ISIMA

What ISIMA does

ISIMA (Institut Supérieur d'Informatique, de Modélisation et de leurs Applications) is a public French engineering school (grande école d'ingénieurs) founded in 1993 and located on the Cézeaux campus in Aubière, Auvergne, France. Since 2021 it has operated as a member school of Clermont Auvergne INP, the engineering school grouping of the University of Clermont Auvergne. The institution delivers a CTI-accredited "diplôme d'ingénieur" (Master's-level engineering degree) to roughly 120 students per year across five final-year specialization tracks: software engineering (F1), computer science and graphics (F2), information systems engineering (F3), AI and data science (F4), and cybersecurity (F5). It also delivers three Master's programs — including one dedicated to Artificial Intelligence — a doctoral program, and continuing-education (formation continue / VAE) offerings. The school is also opening a Quantum Computing Chair and has international double-degree agreements spanning four continents.

ISIMA's research backbone is the LIMOS laboratory, a joint research unit with 70+ researchers and 70 PhD students, which feeds faculty and curriculum. The teaching model is calibrated through more than 100 industry partnerships, including major IT services firms (Capgemini, Akmodis, Sopra Steria), industrial groups (Michelin), and public-sector employers (DINUM, designated FISA patron for the 2026 cohort), supplemented by a series of newer partnerships signed between 2023 and 2025 (Datalyo, NEYRIAL, Walden Digital, ONEEX, IESF). The school holds SecNumEdu (ANSSI) and CyberEdu labels for cybersecurity training, ISO 9001 quality certification, EUR-ACE European accreditation, and Qualiopi certification for continuing education.

The business model is that of a French public higher-education institution: nominal tuition (€630 plus €103 CVEC for EU students) is a marginal revenue line, with the bulk of operating funding flowing from the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research via Clermont Auvergne INP. Revenue diversification comes from apprenticeship contracts (alternance, undergraduate FISA pathway launched in 2022 with ~24 apprentices noted), employer-paid continuing education (VAE), research grants routed through LIMOS, and industry partnership contributions. The school reports roughly 120 graduates per year with average starting salaries around €40,520. First CES attendance is scheduled for 2026, signaling a deliberate move toward international visibility.

Name

ISIMA

Legal name

Établissement public ISIMA

Website

https://isima.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ISIMA is a public French engineering school in computer science and a member of Clermont Auvergne INP, delivering CTI-accredited engineering degrees, Master's programs including one in AI, and continuing education to roughly 120 students per year across five specialization tracks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education / Engineering Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technology Institutes (Comprehensive) (EDAHAEAA)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Computer science programs
• Cybersecurity training
• Artificial intelligence programs
• Continuing professional education

Headquarters

HQ city

Aubière

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

ISIMA is a public French engineering school that delivers CTI-accredited computer science training, from post-bac preparatory classes (Prép'ISIMA) through the Bac+5 Formation Ingénieur with five specialization tracks (F1–F5), apprenticeship-based engineering tracks, three Master programs (Informatique, Intelligence Artificielle, Génie Industriel), a Licence Informatique and Double Licence Mathématiques–Informatique, plus continuing education through VAE/VES. The school admits roughly 120 new students per year and produces about 120 engineers annually, supported by the LIMOS CNRS-affiliated research laboratory and more than 100 industry partners.

Product overview

ISIMA is a public engineering school in computer science belonging to Clermont Auvergne INP. The institution offers a portfolio of educational programs including Prép'ISIMA (a 2-year post-bac preparatory program), the core Formation Ingénieur (3-year engineering degree with 5 specializations: F1-Interactive Systems, F2-Software Engineering, F3-Information Systems, F4-Optimization & AI, F5-Networks & Security), an apprenticeship-based engineering variant, three Master programs (Informatique, Intelligence Artificielle, and Génie Industriel), a Licence Informatique, a Double Licence Mathématiques-Informatique, and continuing education through VAE. The programs are connected through shared facilities, the LIMOS research laboratory, and industry partnerships, with a unified focus on producing qualified computer science engineers.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Prép'ISIMA: A 2-year post-bac preparatory program in partnership with UCA, preparing students for the ISIMA engineering cycle.
• ANELIS

