Methanization research takes 1st IFPEN-ANRT thesis prize

As part of the first edition of the IFPEN-ANRT Thesis Awards, the Jury, presided over by Olivier Appert, a member of the Academy of Technologies, recognized the work of Alexandre Mallet, a doctoral candidate from the Université de Montpellier, for his thesis entitled: Robust spectroscopic characterization of organic waste: how can we overcome the effects of water?

In 2022, IFPEN and the ANRT (National Association of Technology Research) joined forces to create a new Thesis Prize, called “Science-Industry Collaboration for the Ecological Transistion”. The Prize is awarded each year to a young recipient of a doctorate whose thesis research was conducted within the context of an industrial agreement for training through research (CIFRE) in conjunction with an SME, and which has had beneficial applications in terms of:
Contributing to the reduction of the environmental footprint of human activity in all types of sectors: industry, transport, housing, energy production, etc.

Quality and durability of the SME’s collaboration with the academic world.

Alexandre Mallet conducted his thesis work in conjunction with the Environmental Biotechnological Laboratory, (INRAE-LBE Narbonne, member of Carnot 3BCAR), the INRAE/Institut Agro Montpellier UMR ITAP and the company BioEnTech, based in Saint-Malo, which develops, markets and installs software and analytical solutions in order to secure and optimize methanization units. The results of his research make it possible to characterize organic matter at the methanization site, bypassing preliminary preparatory steps (drying). It can also contribute to the increased development of industries using organic waste.
The Prize was jointly awarded by Olivier Appert, Clarisse Angelier, Executive Officer for the ANRT, and Pierre-Franck Chevet, Chairman of IFPEN, on October 13th, in a ceremony held during Carnot 2022. 
“With this prize, IFPEN seeks to reward a young researcher for work conducted at the interface between academic research and the world of industry, in a reflection of our own positioning, as demonstrated by the two Carnot divisions, IFPEN Transports Energie and IFPEN Ressources Energétiques. Furthermore, by targeting research conducted within an SME, our goal is to highlight the potential of these companies to develop innovation arising from research in France. That is why we have established the means to support innovative SMEs”, stated Pierre-Franck Chevet, Chairman of IFPEN.
“The ANRT has been active in CIFRE on behalf of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research since 1981. This award highlights a research project, conducted as part of an exemplary partnership, that solves a company's problems and aims to advance scientific knowledge, while developing closer ties between the academic and private sectors”, Clarisse Angelier, Executive Officer for the ANRT, said.

“The jury’s eyes naturally turned to the work of Alexandre Mallet, as this work best responded to all of the prize's criteria. In addition to his excellent thesis defense, we were particularly impressed by the operational added value of his results, which he was able to completely transfer to the company BioEnTech: with scientific benefits in several domains (chemiometrics, spectroscopic analysis, science and data processing), and also in the the methods and tools used, which will significantly improve industrial performance and processes in the methanization of organic waste. The jury stressed the way the doctoral candidate perfectly integrated the company, and the way he contributed to reinforcing ties with the academic world.” added Olivier Appert, member of the Academy of Technologies

Press

Anne-Laure de Marignan, IFPEN - 01 47 52 62 07 – presse@ifpen.fr 
Camille Le Hyaric, EPOKA – 06 60 43 65 02 – clehyaric@epoka.fr
Leila Chaix De La Varene – 01 55 35 2564 - lavarene@anrt.asso.fr