Welcome to IREIS – Institut de Recherches en Ingénierie des Surfaces (Institute for Research in Surface Engineering).
Welcome to IREIS – Institut de Recherches en Ingénierie des Surfaces, a center of excellence dedicated to innovation and the advancement of technologies in the key fields of tribology, photonics, and hydrogen technologies.
Our institute bridges scientific research and industrial needs by developing cutting-edge solutions to meet technical, environmental, and societal challenges.
At IREIS, we study and enhance surface properties of materials — from laboratory research to the development of industrial-scale solutions.
In collaboration with leading institutions, we build strong partnerships to push the boundaries of innovation and shape the future of technology. Their expertise enables us to achieve ambitious goals while strengthening our position as a champion in tribology, photonics and hydrogen technologies…
Save the dates
MANUFACTURING,
MATERIALS & ENERGY
3 July 2025
An online B2B convention bringing together key players in the industry.
EMPC 2025
16-18 September 2025
Leading European conference on microelectronic encapsulation.
PLI
24-25 September 2025
The benchmark event for industrial laser processes.
Our projects
COMETA: A strategic partnership to reinvent optics with metasurfaces
COMETA: joint laboratory (UJM–CNRS–HEF) to create innovative optical components based on miniature and high-performance metasurfaces.
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Superball: an innovation putting the Loire region in the international industrial spotlight
The Superball project creates innovative solder balls in France that are more reliable and durable, supported by IREIS and its partners.
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Launch of the TRIDEN project – Tribology for low-carbon energies (Nov. 2023 – Oct. 2026)
The TRIDEN project aims to develop tribological solutions for hydrogen and nuclear systems that are sustainable and efficient.
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our research areas
TRIBOLOGY
IREIS studies phenomena related to solids in dynamic interaction — with a focus on understanding and controlling the mechanisms of friction and wear.
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PHOTONIC
Photonics covers all phenomena related to the interaction between light and matter, as well as the design of optical functions such as anti-reflective coatings or specific filters. It relies on the precise control of surface materials and interfaces, with the goal of developing optical components that operate across a broad range of wavelengths.
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HYDROGEN
Hydrogen technologies involve the study of surface phenomena related to the processes of production, transport, storage, and utilization of this energy carrier.
This includes, in particular, electrolysis, compression, fuel cells, and hydrogen-powered engines.