Leonardo da Vinci University Center

What Leonardo da Vinci University Center does

Leonardo da Vinci University Center (Pôle Léonard de Vinci) is a French private higher-education institution founded in 1995 and legally organized as Association Léonard de Vinci under French law of 1901. It operates four schools — ESILV (generalist engineering focused on digital technologies), EMLV (business and management), IIM Digital School (digital, internet and multimedia), and De Vinci Executive Education (continuing education) — plus a joint De Vinci Research Center (DVRC) and specialized institutes including the Institute for Future Technologies (IFT) and the Institut des Crypto-Actifs (ICA). It serves approximately 11,000 students and learners across campuses in Paris–La Défense, Nantes, and Montpellier, with a multidisciplinary model in which roughly 20% of the engineering curriculum is shared with the management and digital schools.

Its core products are degree programs: 5-year Grande École engineering (€11,400/year) and management (€12,500/year) tracks, MSc programs (€13,400/year), an MBA (€25,000 total), a DBA (€30,000 over 3 years), executive education, and several specialized engineering majors in areas such as Aerospace & Defense, Cybersecurity, Fintech & Digital Assets, and Data Science. The supporting platform includes the DVRC research center, De Vinci Startup incubator, De Vinci FabLab, and student associations such as DeVinci Blockchain, DaVinciBot, and DaVinciCode. The institution has been integrated into the AD Education Group over the past ~18 months.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual tuition across degree programs, supplemented by executive education and professional services, alternance (work-study) contracts with corporate partners, and endowment contributions via De Vinci Higher Education Funding. Distribution is direct-to-consumer: French students enter through national competitive exams (Concours), while international students apply through a dedicated portal (international.leonard-de-vinci.net) and are supported by Campus France partnerships. Recent expansion has added new campuses, new defense-aligned curriculum, and seven international exchange agreements across the UK, Ireland, North America, and Oceania.

Name

Leonardo da Vinci University Center

Legal name

Association Léonard de Vinci

Website

https://devinci.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Leonardo da Vinci University Center (Pôle Léonard de Vinci) is a French private higher-education institution founded in 1995, operating ESILV, EMLV, IIM, and Executive Education schools across Paris–La Défense, Nantes, and Montpellier, serving roughly 11,000 students through engineering, management, and digital programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Technical Universities with Computing, Data & AI Focus (EDAHAEAK), Animation, Game Art & Digital Arts Colleges (EDAHAJAI)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Engineering degree programs
• Business school education
• Digital multimedia programs
• Executive continuing education

Headquarters

HQ city

Francescas

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition fees: Annual tuition fees from degree programs including Grande Ecole, MSc, MBA, and DBA programs. Primary revenue stream for the institution.
2. Continuing education and executive programs: De Vinci Executive Education provides professional development and executive programs for corporations and individuals

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Leonardo da Vinci University Center operates a cluster of four higher-education schools delivering engineering (ESILV), management (EMLV), digital/multimedia (IIM), and executive continuing education (De Vinci Executive Education) programs. The institution sells degree-seeking programs (Bachelor, Grande Ecole, MSc, MBA, DBA) and continuing-education services to individuals and corporations, with tuition fees as the primary revenue driver. Supporting offerings include a research center (DVRC), startup incubator, FabLab maker space, and a junior enterprise (DeVinci Junior).