Products and services

• Prép'ISIMA (post-bac preparatory program) A two-year post-bac CUPGE preparatory program combining a Licence Mathematics-Computer Science at Université Clermont Auvergne with ISIMA-specific modules including virtual reality, imaging, and Linux development. Designed to prepare bacheliers scientifiques for entry into the ISIMA engineering cycle.
• Formation Ingénieur (Engineering Degree) A three-year Bac+5 engineering degree habilitated by CTI, awarding the Diplôme d'Ingénieur ISIMA. Offers five specializations (F1-F5) covering computer science domains from embedded/virtual interactive systems to networks and cybersecurity, with mandatory international mobility and a final-year specialization choice.
• Formation Ingénieur par Apprentissage (Apprenticeship Engineering Degree) A three-year apprenticeship-based engineering degree delivered on a 4-week school / 4-week company alternating rhythm. Awards the same CTI-recognized Diplôme d'Ingénieur as the student-status track, funded by OPCO at €7,200 for 2026-2027.
• Master Informatique A two-year Master's degree program (Bac+5) with three tracks (SIAD – Information Systems and Decision Support; GLIA – Software Engineering; ICS – Computer Science) offering specialization in information systems, software engineering, and computer science, with research connections through the LIMOS laboratory.
• Master Intelligence Artificielle A two-year co-led Master's degree by ISIMA and the Mathematics department covering machine learning, deep learning, NLP, data science, generative AI, and AI ethics, with an optional apprenticeship pathway from 2026.
• Master Génie Industriel A multi-institution Master's degree (UCA, Jean Monnet University, Centrale Lyon, Mines Saint-Étienne) offering MAGIF and DIAGI specializations focusing on industrial engineering, logistics, and AI in Industry 4.0.
• Licence Informatique A three-year Bachelor's degree (180 ECTS) providing foundational computer science education with practical and theoretical coursework, serving as preparation for Master studies or engineering schools.
• Double Licence Mathématiques – Informatique An exclusive three-year dual-degree program in France awarding both Mathematics and Computer Science licences, with 30 places available per year and personalized student monitoring.
• Formation Continue / VAE / VES Lifelong learning programs including VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience) and VES (Validation d'Études Supérieures) for working professionals and technicians Bac+2 with at least one year of experience seeking the ISIMA engineering diploma.
• Passerelle BUT – ingénieur en informatique A bridge program enabling graduates of BUT Informatique (Bachelor Universitaire de Technologie) to join the ISIMA engineering cycle, typically entering in the second or third year.
• Formation en Alternance par Contrat de Professionnalisation A work-study pathway allowing students to complete their final year of the engineering cycle under a contrat de professionnalisation (12 months, 400 hours of teaching, alternating 3-day/2-day or 1-week rhythm), financed by the OPCO of the recruiting enterprise.

Quantifiable outcome

• Taux d'insertion professionnelle de 87% en moyenne sur 3 ans (76.4% à 6 mois pour la promo 2024)
• +5 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sopra SteriacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 May 2023Convention entre l'ISIMA et Sopra Steria pour des conférences, projets et recrutement. Sopra Steria est également partenaire du programme Handitutorat.
• CapgeminicoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 October 2022Convention renouvelée entre l'ISIMA et Capgemini pour des partenariats de formation, stages, projets et recrutement. Capgemini est un partenaire historique de l'école.
• AkkodiscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 October 2022Partenariat renouvelé en mars 2026 entre l'ISIMA et Akkodis. Collaboration pour des stages, projets, recrutements et interventions dans les formations.
• MichelincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerConférence Michelin à l'ISIMA. Partenariat pour des conférences, visites et recrutements. Michelin est un acteur industriel majeur de la région clermontoise.
• NEYRIAL InformatiqueminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention signée le 9 septembre 2024 officialisant la collaboration entre l'ISIMA et NEYRIAL Informatique.
• IngeropminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention ISIMA/Ingerop pour des partenariats de stages et projets.
• DatalyominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention signée en septembre 2023 avec Datalyo pour des collaborations en formation et projets.
• ONEEXminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention de partenariat signée en 2025 entre ONEEX et l'ISIMA.
• Walden DigitalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention de partenariat signée en février 2025 entre Walden Digital et l'ISIMA.
• IESF AuvergneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConvention de partenariat signée en janvier 2025 entre l'IESF Auvergne (Ingénieurs et Scientifiques de France) et l'ISIMA.
• Région Auvergne-Rhône-AlpesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartenariat signé avec la Région Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes pour le soutien à la formation et à la mobilité étudiante.
• Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme avec l'UQAC: Maitrise professionnelle en informatique, jeux vidéo, Cybersécurité ou Intelligence Artificielle.
• Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme avec le HIT en Chine: Master in Software Engineering ou Computer Science.
• Oklahoma UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme avec Oklahoma University: Master of Science au College of Industrial Engineering ou College of Computer Sciences.
• OTH Regensburg (Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme Master in Informatik avec OTH Regensburg (Allemagne). Summer school annuelle. Échanges d'étudiants.
• Université Polytechnique de Catalogne (UPC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme Master MIRI (Innovation et Recherche en Informatique) avec la UPC (Barcelone, Espagne).
• Université Fédérale de Minas Gerais (UFMG)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme Ingénieur en Génie de Production avec l'UFMG (Belo Horizonte, Brésil).
• ENSIAS (Maroc)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme Ingénieur de l'ENSIAS (École Nationale Supérieure d'Informatique et d'Analyse des Systèmes, Rabat, Maroc).
• ENSAM Casablanca (Maroc)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDouble diplôme Ingénieur de l'ENSAM (École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts et Métiers, Casablanca, Maroc).
• Clemson UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSummer school annuelle avec Clemson University (États-Unis). Accords d'échanges d'étudiants.
• LIMOS (Laboratoire d'Informatique, de Modélisation et d'Optimisation des Systèmes)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrincipal laboratoire associé à l'ISIMA. +70 enseignants-chercheurs et 70 doctorants. Reconnu par le CNRS. Axes: Recherche Opérationnelle, Systèmes d'Informations, Modélisation des Systèmes de Production.
• DINUM (Direction Interministérielle du Numérique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa DINUM est le nouveau parrain des FISA (promotion 2026) de l'ISIMA.
• Université de WaterloominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité partenaire académique au Canada pour des échanges et doubles diplômes.
• Université LavalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité partenaire académique au Québec (Canada) pour des échanges.
• Trinity College DublinminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversité partenaire académique en Irlande pour des échanges Erasmus et échanges bilatéraux.

