POLYMERIS

Their core work

POLYMERIS (formerly Plastipolis) is a French competitiveness cluster dedicated to the plastics and polymer industry, based in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. They act as an innovation intermediary — connecting plastics manufacturers, SMEs, and research labs to EU-funded projects focused on circular economy, advanced materials, and digital transformation. Their work spans the full plastics value chain from bio-based material design and recycling to lightweight composites for decarbonisation. They also function as a Digital Innovation Hub, helping manufacturing SMEs adopt AI and Industry 4.0 technologies.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In their early H2020 period (2017–2018), POLYMERIS focused squarely on core plastics industry challenges: circular packaging, bio-based and biodegradable materials, recycling, and mould manufacturing processes. From 2020 onward, their focus shifted decisively toward digital transformation (AI for SMEs, digital platforms for circular economy) and advanced lightweight materials for decarbonisation. This evolution mirrors the broader European industrial policy shift from material-specific R&D toward cross-cutting sustainability and digitalisation agendas.

POLYMERIS is transitioning from a plastics-focused cluster into a broader advanced materials and digital manufacturing hub, making them increasingly relevant for green manufacturing and Industry 4.0 consortia.

How they like to work

POLYMERIS primarily joins projects as a participant (4 of 5 projects), contributing cluster-level expertise and SME network access rather than leading the research. However, their coordination of AMULET — by far their largest project at EUR 2.7M — shows growing ambition and capacity to lead large consortia. With 121 unique partners across 23 countries, they operate as a well-connected hub, ideal for consortium builders who need a partner that brings an entire regional industrial ecosystem to the table.

POLYMERIS has collaborated with 121 unique partners across 23 countries, indicating a broad European network that extends well beyond France. Their connections span plastics manufacturers, digital innovation hubs, research institutes, and SME networks across the EU.

What sets them apart

As a competitiveness cluster rather than a single company or lab, POLYMERIS brings an entire regional ecosystem of plastics and polymer companies to any consortium — particularly SMEs that would otherwise lack access to EU projects. Their rare combination of deep plastics industry knowledge with emerging digital and AI capabilities makes them a bridge between traditional manufacturing and Industry 4.0. For consortium builders, partnering with POLYMERIS means gaining access to a curated network of French polymer manufacturers, not just one organization.

Highlights from their portfolio

• AMULET
  Their only coordinator role and largest project by far (EUR 2.7M) — focused on lightweight advanced materials for decarbonisation, signalling their strategic direction.
• CIRC-PACK
  Directly tied to their core plastics identity, addressing circular economy across the entire plastic packaging value chain from biobased design to recycling.
• AI REGIO
  Represents their pivot toward AI and digital transformation, embedding them in the European DIH network for manufacturing SME support.