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Who are we ?

CPE Lyon is a French « Grande Ecole » specialized in the fields of:

  • Chemistry and chemical Engineering
  • Digital sciences and smart systems

What does “Grande Ecole” means? It is a prestigious higher education institution, which is part of the CGE – Conférence des Grandes Ecole. These schools are highly selective.

CPE Lyon is a private, state approved school of engineering. It is part of “Université de Lyon”  which is a world-class academic site of excellence. The school also has a contract of association with Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, which means that it benefits from support in its property management, high visibility in research, with all the joint laboratories under joint supervision, and exchanges in training.

CPE is located in Lyon, a major european city, a major student city and innovation hub.

It is situated on the “Lyon Tech – La Doua” science park.
The campus has a total population of 26,000 people made up of students, researchers, PhD students and company employees.

Live and discover, the brand signature since 2019

CPE Lyon is affirming the essence of its brand: offering comprehensive, rich, open and personalised courses that stimulate the freedom to learn and live, and are a strong invitation to seek, research… discover!

In addition to the scientific requirements, students are encouraged to develop their curiosity, their spirit of innovation and exploration, and their critical thinking skills throughout their course.

The signature is kept in English, to embody the school’s openness and international ambitions!

CPE Lyon Governance 

Chaired by Mr Bertrand NEUSCHWANDER, investor and involved in several companies as a member of the board of directors, CPE Lyon governance operates on 3 levels:

Bertrand Neuschwander

The general assembly and the board of governors with 24 sitting members:

3 trustees for CPE Lyon :

  • Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • The Fondation Scientifique de Lyon et du Sud-Est
  • Lyon Catholic University

These 3 trustees elect 12 people among the 24 members of the board (usually company Chief Executive Officers).
In addition to the trustees, the 11 elected members represent local institutions:

  • Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region
  • The Grand Lyon
  • Lyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • The Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1
  • The Institut Polytechnique de Lyon
  • The Association des Fondateurs et Protecteurs de l’Institut Catholique de Lyon
  • The Université Catholique de Lyon
  • The Fondation Scientifique de Lyon et du Sud-Est
  • The Conseil Economique et Social Rhône-Alpes
  • The Association des Anciens Elèves (2 seats) 

The management committee 

It is made up of the principal managers of CPE Lyon and its subsidiary, CPE Lyon FCR SAS.

The members of the CPE Lyon management committee are:

Gérard Pignault, director of the school

Gérard PIGNAULT has graduated from the Ecole Polytechnique in 1978. He is the head of CPE Lyon since September 2004, after having occupied various positions at Pechiney, which used to be an important french industrial group:

  • In strategy: strategic analyst at Pechiney’s head office in Paris
  • In research: research engineer then head of a research & development team at the Voreppe research centre in the Département de l’Isère.
  • In production: Head of Stade Fonderie, the Pechiney Rhénalu Issoire factory in the Département Puy de Dôme: a site with 1500 people working on the production of aluminium sheets for the aeronautics industry.

Apart from his extensive involvement in various networks Gérard PIGNAULT is also Administrator of SATT Lyon Saint-Etienne , the Rhône-Alpes technology transfer accelerator.

Key figures

CPE Lyon

  • 8 diplomas
  • 1300 ingeneering students
  • 400 students in the associated preparatory class
  • More than 350 graduates each year
  • More than 9000 alumni all around the world

CPE Lyon has also a high level research activity, 

  • 5 institutes
  • 3 nobel prize
  • More than 500 publication each year
  • More than 16 patents each year
  • 400 teachers-researchers, doctorate and post doctorate contrats

An important relationship with companies : 

  • Several degree available with apprenticeship
  • 175 profesionals from external companies involved in the training programmes at CPE
  • 3000 trainees every year

.. and an active international strategy : 

  • Mandatory mobility aborad for each students
  • 2 foreign languages included in the engeneer programs
  • 2 out of 3 of our students choose to study or do their internship abroad for a 1 year period
  • 26% of graduates begin their career abroad

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