On Wednesday, February 4, 2026, the CALHIPSO building was inaugurated on the campus of the Le Creusot IUT of the Université Bourgogne Europe. This new facility is dedicated to research, training, and collaborations with industry. This project, scientifically led by the ICB Laboratory, represents a significant step in the development of the Le Creusot campus.
An inauguration morning in Le Creusot
The ceremony began with a series of speeches from various institutions, highlighting the importance of the CALHIPSO building for the Le Creusot campus, the university, and the surrounding region.
Olivier Aubreton, director of the Le Creusot IUT, opened the morning by emphasizing the campus’s role in technological training and its connection to research activities. Vincent Thomas, President of the Université Bourgogne Europe, then emphasized the importance of CALHIPSO in the university’s research infrastructure development strategy, serving both laboratories and students. The presentations continued with David Marti, President of the Creusot Montceau Urban Community, and Laetitia Martinez, Vice-President of the Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, who stressed the value of this facility for the region, the strengthening of ties between public research and industry, and the commitment of local authorities to research and innovation. The session concluded with remarks from Frédéric Wicker, Deputy Director of Real Estate for the Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, and Jean Guzzo, representing the Prefect of the Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, who reiterated the State’s role in supporting major research infrastructures.
Following the speeches, the participants went to the front of the building for the highlight of the inauguration. The blue-white-red ribbon was cut with scissors, officially marking the opening of the CALHIPSO building, before the unveiling of the inaugural plaque.
CALHIPSO: A Scientific Platform Supported by the ICB
The visit continued with a presentation of the CALHIPSO platform, given by Frédéric Bernard, a lecturer-researcher at the University of Burgundy Europe and a researcher at the ICB laboratory, who is in charge of the platform.
The building was designed to house a hot isostatic pressing (HIP) machine, acquired as part of the Equipex+ CALHIPSO project (ANR-21-ESRE-0039). This equipment will allow researchers to work on scale effects and develop, using powder metallurgy, parts of intermediate dimensions or prototypes.
The CALHIPSO platform is intended to support the research and training activities carried out by the ICB, while fostering collaborations with industrial partners at the local and national levels.
A time for discussion to conclude the morning
The morning concluded with a cocktail reception, providing an opportunity for researchers, institutional partners, and local stakeholders to network and discuss the opportunities offered by the CALHIPSO platform. With the inauguration of this new building, the ICB Laboratory strengthens its experimental capabilities and reaffirms its commitment to developing structuring research projects, in close collaboration with the Université Bourgogne Europe and its partners.
Its construction was co-financed by the European Union, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), and by the Région Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
Following this inauguration, a scientific and technical day dedicated to the CALHIPSO platform will be held on July 8 and 9. It will bring together researchers, academic partners, and industry representatives.
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