Product overview

Leonardo da Vinci University Center (Pôle Léonard de Vinci) is a higher education institution comprising four schools forming a multi-disciplinary educational cluster: ESILV (generalist engineering school focused on digital technologies), EMLV (business and management school), IIM Digital School (digital and multimedia institute), and De Vinci Executive Education (continuing education). The institution operates across three campuses in Paris-La Défense, Nantes, and Montpellier with approximately 11,000 students. ESILV offers engineering majors in aerospace & defense, data & AI, connected objects & cybersecurity, cloud computing & cybersecurity, software engineering & AI, numerical modeling & mechanical engineering, industry & robotics, sustainable manufacturing, energy & sustainable cities, medtech & health, creative technology, and eco-innovation. The cluster emphasizes transversal pedagogy with 20% of ESILV's curriculum shared with EMLV and IIM, fostering cross-disciplinary collaboration among engineers, managers, and digital creators. The institution also includes De Vinci Research Center, Institute for Future Technologies, Institut des Crypto-Actifs, De Vinci Higher Education Funding endowment, De Vinci Startup incubator, and De Vinci FabLab maker space. Various student associations support technology education including DeVinci Blockchain, DaVinciBot robotics, DaVinciCode cybersecurity, and DeVinci Junior consulting enterprise.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• ESILV (Ecole Supérieure d'Ingénieurs Léonard de Vinci) Generalist engineering school focused on digital technologies, offering 5-year engineering programs with majors in finance, computer science, mechanics, energy, health, and innovation. Located at Paris-La Défense, Nantes, and Montpellier campuses with 4,600 students.
• EMLV (Ecole de Management Léonard de Vinci) Business and management school offering Grande Ecole Master in Management program and various MSc programs in business, finance, and digital domains.
• IIM Digital School (Institut de l'Internet et du Multimédia) Digital school offering programs in video games, 3D animation, digital communication, creation & design, and web development. Located at Paris-La Défense and Nantes campuses.
• De Vinci Executive Education Continuing education institution offering professional development programs including Executive MBA, Executive Certificates, and specialized training for corporations and professionals.
• Programme Grande Ecole - Engineering 5-year engineering program recruiting at Baccalauréat level with strong scientific specializations. Includes 20% common curriculum with EMLV and IIM schools. Tuition: €11,400 per year for 2026-2027.
• Programme Grande Ecole - Management Grande Ecole Master in Management program. Tuition: €12,500 per year for 2026-2027.
• MSc programs (suite of Master of Science degrees) Suite of Master of Science programs in fields including aeronautical/aerospace engineering, computer science & data science, international business, digital business analytics, supply chain management, marketing & digital communication, innovation & creative technology, international finance & investment, financial engineering, fintech & digital assets, and cyber resilience & crisis leadership. Tuition: €13,400 per year for 2026-2027.
• Majeure Aérospatial & Défense Engineering specialization major in aerospace and defense with 450 hours/year and 30 ECTS. Covers flight science, aeronautical and space systems, operations, governance and defense strategies. Includes projects like CubeSat development and MiniX-Rocket. 90+ students enrolled in first year (2025).
• Parcours Digital Sovereignty & Defense New track for 4th and 5th year engineering students on digital sovereignty and defense topics including geopolitics, strategic studies, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, organizational resilience, intelligence methods, and OSINT.
• Bachelor programs (Digital Business, International Business, Computer Science, Technology Management) Undergraduate programs including Bachelor Digital & International Business (IIM), Bachelor Affaires & Relations Internationales, Bachelor Informatique & Cybersécurité (ESILV), and Bachelor Technologie & Management (ESILV).
• Executive MBA RSE Stratégique et Business Impact Executive MBA focused on strategic CSR and business impact for training leaders in sustainable transformation.
• De Vinci Startup (Incubator) Startup incubator supporting student entrepreneurship across the three schools, in conjunction with Club Entrepreneurs association.

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered major, core and minor.

