No. 71. Concrete structures: extend lifetime, limit impacts - 21st fib Symposium Proceedings - 16-18 June 2025 - Antibes, France PDF format

The French Association of Civil Engineering has been honoured to organise the fib Symposium 2025 in France. We were very pleased to welcome experts from around the world to this important event.

It is often said that French people may not be among the most welcoming or smiling in the world. This may be true, but the 2024 Olympic Games demonstrated that this perception can be improved, and that doing so is rewarding. We hope that this spirit of hospitality has been extended throughout the symposium.

France is a country renowned for its rich history in architecture and engineering, but significant challenges lie ahead: ecological challenges, energy transition, and the need to mitigate climate change while adapting cities and infrastructure.

All professionals in the construction field agree that materials science and materials engineering have a key role to play, as innovations and transformations in this sector will have a major impact. With a strong tradition in materials engineering, we are committed to innovation and to re-evaluating the balance between sobriety and sustainability through a rational and systemic approach.

From this perspective, the symposium brings together diverse contributions, unique perspectives, and complementary expertise. It challenges conventional thinking and explores new frontiers in concrete technology.

Finally, we sincerely thank all participants, including the authors of papers and keynote speakers, the session chairs, and the members of the Organising Committee, who worked extensively behind the scenes. We also acknowledge the members of the Scientific Committee for their substantial work in reviewing all submissions, with special thanks to Matthieu Briffaut, who chaired the committee. We are also grateful to all sponsors whose support made this successful symposium possible.