At the heart of the digital transformation of the industry
What is a Digital Transformation and Innovation Engineering Program?
The industry is facing profound changes: Industry 4.0, smart factories, digitization of processes, the emergence of Industry 5.0 focused on humanity and sustainability. Yet, companies struggle to find engineers capable of understanding both the challenges of industrial engineering and digital technologies.
This is precisely the gap that the Digital Transformation and Innovation Engineering Program at ECE fills. Offered in French on the Lyon campus, this 2-year major (2nd and 3rd year of the Engineering cycle) is built in partnership with competitiveness clusters in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, with courses mostly taught by professionals in the field.
The targeted professional certification
This major leads to the title of ECE engineer, a level 7 diploma accredited by the Commission des Titres d’Ingénieur (CTI) and registered with the RNCP. Recognized by industrialists in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and beyond, this certification attests to a rare mastery: that of digital technologies applied to the realities of industry. ECE is a member of the Conférence des Grandes Écoles (CGE) and the OMNES Education group.
At the intersection of industrial engineering and digital technologies
Objectives and acquired skills
This program is unique because of its dual industrial and digital culture. It shapes engineers capable of acting where companies recruit the most.
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Develop new systems, technologies, applications, and digital manufacturing tools for smart factories.
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Lead digital transformation projects in complex and constrained industrial environments.
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Master industrial information systems (MES, ERP, SCADA) and their integration into IT/OT architectures.
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Design and deploy AI, data analytics, and IoT solutions tailored to industrial processes.
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Integrate sustainability, energy efficiency, and resilience into transformation strategies.
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Lead multidisciplinary teams and facilitate change in industrial organizations.
A program built with industrial stakeholders, for industrial stakeholders
The content
The courses are mostly taught by professionals from the ECE Lyon’s partner companies. They can evolve each year to align with the realities of the industrial field and the technological advancements in the sector.
Evaluation methods
The evaluation of progress is based on concrete situations, close to the realities of engineers in industrial companies:
- Innovation projects applied to real issues provided by partner companies.
- Practical work in Fab Lab: prototyping, simulation, digital manufacturing.
- The Multidisciplinary Team Project (PPE) and the Final Study Project (PFE).
- A minimum 6-month engineer internship, or an apprenticeship, with a report and presentation before a jury.
- An obligatory international academic stay in one of the 160 academic programs offered by ECE’s partner universities under Student/Apprentice status (if not completed in the 1st year of the engineering cycle) or the possibility of carrying out professional missions abroad as part of the host company for any student under apprentice status.
A diploma recognized by the state and valued internationally
Yes. This training provides a professional certification registered with the RNCP by France Compétences (Ministry of Labor), certifying the recognition of the diploma and the alignment of professional skills with the needs of companies.
Certified by the state
Validated skills
Prepares for employment
Professional immersion
Corporate experience
work-study program on the Lyon campus. This rhythm is particularly suited to a program rooted in industrial realities: each period in the company directly enriches theoretical learning.
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An internship lasting at least 4 months during the second year of the engineering program (full-time track) or as part of a work-study program throughout the year, at an industrial company in the region or beyond.
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A 6-month internship or a work-study program during the third year of an engineering program, culminating in a final engineering project.
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Projects related to Lyon's industrial ecosystem and partner competitiveness clusters.
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Projects related to Lyon's industrial ecosystem and partner competitiveness clusters.
Careers
What are the career opportunities after the Digital Transformation and Innovation Engineer Program?
Rare in the market, engineers capable of operating at the interface of the digital world and industry are highly sought after. The Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, the 1st industrial region in France with over 530,000 industrial jobs, offers an exceptional job pool upon graduation from the program.
Careers accessible after graduation :
Testimonees
Our students are satisfied with it
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I was lucky enough to take part in the Innovatech Challenge—it was an incredible experience. I stepped out of my comfort zone, gained confidence in public speaking, learned to collaborate with people from very different backgrounds, and discovered just how much innovation is, above all, a human adventure. I’m leaving with some memorable connections and a strong desire to do it all over again.
Satine Sainte-Rose
Discover
Our campuses in France
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Your engineering school in Lyon
Inaugurated in 2025, the Citadelle building offers spaces fully designed for new ways of learning and collaborating.
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Your engineering school in Marseille
Brand new and fully designed for new educational practices, our campus welcomes you in an ideal setting for your studies.
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Your engineering school in Rennes
Just a stone's throw from the TGV train station, our 3,000 m² campus offers you a warm and functional setting designed for studying in the best conditions.
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Application
How to apply for the Digital Transformation and Innovation Engineering Program?
Admission to the 2nd year of the engineering cycle
The major is open to ECE students who have completed the first three years of the engineering cycle, as well as parallel admission for holders of a validated 4-Year degree (240 ECTS) in a scientific and technical field: computer science, industrial engineering, mechatronics, networks, or electronics. A strong interest in the challenges of industrial transformation is expected.
