Ensmac

What Ensmac does

ENSMAC (École Nationale Supérieure de Matériaux, d'Agroalimentaire et de Chimie) is a public French engineering school within the Bordeaux INP group, operating from a single campus at 16 Avenue Pey-Berland in Pessac, France. Founded in 1891 as ENSCBP and renamed ENSMAC in 2022, the school delivers CTI-accredited engineering diplomas across five programs: Agroalimentaire – Génie Biologique, Agroalimentaire – Génie Industriel, Chimie – Génie Physique, Matériaux, and Matériaux Composites – Mécanique (the latter closing end of 2027). Three programs operate in apprenticeship mode, and a new double degree with Sciences Po Bordeaux launches in 2027. Enrollment is approximately 600 students, with 4,500 active graduates and 75% of students completing an international mobility experience.

ENSMAC's research engine consists of eight co-managed laboratories affiliated with CNRS, Université de Bordeaux, INRAE, and Inria, covering polymer chemistry, electrochemistry, biomimetic materials, food innovation, composite materials, and sustainable development. Notable research includes hybrid polysiloxane materials tested on the ISS (Bartolomeo platform, SpaceX CRS-31, 2024), electrochemical chiral molecule detection systems (Alexander Kuhn, 2023 CNRS Silver Medal), dynamic polymer networks (Audrey Llevot, 2026 Prix GFP-SCF), and the CHESS DREAME chair on recyclable materials. Bordeaux INP/ENSMAC filed 30 patent applications in 2025, ranking 46th nationally in the INPI Top 50—the only engineering school represented.

Revenue is derived from French Ministry of Higher Education and Research subsidies, government-regulated tuition fees (droits d'inscription) with exemptions for boursiers, the company-paid apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage), continuing education fees (formations à la carte, diplômes d'établissement, VAE, IDPE), and technology transfer revenues channeled through SATT Aquitaine Science Transfert, ADERA, and hosted startup structures (e.g., alumni startup Dionymer, which raised €7M in 2026). The school also operates the Bordeaux INPulse incubator and the CHESS DREAME and Chimie et Auto-assemblage industrial chaires (Solvay). Customer segments are split between prospective engineering students (recruited via national concours, integrated prépas, and admissions sur titre) and industrial partners across materials, food, chemicals, cosmetics, aerospace (CNES, ONERA, Thales Alenia Space), and energy (CEA, EDF) sectors.

Name

Ensmac

Legal name

École Nationale Supérieure de Matériaux, d'Agroalimentaire et de Chimie

Website

https://ensmac.bordeaux-inp.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1891

Operating status

Operating

Short description

ENSMAC is a public French engineering school within Bordeaux INP, delivering CTI-accredited diplomas across five programs in materials, food, and chemistry to ~600 students, supported by eight co-managed research labs with CNRS and Université de Bordeaux and partnerships with Solvay, CNES, and ONERA.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Technical Professions (PE, Engineering CPD) (EDAAALAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Education Systems & Skills Technical Assistance (BPADAEAI), Environmental, Health & Safety / Sustainability (EHS, Environmental Compliance CE) (EDAAALAO)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Materials science
• Food science
• Chemistry programs
• Applied research

Headquarters

HQ city

Pessac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Public higher education funding: ENSMAC operates as a public engineering school under Bordeaux INP and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research. Core operations are funded through a combination of state subsidies, tuition fees (droits d'inscription), and the apprentissage tax (taxe d'apprentissage) paid by companies.
2. Continuing education and professional services: The school offers continuing education (formation continue), short programs, customized training (formations à la carte), and institutional diplomas (diplômes d'établissement) generating fee revenue from companies and individuals seeking professional upskilling.
3. Research and technology transfer: Technology transfer activities, hosted startup space rental (location d'espace), and chaire partnerships with industrial sponsors (e.g., Solvay) contribute to revenue. CIFRE theses, collaborative research contracts, and Aquitaine Science Transfert support research valorization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ensmac (École Nationale Supérieure de Matériaux, d'Agroalimentaire et de Chimie) is a French public engineering school within the Bordeaux INP group that delivers CTI-accredited engineering degree programs across five specializations (food science/biological engineering, food science/industrial engineering, chemistry/physical engineering, materials, and composite materials/mechanics), along with continuing education, validated a double-degree with Sciences Po Bordeaux, and operates 8 co-managed research laboratories conducting applied research in polymers, electrochemistry, biomimetic materials, composites, and food innovation with technology transfer to industry.

