French accelerometric observation network and promote research in the field of seismic risk. The RAP is now part of the national center of excellence RESIF. The RAP is a source of high-quality data for research on seismic risk. The GIS has made it possible to mobilize funding for the development of accelerometric observation networks, a database, and internal coordination activities. It is also a privileged place for the development of research projects. Through the RESIF network, the RAP is connected to equivalent European and international observation networks.
International coordination structures
ELGIP is a coordination platform aimed at guiding European calls for tenders and developing research project proposals. Participation in ELGIP has enabled the setting up of several major European projects in the past. GERS agents have been involved again for several years. This has led to the funding of a COST 1405 Gabi action (coordinated by S. Burlon) and a CI2Lab project submitted to the “Transnational access to research infrastructures” call, which was not selected in 2018. On the sidelines of ELGIP, discussions began in 2017 with a view to developing partnerships with Deltares in the Netherlands.
The JPI, created on the initiative of the former director of IRSTV and member of Ifsttar (G. Hégron), is a think tank that develops proposals for future European research agendas and manages certain transnational research calls such as Eranet. EE staff have gradually joined the JPI working groups. A first European project in which IRSTV is a partner was selected for funding in 2018: the Few-meter project. In addition, laboratory staff participate in the Urban Europe Research Alliance (UERA), a forum for exchange and collaboration created alongside the JPI, bringing together some 30 research organizations in Europe interested in urban research.