The Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region is a land of engineering. Ranking second in terms of GDP share and first in terms of military presence, it has a large industrial ecosystem focused on research and development, with several projects in the pipeline. Against a backdrop of a national skills shortage, it has launched a “Southern Engineers Plan” with the aim of graduating 1,000 more engineers per year by 2030.
Building on its long-standing partnerships with engineering schools, UIMM Alpes-Méditerranée has decided to create a new prestigious engineering school: the École des Industries Avancées (EDEIA). Supported by Industrie Méditerranée and France Industrie – Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the school has applied to the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieurs (CTI) for authorization to open its first courses in Toulon in September 2027.
The partnership signed with Mines Paris – PSL on June 25 during Mines Paris Research Day provides for the co-creation of a College of Naval Sciences focused on drones and autonomous marine and submarine systems.
A national first in this strategic field, the creation of this research center has been made possible thanks to the support of Toulon’s industrial and military ecosystem.
Mines Paris – PSL will lead research in the field of marine and underwater robotics. It will contribute its expertise in linking educational activities to partnership-based research. Finally, it will participate in the EDEIA’s governing bodies. This partnership is fully in line with Mines Paris – PSL’s mission to support industry through partnership-based research, with its strategy to develop its defense and security-related activities, and with the growing influence of the work it has been doing for the South region from its Pierre-Laffitte campus in Sophia-Antipolis.
The creation of our first College of Naval Sciences brings together the leading branch of French industry and France’s leading industrial school in one of Europe’s leading scientific, industrial, and military ports.
Hervé Guillou, President of the School of Advanced Industries
The College of Naval Sciences illustrates our deep conviction that it is through the alliance between academic excellenceand industrial relevance that great innovations are born. With this partnership, Mines Paris – PSL is committed to working alongside economic and strategic players to co-build the marine technologies of tomorrow, in the service of the sovereignty and competitiveness of France and Europe.
Godefroy Beauvallet, Director General of Mines Paris – PSL
Signing of the partnership agreement on June 24, 2025, at the School’s premises.
From left to right: Paolo Stringari, Director of Research, Mines Paris – PSL; Franck Guarnieri, Director of the Research Center on Risks and Crises (CRC), Mines Paris – PSL; Yannick Chenevard, Member of Parliament for Var – Toulon, Rapporteur for the “Preparation and Employment of Forces: Navy” program; Godefroy Beauvallet, Director General, Mines Paris-PSL; Michel Sesques, member of the UIMM Alpes Méditerranée board; Jean-Pierre Dos Santos, Director of the Pôle Formation des
PACA; Fabien Schaeffer, Director of EDEIA; Sébastien Travadel, Professor, Mines Paris – PSL; Cédric Prunier, Deputy Director of Strategy, Mines Paris – PSL
©Mines Paris -PSL /