Product overview

Ensmac (École Nationale Supérieure de Matériaux, d'Agroalimentaire et de Chimie) is an engineering school within Bordeaux INP offering a unified portfolio of 5 engineering degree programs and continuing education. The core offerings include programs in Food Science (Agroalimentaire - Génie Biologique and Génie Industriel), Chemistry (Chimie - Génie Physique), Materials Science (Matériaux), and Composite Materials (Matériaux Composites - Mécanique). Additionally, the school offers continuing education through short courses, customized training, and professional certifications. A new dual-degree program with Sciences Po Bordeaux, called 'Sciences, Ingénierie, Société et Politique', is planned for Fall 2027, combining engineering and social sciences.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ingénieur Agroalimentaire – Génie Biologique CTI-accredited engineering degree program covering biological processes in food science and technology, designed for baccalauréat holders, prépa graduates, and international students seeking accreditation as a food/biological engineer.
• Ingénieur Agroalimentaire – Génie Industriel CTI-accredited engineering degree program focusing on industrial food processing and manufacturing, available in apprenticeship mode, for students seeking careers in food industry operations and production management.
• Ingénieur Chimie – Génie Physique CTI-accredited engineering degree program combining chemistry and physical engineering disciplines, available in apprenticeship mode, preparing students for technical roles in chemical, cosmetics, and related industries.
• Ingénieur Matériaux CTI-accredited engineering degree program focusing on materials science and engineering, with strong industry ties and exposure to research at LCPO, ICMCB, ISM and other co-managed labs, available in apprenticeship mode.
• Ingénieur Matériaux Composites – Mécanique CTI-accredited engineering degree program focusing on composite materials and mechanics. The department is closing at the end of school year 2027 (recruitment open only for 2025 entry in second year).
• Formation Continue (Continuing Education) Continuing education portfolio for working professionals and companies, including short courses, customized corporate training (formations à la carte), institutional diplomas, VAE (Validation des Acquis de l'Expérience), and IDPE (Ingénieur Diplômé Par l'État) programs.
• Double Diplôme Sciences Po Bordeaux – Sciences, Ingénierie, Société et Politique Planned 5-year post-baccalaureate double degree program combining the ENSMAC engineering diploma with a Sciences Po Bordeaux diploma, covering engineering sciences with humanities and social sciences; 24 students per year via Parcoursup starting fall 2027.

Quantifiable outcome

• 75% of graduating engineers complete an international mobility experience
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Sciences Po BordeauxflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 July 2026New double degree program 'Sciences, Ingénierie, Société & Politique' launching in 2027. A 5-year post-bac program awarding both the ENSMAC engineering diploma and Sciences Po Bordeaux diploma. Recruits 24 students per year via Parcoursup. Combines engineering sciences with humanities and social sciences to address food, chemical, and energy transition challenges. Requires math and physics-chemistry specializations in first year.
• Université Bordeaux MontaignecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner university within the Bordeaux metropolitan area. Supports language teaching and other interdisciplinary collaborations. One of the partner universities listed in ENSMAC's institutional partnerships.
• Université de Pau et des Pays de l'AdourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional academic partner university. Listed as institutional partner of Bordeaux INP / ENSMAC.
• Université de PoitiersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partner university. Listed as institutional partner of Bordeaux INP / ENSMAC.
• Bordeaux Sciences AgrocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institution within the Bordeaux INP ecosystem focused on agricultural sciences. Collaborates on research and training in the food/agri-food domain. Mentioned alongside ENSMAC in research and innovation ecosystem.
• Université de BordeauxcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrimary academic partner. ENSMAC research laboratories are in co-tutelle with the university of Bordeaux (e.g., ICMCB, LCPO, ISM). The university is a co-signatory of many research partnerships and part of the broader Bordeaux INP confederation.
• SolvayflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSolvay is the donor for the 'Chimie et Auto-assemblage' industrial chair hosted at ENSMAC. The chair aims to accelerate and promote the development of chemistry for self-assembled systems for controlled active release, targeting applications in agrochemistry, industrial fluids, personal care, and household products. Partner through Fondation Bordeaux Université.
• CNES (Centre National d'Études Spatiales)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNES collaborated with ENSMAC/LCPO researchers (led by Stéphane Carlotti) and ONERA on the EMA (Euro Material Ageing) experiment, launching hybrid polysiloxane polymer materials to the International Space Station on SpaceX CRS-31 (November 2024). Materials are being tested for 12–18 months on the Airbus Bartolomeo external platform.
• ONERAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerONERA (French aerospace research center) partnered with CNES and ENSMAC/LCPO on the EMA space materials experiment, contributing expertise on radiation effects and material durability in space environments. ENSMAC professor Stéphane Carlotti leads the collaborative project.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCNRS is the primary national research partner. ENSMAC's 8 research laboratories are co-managed (co-tutelle) with CNRS, university of Bordeaux, and other partners. CNRS researchers and affiliated labs form the core of the school's research capacity. Bordeaux INP ranked alongside CNRS as a major public research actor in the INPI patent ranking.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA is listed alongside CNRS and university of Bordeaux as a major public research actor in the Bordeaux INP ecosystem. CEA researchers collaborate with ENSMAC labs on materials, energy, and biotechnology research.
• INRAE (Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'environnement et la restauration)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerINRAE is a co-tutelle partner for some ENSMAC research labs (e.g., NutriNeuro). The institute supports research at the interface of agriculture, environment, food science, and biology relevant to ENSMAC's programs.
• InriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInria is listed as a co-tutelle partner for Bordeaux INP research laboratories, supporting digital, computational, and mathematics-driven research relevant to materials modeling and simulation.
• Aquitaine Science Transfert (SATT AST)coreTechnology or IntegrationAquitaine Science Transfert (Société d'Accélération du Transfert de Technologie) is the regional technology transfer vehicle that supports the commercialization of research outputs from Bordeaux INP labs, including ENSMAC. It identifies and protects research innovations, facilitates industrial licensing, and accelerates the transfer of technologies to companies.
• DionymerflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDionymer is an ENSMAC alumni startup (founded 2021 by Thomas Hennebel, Antoine Brege, Guillaume Charbonnier — promo 2017) producing biodegradable PHA bioplastics from organic waste through biomimetic fermentation. It is partially hosted at ENSMAC. Raised €1.5M in 2023 and €7M in 2026. Represents a flagship example of technology transfer and startup incubation from ENSMAC research.
• Thales Alenia SpaceflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerPatrick Fleith (ENSMAC/ENSCBP promo 2016) works as an aerospace propulsion engineer at Thales Alenia Space (UK). He is preparing for the ARES III Mars simulation mission and founded Space Mining Technologies, demonstrating ENSMAC's connection to major aerospace employers and the space industry ecosystem.
• Groupe INPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroupe INP is the national network of INP engineering schools. ENSMAC is an internal school of Bordeaux INP, which is part of Groupe INP. The group organizes collective events like #Trophée Gaïa for DD&RS, coordinates the Afterwork DDRS, and represents ENSMAC within the broader INP network of engineering schools.
• EDF PulseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF Pulse is mentioned as a partner/award-giver for innovative student projects (VITIROVER), demonstrating connections with major French energy companies through the EDF Pulse innovation program.
• AFNOR CertificationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAFNOR Certification awarded ISO 21001 to Bordeaux INP (including ENSMAC) — the first higher education institution in France to receive this certification. This demonstrates institutional quality management and compliance with international standards for educational organizations.
• ADERAcoreTechnology or IntegrationADERA is a research association and partner structure supporting technology transfer and applied research at Bordeaux INP. It works alongside SATT Aquitaine Science Transfert and helps structure collaborative research projects between labs and industry.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• UTC Compiègne (Université de Technologie de Compiègne): UTC Compiègne is a generalist engineering university offering programs in materials, chemistry, food, and biological engineering — overlapping ENSMAC's portfolio. Smaller than top-tier peers, UTC represents an emerging comparator in the public-engineering-school segment.

