Organisation and goals

Our research tasks

IFSTTAR's research is structured around four tasks that originate in the Institute's 10-year scientific strategy that was validated in 2012. These 4 tasks are deliberately cross-cutting and illustrate how IFSTTAR's research constitutes a response to societal challenges.

• Task 1: Analysis and innovation for sustainable and responsible transport and mobility.
• Task 2: Efficient and sustainable construction, deconstruction, preservation and modification of infrastructure.
• Task 3: Taking better account of climate change, natural hazards and environmental and health impacts in man-made environments
• Task 4: Designing and planning sustainable cities and areas: systemic and multi-scale approaches.

Three goals cut across all these 4 tasks and supplement the scientific goals. They are measured by quantitative indicators.

• Goal 1: Produce scientific knowledge that is internationally recognised at the highest level and dynamise our research teams.
• Goal 2: Help to construct a knowledge economy and equip ourselves with the necessary scientific expertise.
• Goal 3: Encourage the transfer of research findings to the wider economy and society and foster social and industrial innovation.

Consult our key documents: Components of the planning and programming

Strategic orientations

In view of these observations and challenges, and to reaffirm the importance for the Institute of the first Goals and Performance Contract (COP), the second COP 2017-2021 which has been signed between the State and IFSTTAR sets out five main strategic orientations.

• To support public policies and the industrial and service sectors of the economy by ensuring high quality scientific and technological output, based in particular on the scientific knowledge developed within the framework of major projects or programmes.
  
  
• To contribute to the development of responses to the challenges of the ecological, energy, climate and digital transitions as well as to the challenges posed by the environment and road safety, by combining the engineering sciences, information and communication sciences, life sciences and human and social sciences, with an attentive and open attitude towards civil society.
  
  
• To conduct research in order to consider the ongoing changes affecting the city, mobility, development and networks, particularly in the fields of the environment, energy and digital technology, to consider innovation in services, materials and infrastructure during the various stages of their life cycles, to consider safe and decarbonised mobility and construction.
  
  
• To increase the influence and profile of the Institute and its partnerships within the new European, national and regional research and innovation groupings.
  
  
• To enhance the management of the Institute's collective expertise in a long-term perspective, on prioritized scientific themes and support activities.
  
  

These strategic orientations, as well as the objectives that define them, will be pursued by IFSTTAR with the support of the State, taking into account the resources at its disposal, in line with its scientific priorities.

The successes of IFSTTAR's first COP will be maintained in the long term and regularly updated: consult the COP 2013-2016.