Presentation

Once upon a time, there was Silvatech...

SILVATECH is a national platform created in 2018 and dedicated to the analysis of the structures, properties, and functions of trees in their forest ecosystem up to Wood Material.

The range of techniques and methods developed allows for integrated approaches from molecular scales to the plot, with the ability to decipher structures, properties, and functions, from the tree in its ecosystem to the wood material.

The objective of the platform is to organize and improve itself to best meet the demands of its scientific communities regarding the understanding of the response of trees and wood subjected to the multiple constraints of their environment.

The platform addresses 3 main missions:

• offer analytical services to scientific communities
• methodological development to evolve its services and adapt to new demands
• get involved in training, the transfer of scientific culture, and data transfer

   
SILVATECH is certified as a Collective Scientific Infrastructure (ISC-INRAE) and a Technical Structure Supporting Research (STAR-LUE).

Our techniques and expertise...

The range of techniques and methods developed allows for integrated approaches from molecular scales to the plot level, with the ability to decipher the structures, properties, and functions of the tree within its ecosystem and up to the wood material.

SILVATECH provides analytical expertise and development capacity to regional, national, and international research units through enhanced support for integrative research programs (ecology, ecophysiology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem functioning, dendrometry, wood anatomy and properties, structure-properties relationships, wood sciences).

It plays an increased role in national and international networks, regional and European training actions, and attractiveness to international researchers.

Our organization...

From a functional perspective, SILVATECH is organized into 2 interconnected technical hubs:
The IC Pole Isotope-Chemistry: Couplings of spectrometry, chromatography, isotopy, plasma dedicated to the analysis of molecules in complex matrices (wood, sap, soil water), sample preparation platform (grinding, extractions, micro-weighing).
The I3M Pole for Multi-Modal Imaging and Measurements: Physical and mechanical properties, laser techniques, radiography, tomography, and X-ray diffraction, preparation workshops (wood and metal), high-resolution electronic and confocal imaging, cryo-electron microscopy, mineral X-ray microanalysis, histology and photonic microscopy, sample preparation platform
These two centers also rely on sample preparation workshops (microtomy and cryomicrotomy, lyophilization, metallization, grinding, micro-weighing, extractions) and design workshops (wood, mechanics, additive printing).

Our network...

SILVATECH has developed a network of collaborations with numerous public and private research entities (CIRAD, CNRS, IRD, ONF, IFN, FCBA, universities, CEA, companies...) and aims to open its services to a large scientific community within the framework of its core competencies and themes.
SILVATECH is supported by the UMR SILVA (1434) as well as the UMR BEF (1138), the UMR IAM (1136), and the USC LERMAB (EA 4370) under the supervision of INRAE, the University of Lorraine, and AgroParisTech. It is part of the Forest Research Infrastructure coordinated by the ECOFA department of INRAE.

SILVATECH is also integrated into several local, national, and international infrastructures:

• Lorraine Université d’Excellence (LUE): Research and training strategy for the Lorraine site, to develop the international leadership of the Lorraine site and systemic engineering around major economic and societal challenges
• LabEx ARBRE: Study of Forest Functioning in the Context of Global Changes
• IN-SYLVA France: National Research Infrastructure for Adaptive Forest Management
• Labex CEBA: Center for the Study of Amazonian Biodiversity