Sintermat (France) – Advanced Materials via Spark Plasma Sintering for Aerospace & Defense
Sintermat is a French deep-tech company at the forefront of Europe’s advanced materials innovation. Founded in 2016 as a spin-off from the University of Burgundy, this small enterprise has rapidly gained recognition for its expertise in Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) – a cutting-edge powder metallurgy process that can fuse metal, ceramic, and even bio-based powders into high-performance solid parts. From aerospace turbine components to next-generation armor materials, Sintermat’s bespoke “augmented materials” are engineered to be lighter, stronger, and longer-lasting than conventional equivalents. Crucially, the company’s innovations address strategic European concerns: its novel tungsten alloys eliminate nearly half of the rare-earth content typically needed, directly reducing reliance on Chinese-sourced inputs. With backing from France’s defense and innovation agencies, and a recent investment by aerospace leader Safran, Sintermat has evolved from an academic lab project into an industrial venture tackling some of Europe’s most pressing technological sovereignty challenges. The following analysis explores how this niche materials specialist is contributing to European strategic autonomy, defense readiness, and the resilience of critical supply chains.