I	The OPMIND group representing all the students on the "innovate and undertake" option at ENIM - which had devised the event - had set itself the task of bringing together the regional communities for this exhibition at the crossroads of art and industry.

Seeking to bring together two spheres that are very often seen as opposites, OPMIND was able to get several academic stakeholders and local partners on board to forge links between the two activities. The main project participants were: ENIM, ESAL, IFA, the Masters in set design at the University of Lorraine and various regional industrial and professional organisations.



The highly original exhibition included a "de-conditioning airlock" and "sensory journey" (workshops), displaying works created by the students: exhibitions of 3D printed objects, industrial robot dances, opportunities to learn more about materials and experiences, exhibitions of sculpture and photography… all with the participation of FRAC.

ENIM: Yves Granjon appointed director

Yves GRANJON, a university professor and lecturer at the collegiate body of engineering schools of the University of Lorraine, was appointed acting director of ENIM from January 2016.

This appointment follows the integration of ENIM into the collegiate body of Lorraine engineering schools (INP), which comprises 11 University of Lorraine schools. This institutional change has required the creation of new positions within the school and the presence of an acting director to oversee it on a temporary basis until the new ENIM board can refer the appointment of the future director to the Minister in charge of Higher Education.
 
With ENIM's arrival, the University of Lorraine becomes the biggest French establishment training engineers with more than 6,000 engineering students and around 1,800 qualifying each year.



PERI-URBAN AGRICULTURE: A NEW PRESIDENT FOR THE YOUNG FARMERS OF MOSELLE

The new President of the Young Farmers of Moselle was elected at the General Assembly on 20 January.

The new President is Adrien DEFLORAINE, a well-known figure in the farming world especially following "Lands of JIM", an agricultural event attracting more than 100,000 visitors to Plateau de Frescaty which he organised with his team in September 2015.

At the invitation of the new Young Farmers' Office, on 25 January Metz Métropole and MMD gave a presentation on the Plateau de Frescaty agrobio cluster. It should be highlighted that the JA57 Young Farmers are special partners in the structuring of the Metz Métropole peri-urban agriculture sector.





Official launch of the compost challenge game in Blida

A cocktail party attended by all the project's stakeholders took place on Wednesday 13 January 2016 to mark the official launch of the Compost Challenge game, a digital app developed by OrgaNéo whose offices are in TCRM-Blida. Local dignitaries, financial partners, and technical partners including the Lozange Lab development team and the alpha testers were welcomed to TCRM-Blida, the LORnTECH flagship site, by William SCHUMAN, Contemporary Art advisor to the City of Metz and Bernard HEULLUY, Digital Services advisor to the City of Metz.

The OrgaNéo team gave a presentation on the project's genesis and took the opportunity to thank everyone present for their support since the project's conception. To learn more about the project and cast your vote to support the funding bid by OrgaNéo, based in TCRM-Blida, go to: https://lafabrique-france.aviva.com/voting/projet/vue/87

Compost Challenge, by OrgaNéo, soon to appear on Paris bus-shelter touch screens!
 

The City of Paris in partnership with JCDecaux and Welcome City Lab by Paris&Co, has made a short-list of 32 projects, including OrgaNéo's, in its second competition to find applications for the touch screens on its new bus shelters. The competition will allow businesses to test their apps for a year on the 100 touch screens in service.

 
H&M, the new driving force in the Saint-jacques shopping centre, Metz
It's confirmed! H&M will be the new flagship store in the Saint-Jacques shopping centre in the heart of Metz.



Following the announcement of H&M's arrival in Waves in Spring 2016, the Scandinavian brand has signed a lease on premises in the Saint-Jacques shopping centre, with opening planned for late 2016. H&M will present its latest concept over 2,200m² of sales floor, offering fashion wear for men, women and children as well as home décor. The store will be one of the ten biggest in France, and occupy much of the unit left vacant by FNAC in 2012.

New openings in Metz
Orange has opened its brand new concept shopping experience on the corner of Rue Serpenoise and Rue En-Chaplerue: the smart store, where customers are encouraged to handle and try out the products. It has taken over the premises formerly occupied by Républicain Lorrain and a vacant clothes store.
À l'Ombre des Marques (discount clothing labels) has opened over two floors on Grand Cerf where Maison du Monde used to be.