Scale indicators16 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EPITA: Leading private French engineering school specializing in computer science and digital technologies, with a strong cybersecurity and AI track. Comparable in CS specialization and apprenticeship program scale, though private (vs ISIMA's public status) and Paris-based.
• SIGMA Clermont: Third engineering school in the Clermont Auvergne INP pole (alongside ISIMA and Polytech Clermont), specializing in chemistry and chemical engineering. Comparable as a sister public CTI-habilitated engineering school under the same parent pole, sharing corporate relationships and Clermont-Ferrand campus — relevant for parent-group strategic context.
• EPITECH (Ecole pour l'Informatique et les nouvelles Technologies): French private post-bac computer science school with a strong apprenticeship model and IT/cybersecurity specialization. Comparable as a CS-focused engineering school with significant apprenticeship intake and employer partnerships, but operating as a private institution on a much larger national scale.
• ENSIBS (Lorient - UBS): French public engineering school with a dedicated Computer Science / Cybersecurity track (recognized SecNumedu label holder). Comparable as a smaller public CTI-habilitated CS-specialist school with cybersecurity credentials and similar regional positioning, though anchored to Université Bretagne Sud.
• Polytech Clermont (Clermont Auvergne INP): Sister engineering school within the same Clermont Auvergne INP pole as ISIMA. Directly comparable as a CTI-habilitated public engineering school under the same parent institution, sharing facilities, LIMOS research connections, and corporate partnership network, but focused on broader engineering disciplines rather than CS specialization.
• ESIEE Paris: French public engineering school with strong Computer Science / IT engineering specializations and apprenticeship pathways, part of the CCI network. Comparable as a CTI-habilitated school offering CS specializations and apprenticeship tracks, though located in the Paris region with larger intake than ISIMA.
• Télécom Paris: Top French public engineering school specializing in digital technologies, computer science, and telecommunications, part of Institut Polytechnique de Paris. Comparable as a CTI-habilitated public CS-specialist engineering school with research labs and strong industry partnerships, but significantly larger, more prestigious, and Paris-based.
• INSA Lyon: Largest French public engineering school network member with a major Computer Science department (IF). Directly comparable as a public, CTI-habilitated engineering school with strong industry partnerships and research labs, but at significantly larger scale (~1,500+ engineering students/year) and broader disciplinary scope than ISIMA.
• ENSIMAG (Grenoble INP): Top-tier French public engineering school specializing in computer science, applied mathematics, and information systems within the Grenoble INP pole. Directly comparable in scope (CS specialization), CTI habilitation, research lab anchoring (LIG), and dual-track student/apprentice delivery — the closest functional mirror to ISIMA.
• Enseirb-Matmeca (Bordeaux INP): Public French engineering school (Bordeaux INP member) with a dedicated Computer Science department covering software engineering, networks, and cybersecurity. Directly comparable as a CTI-habilitated public CS engineering school anchored in a regional INP group with a research lab (LaBRI).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@isima_clermont_ferrand
• Facebookfr-fr.facebook.com/ISIMA.Auvergne
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/isima-clermont-auvergne-inp
• Instagraminstagram.com/isima_clermont_ferrand

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 ISIMA