Limoges has been associated with ceramics ever since the 18th century. A diversified and ever-changing ceramics industry has developed around this industrial pole.
The development of new technologies does indeed ask for the perfecting of new materials, ceramics being a major one. Thanks to tradition, skills, and powerful research laboratories, Limoges has become the leading independent research center in industrial ceramics and surface treatments in France. Physicists, chemists, and technicians in solid mechanics do research in ceramics for electronic and thermomechanic purposes, as well as in biocompatible ceramics. This industrial sector involves debinding techniques.

LApplications of these research programs meet different kinds of demand: chemicals, mechanics (hard-wearing cutting tools), electronics, ceramics for the aeronautics and aerospace industry, biomedical engineering (prostheses and surgical implants), anti-corrosion and anti-attrition coatings…

The ceramics industry in Limousin covers several activity sectors. Along with traditional productions, it also produces sanitary ceramics. Technology transfers from the ceramics pole gave birth to innovating firms such as B.A.T.Graphics, SOREVI, CERLASE.

The National Graduate School for Industrial Ceramics (ENSCI) offers a degree in ceramic engineering. It houses active research teams involved in these activity sectors. In addition, the specialization in Surface Treatments and Materials offered by the Limoges National Graduate School of Engineering (ENSIL) trains versatile engineers.

The Laboratory for Ceramic Materials and Surface Treatments (SPCTS ), , in association with CNRS (the French National Research Council), is made up of research teams working on the elaboration of technical ceramics and on surface treatment processes. Moreover, the Center for Technology Transfer in Ceramics (CTTC) brings technical support to the ceramics industry while pursuing its own applied research activities. Finally, the European Ceramics Center (PEC), which started operations in 2002, acts as a coordinator for all scientific bodies already in operation in Limoges. Its main goal is to optimize and promote all the local skills in ceramics on the European and global levels.

“Limoges is the leading research center in industrial ceramics in France and one of the leaders in Europe.”