On 20 January 2017, the Ile-de-France Regional Council officially launched the nine Key Research Sectors (DIM) that will be supported for the period 2017-2020. The DIM "Matériaux anciens et patrimoniaux" (Heritage and ancient materials) is one of the nine projects selected (with funding for 4 years)

The DIM "Matériaux anciens et patrimoniaux" (MAP) is a region-wide research network. Its singularity relies on a close collaboration between human sciences, experimental sciences such as physics and chemistry, scientific ecology and information sciences, while integrating socio-economical partners from the cultural heritage environment. Based on its research, development and valorization potential, such an interdisciplinary network will raise the Ile-de-France region up to a world-top position as far as heritage sciences and research on ancient materials are concerned.

The research programme of the DIM relies upon a strong interdisciplinary paradigm, expressed through 8 research themes :

• Objects : origin, operating chains, practices
• Fossils and witnesses of ancient life
• Paleo-environments and taphonomy
• Artist materials and materiality of works
• Alteration and Conservation
• Safe analysis
• Signal, calculation and statistics
• Uses, archives and reflexivity

The DIM “Matériaux anciens et patrimoniaux” launch several calls for projects every year. They are supporting doctoral and post-doctoral grants, Master 2 internships, visits by foreign researchers, federating equipment and scientific events.
Through its calls for projects, the DIM aims to :

• Support innovating projects on emerging topics
• Foster interdisciplinarity
• Foster collaborations, especially new ones
• Support projects with a concrete cultural or economic valorization prospects.

The DIM "Matériaux anciens et patrimoniaux" is coordinated by Etienne Anheim (CRH, EHESS), Loïc Bertrand (IPANEMA, CNRS, MC, UVSQ) and Margareta Tengberg (AASPE, MNHN).
The administrative coordination is ensured by IPANEMA staff.