Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris

What Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris does

ISTeP is a public geosciences research laboratory (Unité Mixte de Recherche, UMR 7193) operating under the dual tutelage of Sorbonne Université and CNRS. Founded on January 1, 2009, the institute conducts fundamental research in Earth sciences focused on understanding the dynamics of Earth's internal and external envelopes — from deep tectonic processes, metamorphism, and mantle dynamics to surface phenomena including erosion, sedimentation, natural hazards, paleoclimates, and biomineralizations. The institute serves the academic and scientific community through four specialized research teams: Pétrologie et Géodynamique, Terre-Mer: Structures et Archives, Tectonique, and PRISME (Pétrophysique, Réservoirs, Interfaces, Structures, Modélisation et Environnement). As of March 2025, ISTeP comprises 131 members across two campuses (Paris-Jussieu and Cergy), following the 2025 merger with the GEC-CY team; members include 17 professors, 26 lecturers, CNRS researchers, 19 ITA staff, 32 doctoral candidates, 9 ATERs/post-docs, and 17 emeritus/collaborators. Philippe Huchon serves as Director.

ISTeP's research methodology combines detailed field observation — a historically recognized expertise — with high-resolution petrological and geochemical analysis of minerals, aggregates, and magmas, geological and geophysical data acquisition on land and at sea, and multi-scale numerical modeling. The institute uses BRGM's GeoModeller for 3D geometric modeling of complex geological structures (folded forelands, tectonic nappes, sedimentary basins) and employs supercomputer-based numerical simulations of tectonic processes. Societal applications of the research include natural hazard assessment (seismic, gravitational, volcanic), geothermal energy exploitation, CO2 sequestration, and strategic mineral resource characterization (rare earths, lithium).

ISTeP does not generate commercial revenue. The institute is funded by its parent institutions (Sorbonne Université and CNRS) through public research allocations, supplemented by competitive research grants, industrial collaborations (notably with BRGM and TotalEnergies), and doctoral school affiliations. Research outputs are disseminated globally through peer-reviewed journals (Tectonophysics, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, Chemical Geology, Journal of African Earth Sciences), the HAL open archive, conference presentations, an ongoing seminar series, doctoral thesis defenses, and the institute's "Brèves de l'ISTeP" research briefs. The institute also contributes to graduate-level education through the Master GEOP (Géosciences-Planétologie) program and offers the Géopix geological image bank as an educational resource for universities.

Name

Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris

Legal name

Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris

Website

https://istep.upmc.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ISTeP is a public geosciences research laboratory (UMR 7193) under Sorbonne Université and CNRS, conducting fundamental Earth sciences research across four teams in petrology, tectonics, sedimentology, and petrophysics, and training graduate students via the Master GEOP program.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Academic Earth Sciences Research

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYIMAKAKAA

Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling)

Industrials, Manufacturing & Construction/Metals & Mining/Mining Services & Contracting (Exploration, Drilling, Blasting, Mine Operations)

Keywords

• Earth sciences research
• Geosciences laboratory
• Tectonic studies
• Petrology research
• Geological modeling

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Public Research Funding: ISTeP is a public research laboratory (UMR 7193) funded by its parent institutions: Sorbonne Université and CNRS. Additional funding comes from research grants, industrial collaborations, and national/international research programs. The institute does not generate commercial revenue from product or service sales.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ISTeP is a public geosciences research laboratory conducting fundamental research on Earth's internal and external envelopes—from deep mantle dynamics to surface processes, natural hazards, and paleoclimate—organized into four teams (Pétrologie et Géodynamique, Terre-Mer, Tectonique, PRISME). It delivers doctoral and graduate training through the Master GEOP program, disseminates findings via seminars, the Brèves de l'ISTeP briefs, and HAL open-access publications, and contributes expert knowledge on natural hazards and the environmental transition. The institute does not sell commercial products; its outputs are publicly funded research, training, and open scientific knowledge.

Product overview

ISTeP (Institut des Sciences de la Terre de Paris) is a geosciences research laboratory (UMR 7193) under Sorbonne Université and CNRS. The institute conducts fundamental research in Earth sciences across four research teams: Pétrologie et Géodynamique, Terre-Mer, Tectonique, and PRISME. In addition to research, the institute offers educational programs including the Master GEOP (Géologie-Planétologie). The product portfolio consists of the Master GEOP degree program for training geoscientists, regular research seminars featuring scientific presentations, the 'Brèves de l'ISTeP' science communication briefs summarizing recent research findings, and the Géopix image bank providing geological visual resources. The institute focuses on understanding geological processes controlling lithosphere dynamics from surface features (relief, erosion, sedimentation, natural hazards) to deep processes (deep tectonics, metamorphism, mantle dynamics).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master GEOP (Géosciences - Planétologie) A master's degree program in geosciences and planetology, training graduate students in Earth sciences including geology, tectonics, petrology, and planetary science. Offered under Sorbonne Université with ISTeP researchers as instructors.
• ISTeP Research Seminars A recurring seminar series at ISTeP featuring internal and external researchers presenting work on tectonics, petrology, volcanism, geochemistry, paleoclimatology, and related earth sciences topics, open to the academic community.
• Brèves de l'ISTeP (Research Briefs) Short research summaries published by ISTeP covering recent scientific discoveries in geology, tectonics, volcanism, paleoclimatology, and environmental studies, intended for science communication and outreach.
• Géopix Geological Image Bank An open database of geological photographs, films, and models made available to students, educators, and universities to illustrate geological processes and Earth's characteristics.

