About Us

History

Exploring the frontiers of science, engineering, and industrial innovation

Since the mid-18th century, French engineering schools have been the spearhead of the nation’s economic development and social progress.

École des Mines de Saint-Étienne is France’s oldest elite engineering school outside Paris, and the fifth oldest among France’s 250 « Grandes Écoles ».

The school is part of a family of seven “National Schools of Mines” created between 1783 and 1992.

The history of the school is all about “value exploration and value mining”. No wonder that the old mine safety lamp (patented by a school alumnus, Jean-Baptiste Marsaut, class of 1850, is still today the school’s symbol: all we do is about discovery and enlightening!

The school is proud of its substantial share in France’s educational and industrial heritage. But in no way is the school haunted by nostalgic memories. It has always been at the forefront of engineering education and innovations. The school “trademark” has recently been illustrated by the foundation of two new, fast developing research units exploring the frontiers between engineering and life sciences: the Health and Engineering centre, and the Department of Bioelectronics.

Institut Mines-Télécom: creation of the first group of engineering and business schools in France.

The creation of the Institut Mines-Télécom on 1st March 2012, made official by the decree of 28th February 2012, brings the Mines Schools and Institut Télécom Schools together to form the first group of engineering and business schools in France, making it a key player in higher education, research and innovation.

Teaching, Research, Innovation: the new institute’s 3 key missions

In terms of Teaching, the Institut Mines-Télécom offers new opportunities for students in terms of mobility but also double degrees, particularly for engineers/managers, facilitated by the presence of Télécom Business School. This group now enjoys a higher international profile enabling it to develop partnerships with top-ranking academic institutions.

In terms of Research and Innovation, the research staff at Institut Mines-Télécom cover a wide spectrum of knowledge in engineering, digital technology, economic and social sciences and in management. By combining its assets, the Institute has established itself in its disciplines and areas of application for academic and industrial partners at national, as well as European and international, levels.

Find out more about famous alumni

  • Jean-Baptiste Joseph Dieudonné Boussingault (2 February 1802 – 11 May 1887) was a French chemist who made significant contributions to agricultural science, petroleum science and metallurgy.
  • Pierre Chevenard (promotion 1907): engineer and enquiring specialist in special steels and metallography, member of the Academy of Science
  • Pierre-Frédéric Dorian (auditeur libre 1831-1832): French politician and ironmaster. Member of the Government of National defense (1870-1871).
  • Henri Fayol (Istanbul, 29 July 1841 – Paris, 19 November 1925) was a French mining engineer and director of mines who developed a general theory of business administration. He and his colleagues developed this theory independently – but roughly at the same time as scientific management. He was one of the most influential contributors to modern concepts of management.
  • Olivier Fleurot (promotion 1971): head of Les Echos (1996), first French director of Financial Times (1998). On October 2006, Maurice Lévy called him to chair Publicis Worldwide.
  • Benoît Fourneyron: inventor of the water turbine.
  • Jules Garnier: discoverer of nickel in New Caledonia.
  • Ignace Xavier Morand Hommaire de Hell, often known as Xavier Hommaire de Hell, (24 November 1812, Altkirch– 29 August 1848, Isfahan) was a French geographer, engineer and traveller who carried out research in Turkey, southern Russia and Persia.
  • Mahamadou Issoufou (born 1952) is a Nigerien politician who has been President of Niger since 7 April 2011. Issoufou was Prime Minister of Niger from 1993 to 1994, President of the National Assembly from 1995 to 1996, and was a candidate in each presidential election since 1993. He led the Nigerien Party for Democracy and Socialism (PNDS-Tarayya), a social democratic party, from its foundation in 1990 until his election as President of Niger in 2011. During the Presidency of Mamadou Tandja (1999–2010), Issoufou was the main opposition leader.
  • Benoît Rouquayrol one of the inventors of the aqualung.