Start-of-term seminar: the Lyon Saint-Etienne Engineering Alliance is preparing for a new year of joint projects
On 28 August 2026, teams from Centrale Lyon, ENTPE, INSA Lyon and Mines Saint-Étienne came together for the Lyon–Saint-Étienne Engineering Alliance’s start-of-term seminar.
With around fifty participants in attendance, the morning provided an opportunity to take stock of ongoing projects and discuss priorities for the 2026–2027 academic year. Education, research, entrepreneurship and outreach to secondary school pupils: several joint initiatives will shape this new year of collaboration.
The 2026–2027 academic year: a year dedicated to cooperation
Following a warm welcome, participants discussed the progress made by the various working groups and the projects being undertaken collectively. Discussions with the Executive Committee also provided an opportunity to share priorities for the coming year and to give fresh impetus to the Alliance’s activities.
Among the main areas of focus is the development of the range of courses on offer, particularly the Bachelor’s programmes. The Lyon–Saint-Étienne Engineering Alliance will also continue to develop its international programmes, with the second intake for the SURE programme scheduled for summer 2027, as well as its continuing professional development programme, which currently comprises 70 courses in its catalogue.
Strengthening synergies between education, research and entrepreneurship
Research is another key focus of this collaboration. The development of interdisciplinary thesis clusters should help to strengthen links between disciplines and institutions. The E@SELY SKILLS project is also part of this initiative, bringing together education, research and the socio-economic sector.
Entrepreneurship will also play a significant role in this year’s projects, notably with the continued development of Empr&intes, a training programme dedicated to supporting entrepreneurial projects.
Introducing secondary school pupils to engineering
Reaching out to young people is, finally, a key priority for 2026–2027. Engineering Day will take on a new format, organised around two half-days in Lyon and Saint-Étienne, specifically dedicated to sixth-formers.
The aim of these events will be to introduce them to the sciences, engineering and the careers that will contribute to the transitions of the future. This change will be accompanied by a strengthening of science outreach, with a view to bringing science, engineering and society closer together.
Through these various projects, the Lyon–Saint-Étienne Engineering Alliance will pursue a shared ambition in 2026–2027: to pool the strengths of its four institutions to train, conduct research and innovate in support of industrial, ecological and digital transitions.