Quantifiable outcome

• Research published in high-impact peer-reviewed journals including Tectonophysics, Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems, Chemical Geology, Journal of African Earth Sciences
• +1 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

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

• GEC-CY (Géosciences Environnement Cergy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, ISTeP formally merged with the GEC-CY team, consolidating earth sciences research across the Paris and Cergy campuses. The fusion brought a new logo and expanded the institute's research capacity and geographic presence.
• Sorbonne UniversitécoreOthers · 1 January 2009One of the two tutelle institutions (parent/governing bodies) of ISTeP. Originally Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC), which merged in 2018 with other units to form Sorbonne Université. Provides institutional governance, research funding, and academic oversight.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)coreOthers · 1 January 2009One of the two tutelle institutions of ISTeP. The French National Centre for Scientific Research provides significant institutional funding, research infrastructure support, and personnel (CNRS researchers and directors embedded at ISTeP).
• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISTeP collaborates with BRGM on 3D geological modeling (using BRGM's GeoModeller software), doctoral co-supervision (e.g., Cécile Allanic co-supervised Agathe Faure's thesis on the Digne Nappe), and joint research projects involving subsurface characterization and resource assessment.
• TotalEnergiesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerISTeP researchers collaborate with TotalEnergies on studies of sedimentary basins and tectonic stress evolution (e.g., research on the Kwanza basin offshore Angola published in Journal of African Earth Sciences).
• Université de Pau et des Pays de l'AdourminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint research collaborations including doctoral co-supervision (Jean-Paul Callot co-supervised thesis work on the Digne region) and participation in multi-institutional research teams.
• Université d'OrléansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic collaboration on tectonic research and 3D geological modeling. Charles Gumiaux from Université d'Orléans participated in the study of the Vélodrome fold structure.
• Roma Tre University (Italy)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration between ISTeP and the University of Roma Tre (Italy) on field research, including fieldwork on Elbe island (Carla Lagardère's thesis, with Italian colleagues F. Rossetti, F. Gordono, G. Gola) and tectonic studies.
• Italian National Research Council (CNR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with Italian CNR researchers as part of international field research teams studying geological structures in Italy.
• ED Géosciences, Ressources Naturelles et Environnement (ED398)majorOthersSorbonne Université's doctoral school in geosciences, responsible for overseeing doctoral training and thesis programs. ISTeP researchers and students are affiliated with this doctoral school.
• OSU ECCE TERRAmajorOthersObservatoire des Sciences de l'Univers - a network of earth and planetary science observatories affiliated with UPMC/Sorbonne Université. ISTeP belongs to this observatory structure, facilitating shared research infrastructure and data.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières): France's public geological survey, BRGM conducts applied geoscience research including 3D subsurface modeling (GeoModeller, which ISTeP also uses), mineral resource assessment, and geothermal/CO2 storage studies. It is ISTeP's closest French peer in mission and a recurring collaboration partner.
• ISTerre (Institut des Sciences de la Terre, Grenoble): Sister CNRS/Sorbonne-affiliated geoscience laboratory (UMR 5275) covering tectonics, geophysics, geochemistry, and natural hazards at a comparable scale and with similar pluridisciplinary methodology. The two labs regularly co-publish and compete for the same French geoscience grants.
• Ecole Normale Supérieure - Département de Géosciences: Paris-based geoscience research and teaching unit focused on Earth-surface processes, biogeochemistry, and climate-geology interactions. Directly comparable as a French public geoscience research lab competing for similar talent and grants in the Paris region.
• Institute of Earth Sciences (ISTE), Université de Lausanne: Swiss geoscience research institute covering structural geology, geochemistry, sedimentology, and geophysics at a comparable scale to ISTeP, with similar field-and-model integration. Comparable in mission and likely competitor for European geoscience talent and grants.
• Géosciences Rennes (Université de Rennes / CNRS): CNRS-affiliated geoscience lab (UMR 6118) covering sedimentology, geochemistry, tectonics, and paleoclimate research at comparable scale to ISTeP. Directly comparable in pluridisciplinary earth-sciences scope and French public-research structure.
• Géoazur (Université Côte d'Azur / CNRS / IRD / OCA): CNRS joint research unit (UMR 7329) specializing in geophysics, seismology, tectonics, and geological hazards — directly overlapping ISTeP's tectonics and natural-hazard teams, with similar reliance on field-and-model approaches.

Broad incumbents

• ETH Zürich – Department of Earth Sciences: One of Europe's leading geoscience departments, with strengths in structural geology, tectonics, petrology, and geophysics directly comparable to ISTeP's portfolio. Operates at larger scale and global visibility, making it both a peer and a recruitment competitor for senior researchers.
• British Geological Survey (BGS): UK's national geological survey, conducting applied and fundamental geoscience research including 3D modeling, mineral resources, and geohazards. Comparable mission to ISTeP but as a much larger, dedicated national survey organization.
• GFZ Helmholtz Centre Potsdam – German Research Centre for Geosciences: Germany's national geoscience research center, covering geophysics, geology, geochemistry, and natural hazards at substantially larger scale (~1,200+ staff). Overlaps with ISTeP on tectonics, natural hazards, and mineral resources but as a much broader, federally funded institution.

Regional players

• Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia (INGV): Italy's national institute for geophysics and volcanology. It is a recurring ISTeP collaboration partner (joint field research with Roma Tre and CNR) and operates in a directly adjacent Earth-sciences mission focused on seismic and volcanic hazards in the Mediterranean region.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-des-sciences-de-la-terre-de-paris

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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