Today, personal ballistic protection relies mainly on flat plates, which impose a single design regardless of the intended use or the wearer’s body shape. At Eurosatory 2026, the Carnot MICA consortium unveiled a preview of a composite demonstrator featuring complex geometries: made from para-aramid fibres, this lighter, more ergonomic and higher-performance plate protects vulnerable areas such as the shoulders and knees, whilst offering protection against both small-calibre projectiles and knife attacks. Made possible by initial MICA funding, the project brings together two organisations from its network: UBSIDE, for the robotic manufacture of composites, and the ISL – the Franco-German Research Institute in Saint-Louis – for the characterisation of materials under ballistic impact. And because these materials allow signals to pass through, they open up possibilities for equipment capable of both protecting and communicating: in aeronautics, on-board protection systems, drones and radomes.

Against the backdrop of a gradual phase-out of PFAS by 2030, a Carnot consortium bringing together three Alsatian CNRS laboratories (LIMA, IS2M, ICS), Cetim and the industrial firm APS Coating Solutions has been launched. Coordinated by the Carnot Cetim–MICA alliance, it aims to develop anti-friction coatings as alternatives to fluorinated polymers. The four-year programme is based on three PhD theses and involves an investment of approximately €900,000.

Alsatian researcher Karin Mougin has been awarded the “Long-Term Partnership Prize”. This award recognises the quality and continuity of her collaborations with industry partners, as well as her commitment to turning research into practical solutions. Carnot MICA is delighted with this recognition, which highlights the excellence of the collaborative research carried out within its ecosystem.