• University of BirminghammajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026New exchange agreement enabling ESILV students to study at University of Birmingham, one of the UK's leading universities. Students can earn 30 ECTS credits through academic exchange.
• University College DublinmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026New exchange agreement with Ireland's leading university. Enables ESILV students to participate in international academic exchanges and cultural immersion.
• UC Berkeley ExtensionmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Partnership enabling students to join the academic environment of UC Berkeley, located near San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Provides immersion in the world's leading innovation ecosystem.
• Concordia University (Canada)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Two-semester exchange agreement leading to a double degree. Located in Montreal, Concordia University has 48,000+ students and is known for innovative education. This is a flagship international partnership.
• Monash UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Agreement with Monash University, part of Australia's Group of Eight. Present in Australia and Malaysia, offering opportunities for academic exchanges in Oceania and Southeast Asia.
• Massey University (New Zealand)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 June 2026Partnership with Massey University in New Zealand, expanding the institution's presence in Oceania with high-quality programs and international outlook.
• European Space Agency (ESA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025Enhanced partnership with ESA (Agence Spatiale Européenne) supporting ESILV's Aerospace & Defense major. The partnership enables student projects including CubeSat design and launch, and provides industry-aligned curriculum development.
• École PolytechniquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative projects with École Polytechnique as part of the Aérospatial & Défense major, working together on advanced engineering education.
• ENSAM (Arts et Métiers)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with ENSAM (Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers) for collaborative projects in the Aerospace & Defense major, sharing expertise in mechanical and industrial engineering.
• LeoFly AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent association within the Pole working on aerospace projects including rocket and satellite development, supporting hands-on learning in aerospace engineering.
• DeVinci BlockchainminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent blockchain association that has won multiple awards at international hackathons including ETHGlobal New York, representing the Pole in blockchain innovation.
• AD Education GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent group integrating the Pole Léonard de Vinci since 18 months. AD Education is a reference in private higher education in France, enabling synergies with other schools in the group.
• CDEFIminorOthersMember of CDEFI (Conférence des Directeurs des Ecoles Françaises d'Ingénieurs), the conference of directors of French engineering schools.
• Campus CyberminorOthersMember of Campus Cyber, the French cybersecurity campus bringing together industry, academia, and research in cybersecurity.
• CGE (Conférence des Grandes Ecoles)minorOthersMember of CGE, the conference of grande écoles in France.
• UGEIminorOthersMember of UGEI (Union des Grandes Ecoles Indépendantes), association of independent grandes écoles.
• Campus FrancemajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with Campus France for international student recruitment, scholarship information, and study abroad coordination for French students.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• IONIS Education Group: Major French private higher education group operating multiple engineering, business, and digital schools (EPITA, EPITECH, ESME, ICS Bégué). Directly comparable as a multi-school private group with engineering, management, and digital offerings similar to Pôle Léonard de Vinci's ESILV/EMLV/IIM structure.
• Galileo Global Education: Leading European private higher education group with strong French presence including Paris School of Business, ESGI, and other engineering/business schools. Closely comparable as a portfolio operator of postsecondary institutions similar to AD Education's positioning of Pôle Léonard de Vinci.
• NEOMA Business School: French Grande Ecole business school offering Master in Management, MSc, and MBA programs with strong digital transformation focus. Directly comparable to EMLV's positioning as a private French business school competing in similar international student markets.
• SKEMA Business School: Private French Grande Ecole with multi-campus model (Paris, Sophia Antipolis, Lille, Beijing, etc.) and extensive MSc/MBA offerings. Comparable in scale, multi-site strategy, and international positioning to Pôle Léonard de Vinci's three-campus, English-taught MSc strategy.
• IESEG School of Management: French private business school offering Grande Ecole program and MSc degrees with strong international orientation and English-taught curriculum. Comparable to EMLV's positioning in the French private business school segment with similar tuition levels.
• Efrei Paris: Private French Grande École d'Ingénieurs focused on digital technologies, computer science, and engineering, with programs similar to ESILV's computing/data science majors. Direct competitor for engineering students interested in digital-focused curricula.
• EM Normandie: French business school with multi-campus presence (Caen, Le Havre, Paris, Dublin, Oxford) offering Grande Ecole, MSc, and MBA programs. Comparable as a multi-site French private business school with international footprint similar to EMLV's strategy.
• INSEEC U. Large French private higher education network offering engineering, business, and digital programs (ESCE, ECE, Sup de Pub). Directly comparable as a multi-disciplinary private French higher education group with schools similar to ESILV, EMLV, and IIM.

Broad incumbents

• CentraleSupélec: Prestigious public French engineering school with strong digital and applied science focus. Competes with ESILV in the engineering recruitment market but with substantially stronger brand recognition, larger research output, and more selective admissions.
• Université Paris-Saclay: Major public research university cluster near Paris-La Défense with extensive engineering, science, and data/AI programs. Overlaps with Pôle Léonard de Vinci's geographic catchment and engineering offerings but as a public institution with very different cost structure and scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/poledevinci
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7WSU_tS5Y-FJZLtgOTPb8g
• Facebookfacebook.com/pole.leonard.de.vinci
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/55044995
• Instagraminstagram.com/poledevinci

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Leonardo da Vinci University Center