Direct peers

• CPE Lyon: CPE Lyon is a Lyon-based engineering school focused on chemistry, process engineering, and materials — directly comparable to ENSMAC's core offerings. Both target industrial sectors (chemicals, materials, pharma) and offer apprenticeship tracks, providing a strong regional peer benchmark.
• ECPM (École Européenne de Chimie, Polymères et Matériaux): ECPM is a Strasbourg-based engineering school within the University of Strasbourg focused on chemistry, polymers, and materials — directly overlapping ENSMAC's Chimie–Génie Physique and Matériaux programs. Both produce engineers for materials and chemical industries and operate polymer/materials research labs.
• ENSIACET (Toulouse INP): ENSIACET is a Toulouse INP engineering school focused on chemistry, materials, and process engineering — closely matching ENSMAC's chemistry-and-materials profile. Both are constituent schools of the national Groupe INP network, recruit through the same concours system, and operate co-managed CNRS research labs, making them the most direct structural peer.
• INSA Toulouse: INSA Toulouse is a large public engineering school with departments in materials, chemistry, and process engineering, similar in structure to ENSMAC's portfolio. It offers both classical and apprenticeship tracks and has comparable partnerships with regional industry — though at a significantly larger scale.
• ESPCI Paris (PSL): ESPCI Paris is a PSL engineering school focused on chemistry, physics, and materials — directly comparable to ENSMAC's materials-and-chemistry portfolio. Both run co-managed CNRS labs and recruit through competitive French grandes écoles pathways, making ESPCI a prestige-tier peer.
• Chimie ParisTech (PSL): Chimie ParisTech is a top-tier French grande école within PSL specializing in chemistry and chemical engineering, with strong overlap to ENSMAC's chemistry and materials programs. It is a stronger-brand peer with broader research scope, providing a useful upper-end benchmark for ENSMAC's positioning.
• Grenoble INP – Phelma, Pagora, GPi: Grenoble INP is a peer INP confederation with multiple schools covering materials, chemistry, paper, and process engineering — closely paralleling ENSMAC's positioning within Bordeaux INP. Both share the same Groupe INP concours recruitment and operate co-managed CNRS labs in materials and chemistry.
• Polytech Nantes (Nantes Université): Polytech Nantes is a component engineering school of Nantes Université offering materials, chemistry, and food-engineering programs — directly comparable to ENSMAC's three core domains. Both target the same Bac+5 engineering market and partner with regional food and chemical industries.

Broad incumbents

• Arts et Métiers ParisTech: Arts et Métiers ParisTech is a leading French engineering school with strong programs in materials, mechanics, and industrial engineering. It is broader in scope than ENSMAC (multi-campus, mechanical, energy, industrial engineering) but competes for similar materials-and-mechanics applicants.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ensmac

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Ensmac