Published on April 9, 2026 – Updated on April 9, 2026

The JMC3E Chair

The Jean Monnet Chair "Europe, Industrial and Circular Ecology, Economy" (JMC3E) is supported by the Excellence Center for Sustainable Development (ERASME). Challenges include waste reduction, energy transition, climate change mitigation and adaptation policies, as well as the implementation of integrated industrial policies supporting industrial symbiosis. The objective of the chair is to train engineering students and PhD students in circular economy and industrial ecology through courses and projects. The chair also promotes mobility with 20 partner European universities. Ultimately, the JMC3E chair will lead to the creation of the European Observatory for Biomaterials and Bio-based Materials (EO2BM) in association with Michelin and the development of the Chair.
 

The courses provided within the framework of the JMC3E Chair aim to help students understand the concepts of circular economy and sustainable development to identify the benefits of developing bio-based materials within the field of engineering:


 

Sustainable Development

1. Origin, Definition, and Representations of sustainable development

2. The life circles approach

3. Notions of weak and strong sustainability

4. Presentation of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (United Nations)

5. Positioning of the circular economy within sustainable development and the SDGs


 

Circular Economy

1. European framework and European strategy regarding circular economy

2. Biophysical circularity vs. circular economy

3. Metabolism and life cycle

4. Microeconomic and macroeconomic analysis of circularity

5. Methodological frameworks of the circular economy: Eco-design, industrial and

territorial ecology, functional economy (Product-as-a-Service), bioeconomy (bio-based economy), responsible consumption

6. Challenges of the circular economy: Ecological footprint (waste management, GHG reduction, lower water and electricity consumption), product lifespan (combatting planned obsolescence), recycling, and value chain pooling (industrial symbiosis)

7. Business models and Entrepreneurship within the circular economy


 

https://erasme.uca.fr/version-francaise/formation/enseignement-presentiel

Contact: Arnaud Diemer
arnaud.diemer@uca.fr