The concept of research “orientated” towards the industry is at the base of the creation of ARMINES in 1967. At that time the weak relations between the worlds of education, of research and of the companies was considered as a serious lack in the French system. Since then the situation improves constantly.

This type of research is based on an exchange between scientists and the industry, it´s neither pure research nor competitive but joint research. This results in an original culture where the scientific approach meets the industrial dimension.
This form of research has to be managed using an adapted framework and it functions based on co-financing contributing to the development of research centres. The latter work using the means supplied by ARMINES and the partner schools.

ARMINES is a structure for contractual research with 90% of its personnel in research centres. More than 600 employees at ARMINES (teaching scientists, research engineers, doctoral candidates, postgraduates, technicians, administrative personnel) support research together with their colleagues from the schools in “joint” research centres from ARMINES/ Schools.

For eleven years now ARMINES participates in the important research programs of Europe. Since 1993 a specific team exists, the delegation for European affairs, charged with the task to accompany scientists in their participation in these programs. Since 2004 this team has also taken over responsibilities for administrative and financial coordination of important European consortiums in the context of the 6th framework program for technological research and development (PCRDT).
ARMINES is the 10th French partner of the European Commission in the context of the 6th PCRDT.

In 2008 20 contracts had been modified for a sum of 4,4M€ in the context of a first call for bids of the 7th PCRDT. Amongst these 4 CRAFT contracts with small and medium sized industries have been created via a specific partnership with the British R6D company PERA, destined to reinforce the presence of smaller and medium sized enterprises in projects of the European community.

ARMINES is also part of the European association EARTO, European Organisation of Research and Technological Organisation, uniting most of the European structures dedicated to research and transfer to the industry (Fraunhofer, TNO, VTT, SINTEF, etc.).