A marked interest in the digital transformation of industry is a main evaluation criterion for the application.
How to apply?
- I submit my application online > through the common procedure AVENIR PLUS, if I am currently enrolled in a program of the French educational system (SEF) and wish to follow the program under Student status > on the ECE portal, if I am currently enrolled in a program of the French educational system (SEF) and wish to follow the program under Apprentice status (in alternation) > on the ECE portal, if I am currently enrolled in a program outside the French educational system and I am not of European nationality – program under student status exclusively
- I go through the selection phase > Review of the application file by an ECE academic selection jury > if admissible after the review of the file, motivation interview by another selection jury of the ECE
- I receive the decision
Tuition fees
What are the tuition fees for the Digital Transformation and Innovation Engineering Program?
The tuition fees presented below are for the year 2026-2027. They are subject to change each year. Several funding options are available to assist you with your project.
Students in France 🇫🇷
This category concerns students of all nationalities residing in France.
- If enrolled in a program within the French education system (SEF) 12 months €11 990
- If enrolled in a program outside the French education system 12 months €12 590
Tuition fees for apprentices are fully covered by the host company
+70€: admission fee
Scholarships: How to fund my studies with the help of the state?
ECE offers you several financial aid options
Meet us
Discover the events of the Engineering program
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07/10
Soirée Portes Ouvertes – ECE – Marseille – mercredi 7 octobre 2026
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19/10
Immersion in Marseille
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28/11
Matinée Portes Ouvertes – ECE – Marseille – samedi 28 novembre 2026
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16/12
Soirée Portes Ouvertes – ECE – Marseille – mercredi 16 décembre 2026
FAQ
All you need to know about the Digital Transformation and Innovation Engineering Program
Do you have questions about the Digital Transformation and Innovation Engineering Program at ECE Lyon? The most frequently asked questions are gathered here. Our team remains reachable for any additional discussions.
Let’s meet
Still hesitating? Meet our teams to guide you in your choices!
The main objective of this program is to train engineers who can operate at the interface of digital technology and industry, a rare and highly sought-after profile. The coursework covers the digital transformation of organizations, industrial information systems, artificial intelligence applied to processes, and digital manufacturing tools.
The program thus meets the concrete needs of industrial companies in the region and beyond.
The Lyon campus offers a vibrant student life with over 40 associations. These spaces allow for the development of new professional and personal connections related to the fields of industry, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Access to the Fab Lab and the Intelligence Lab also enriches extracurricular activities, beyond formal education.
Yes. This major is one of the two offered as a work-study option on the Lyon campus, along with Nuclear Energy Systems. This format allows students to combine academic teachings with internships in industrial companies. Work-study enables students to acquire new professional reflexes while financing their studies.
This master’s specialization spans over 2 years, in the 2nd and 3rd year of the engineering cycle, for a total of 120 ECTS credits. It is part of a comprehensive 5-year program leading to an engineering degree, equivalent to a master’s degree.
The courses are taught in French on the Citadelle campus in Lyon, with a mandatory international academic stay.
The main asset of the Lyon campus lies in its integration within the regional industrial ecosystem.
- The companies hiring graduates cover a wide range: Schneider Electric, Bosch, Renault Trucks, Michelin, Solvay, STMicroelectronics, as well as innovative SMEs specializing in industrial IoT, robotics, or digital manufacturing.
- The ECE collaborates with over 1,000 partner companies.
The educational support structures at ECE Lyon go well beyond classes. The support covers the entire journey, from admission to professional integration:
- Personalized follow-up in finding internships or apprenticeships
- Access to over 20,000 offers via Match’Up
- Coaching workshops: CV, interview, pitch, LinkedIn
- Access to the Fab Lab and digital prototyping resources
- Assistance in finding accommodation on the Lyon campus
The technical skills acquired are accompanied by essential human qualities to transform industrial organizations:
- Ability to drive change and engage teams in transformation projects
- Communication between technical profiles and non-technical decision-makers
- Creativity and initiative in the face of complex industrial challenges
- Adaptability in rapidly changing environments
- Social awareness and responsibility in designing sustainable solutions
Yes, this is one of the main features of this major. The vast majority of the teachings are delivered by active professionals from ECE Lyon’s partner companies.
This pedagogical approach allows for direct immersion in the realities of the industrial field and ensures that the skills acquired meet the current market needs. Site visits complement these interventions.
Yes. The Citadel campus in Lyon is a true educational and technological hub. It has a Fab Lab equipped for prototyping and digital manufacturing, collaborative workspaces, and technical rooms adapted to the new uses of industry.
- The ECE provides educational resources that allow students to work on real cases in a stimulating environment.
- The main campus is accessible from the center of Lyon, in the heart of a dynamic district.
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