EDILIANS

Their core work

EDILIANS (formerly part of the Imerys group) is a major French industrial company specializing in building materials, particularly roofing and refractory products. In H2020 projects, they contributed expertise in thermomechanical modeling of refractory linings, thermal and electrical energy storage systems, and building envelope materials. Their role spans materials science R&D and industrial testing, connecting fundamental materials research to real-world construction and energy applications.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

EDILIANS entered H2020 through fundamental materials research — the ATHOR project (2017) focused on thermomechanical modeling of refractories, a core competence tied to their industrial roots. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward applied energy and construction topics: thermal storage systems (MiniStor) and building envelope innovation platforms (METABUILDING LABS). This trajectory shows a move from internal R&D knowledge toward market-facing applications in energy-efficient buildings.

EDILIANS is moving from fundamental materials science toward applied building energy solutions and open innovation platforms — expect them to seek partners in energy-efficient construction and smart building materials.

How they like to work

EDILIANS exclusively participates as a partner or third party — they have never coordinated an H2020 project, indicating they prefer to contribute specialized industrial expertise rather than lead research agendas. With 81 unique partners across 18 countries from just 3 projects, they operate in large, diverse consortia typical of Innovation Actions. This suggests they are approachable as an industrial end-user or materials supplier within larger collaborative efforts.

Despite only 3 projects, EDILIANS has connected with 81 unique partners across 18 countries, reflecting participation in large-scale Innovation Action consortia with broad European reach.

What sets them apart

EDILIANS brings something rare to consortia: a large industrial manufacturer with hands-on expertise in both refractory and construction materials, combined with willingness to engage in applied research on energy storage and building performance. Unlike pure research partners, they offer real manufacturing context and can validate materials innovations against industrial requirements. For consortium builders, they represent a credible industry voice in building materials and thermal applications.

Highlights from their portfolio

• METABUILDING LABS
  Their largest funded project (EUR 176,543), combining open innovation test beds, digital platforms, and SME brokerage for building envelope materials — a strong market-orientation signal.
• ATHOR
  An MSCA training network on refractory linings, indicating deep domain knowledge in high-temperature materials and willingness to invest in next-generation researcher training.
• MiniStor
  Addresses residential energy storage using phase-change and thermochemical materials — bridges their materials expertise with the growing demand for building-integrated energy systems.