INSTITUT SUPERIEUR DE L'AERONAUTIQUE ET DE L'ESPACE

Their core work

ISAE-SUPAERO is France's top aerospace engineering grande école, based in Toulouse — Europe's aviation capital. They specialize in advanced aeronautical design, computational fluid dynamics, multidisciplinary optimization, and space instrumentation. Their research spans aircraft engine technologies, wing aerodynamics, planetary science sensors, and radiation effects on electronics, bridging the gap between fundamental aerospace science and industrial application for both aviation and space sectors.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early H2020 period (2015–2018), ISAE-SUPAERO focused on classical aerospace research: numerical optimization for aircraft design, radical powerplant technologies, and electromagnetic modelling. From 2019 onward, their portfolio diversified significantly — adding planetary science instrumentation (PIONEERS), asteroid defence (NEO-MAPP), Industry 4.0 methods for aircraft development, and hybrid electric propulsion. The recent period also shows a growing "new space" thread with radiation hardening research and participation in the UNIVERSEH European university alliance.

ISAE-SUPAERO is broadening from pure aeronautics toward space instrumentation, sustainable propulsion, and digital engineering methods — positioning itself at the intersection of next-generation aviation and new space.

How they like to work

ISAE-SUPAERO operates primarily as a specialist partner (11 of 15 projects), contributing deep technical expertise in computational methods, design optimization, and instrumentation to large consortia. They coordinate selectively — only 3 projects — typically in areas where they hold clear scientific leadership such as aerodynamic CFD or planetary sensors. With 141 unique partners across 25 countries, they maintain a broad European network rather than relying on a small circle of repeat collaborators, making them an accessible and well-connected consortium member.

Extensive pan-European network of 141 unique partners across 25 countries, reflecting their involvement in both large Clean Sky 2 aviation consortia and diverse space/research projects. Strong connections to the Toulouse aerospace ecosystem and broader French and European aviation research community.

What sets them apart

ISAE-SUPAERO sits at the rare intersection of aeronautics and space — most aerospace universities lean heavily one way, but their portfolio genuinely spans aircraft design, propulsion, planetary science, and space electronics. Located in Toulouse alongside Airbus, CNES, and Thales Alenia Space, they offer direct access to Europe's densest aerospace industrial ecosystem. Their strength in multidisciplinary design optimization — appearing across early and recent projects alike — makes them a go-to partner for any consortium needing advanced computational modelling for complex engineered systems.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PIONEERS
  Their largest funded project (EUR 600K) and a coordinator role — developing optical rotation sensors for planetary exploration, showing their capacity to lead ambitious space instrumentation research.
• NEO-MAPP
  Planetary defence against asteroids — an unusual and high-profile topic combining numerical modelling and payload development, with substantial funding (EUR 320K).
• IMOTHEP
  Directly addresses the aviation industry's biggest challenge — hybrid electric propulsion roadmaps for regional and medium-range aircraft, connecting ISAE-SUPAERO to the future of sustainable flight.