On the vibrant campus of the Mines of Saint-Étienne, a new building rubs shoulders with industrial history as it prepares to leap into the future. Set on Copernic Street, this structure is not just another brick in the wall; it’s the cornerstone of an innovation hotspot designed for budding engineers, visionary researchers, and forward-thinking businesses. Scheduled to open its high-tech doors in spring 2026, this space will soon house cutting-edge technology and serve as a playground for modern-day alchemists, turning metal into intricate components via futuristic 3D printing. Saint-Étienne is laying down a path toward a technological revolution, equipped with everything from electrical blue walls to whispers of metal beams reminiscing the past.
On the campus of the Mines of Saint-Étienne, a groundbreaking project is underway to transform a former industrial site into a cutting-edge hub for innovation and technology. The new building, named Twin, aims to serve the educational and research needs of future engineers and researchers, as well as provide opportunities for companies. The renovation of this 1,091 m² space is seen as an « Industry of the Future, » packed with high-tech machines for creating metal alloys and industrial components.
The construction commenced with much fanfare on November 27, 2024, and is expected to finish by the spring of 2026. Costing approximately 4.5 million euros, the project is part of the ambitious France 2030 initiative, focused on reindustrializing the nation. Enthusiastic stakeholders are investing considerable sums to turn this dream into a reality, including contributions from the Region Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes and Saint-Étienne Métropole.
Once complete, Twin will be a hive of activity, buzzing with students, researchers, and businesses collaborating to foster innovation. With a Fab lab, prototyping space, and dedicated areas for experimentation, this vibrant location ensures vibrant knowledge transfer and development. Impressed yet? It’s hard not to be!
The emergence of Twin at the Mines of Saint-Etienne
In the bustling city of Saint-Etienne, nestled amid remnants of its industrial past, a new chapter is being written with the creation of Twin, a daring leap into the future. The location, once a humble industrial relic on rue Copernic, is set to transform into a cutting-edge hub for innovation and technological advancement. With the groundbreaking ceremony that took place on the 27th of November, 2024, the site is slated for a major overhaul to be completed by spring 2026. It will become a cradle for the formation of future engineers, researchers, and even budding businesses, all within its sturdy walls.
The strategic vision behind Twin
The vision for Twin is as bold as its architecture. Under the directorship of Jacques Fayolle at the school of Mines of Saint-Etienne, it’s an oath to the future, paving the path for an expected influx of 40,000 students. Structurally speaking, this futuristic 1,091 square meter edifice – dubbed the « industry of the future » – will house an array of high-tech machines. From devices capable of generating intricate metal alloys to an impressive 3D printer churning out metallic components, the facility is an adventurer’s dream come true. In fact, for this avant-garde christening, a symbolic sculpture of a miner’s lamp was crafted using this very method, a nod to tradition via pioneering innovation.
Twin’s role in regional and economic development
The excitement surrounding Twin is more than just philosophical; it’s financial too. With a total investment of 4.5 million euros, the endeavor includes generous contributions from numerous sources: 850,000 euros each from both the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and the Saint-Étienne Metropole. Furthermore, the Ministry of Economy and Finance is backing it with a support plan tallying 4,139,000 euros. This forward-thinking project is embedded within the broader France 2030 plan, bolstering the nation’s reindustrialization efforts.
Driving this grand narrative is the integration of IT’M, a support platform dedicated to aiding TPE and PME in the realm of digital and technological evolution. Housing a prototyping space, Twin fosters an environment where enterprises, students, and researchers converge, collectively weaving a tapestry of shared knowledge and synergic development. As an embodiment of a global paradigm shift, it’s not just about keeping up; it’s about setting the pace. Discover how innovations like Twin are game-changers in the world of industrial and technological advancements.
