- March 1957 (law of March 18th 1957): the Ministers concerned convince the Government to make a formal event of the creation of INSA Lyon (Institut National des Sciences Appliquées/National Institute of Applied Sciences).
- November 1957: the first students are welcomed under the Direction of the Director of Education Mr Jean CAPELLE
- June 1961: the first promotion graduates (285 Engineering Degrees).
- 1962 : Creation of CAST (Continuing Education).
- 1981: creation of the Sports-studies section, only structure of its type available in a major French engineering establishment.
- 1984: creation of the Music-studies section.
- 1988: creation of INSAVALOR, a subsidiary of INSA Lyon dedicated to the valorisation of research.
- 1991: creation of EURINSA, First cycle European engineering training.
- 1992: creation of the 9th specialisation Department: Production Engineering today called Industrial Engineering.

1998:
- creation of ASINSA, the Asian section in the First cycle,
- creation of the 10th Specialisation Department: Telecommunications, Services & Uses.

2000:
- creation of the AMERINSA international section,
- creation of the TSI - Technology-Sciences-Innovation section.

2004:
- integration of the ESP (Ecole Supérieure de Plasturgie) of Oyonnax into INSA Lyon. Creation of INSA Lyon branch of plasturgy.
- INSA Lyon achieves ISO 14001 certification for a first perimeter pilot.

2005: Equal Opportunities: signing of a partnership agreement with three secondary schools in the Rhône Departement.

2006: creation of the SCAN section

2007:
- Celebration of 50th anniversary of INSA Lyon.
- Creation of 2 Carnot Institutes: ingénierie@Lyon and LISA.
- Creation of 2 international Master's programmes in China.

2008:
- INSA Lyon becomes a founding member of the University of Lyon.
- Integration of the school in the government Campus Plan: “LyonTech Campus”.
- Creation of 2 international associated laboratories in Japan and Quebec.

2009:
- Creation of the campus "LyonTech La Doua", accredited by the Education Ministry as one of six universities of excellence in France.
- Creation of the INSA Lyon Foundation.
- Creation of the Centre for Diversity and Success.
- 1st class of the GMPP through apprenticeship section.
- Concept launch: “Science Breakfasts”

2010:
- The Engineer Entrepreneur Programme (FIE) celebrates its 10th birthday.
- INSA Network becomes INSA Group.
- INSA Lyon opens symposia at the Shanghai Universal Exhibition.
- More than 20,000 candidates apply to INSA Group INSA for 2010 - 2011.
- New Specialised Masters: Engineering and Management of Information System Security.
- The AMERINSA programme celebrates its 10th birthday.
- First engineers and doctoral students through VAE.
- INSA Lyon communicates around its new theme “take a share of the future” (press and viral campaign).
- Grand Lyon launches the National Chair for Research and Teaching EDF / INSA Lyon.
- The “Science Breakfasts” open their 2nd season on the theme of emotional intelligence.

2011:

- The Theatre Studies section celebrates its 20 years
- New Specialised Master’s Degree in Tunnels and Underground Structures.
- CONSULTING Valor: a new centre of expertise in consulting and instructional system design on an international level
- Eric Maurincomme takes office as Director of INSA Lyon
- French-Quebecois IMU for micro/nanotechnologies : a 21st laboratory for INSA Lyon
- New training through apprenticeship in Mechanical Engineering, Product Design and Innovation
- New Masters Program in Physics Research, specialization: Synthesis, aging and characterization of nuclear materials (SYVIC)
- 20 years of EURINSA the European section of the INSA Lyon
- 20 years for the dance-studies section and for the cultural service
- QS World University Rankings 2011: INSA Lyon ranked 4th among French engineering schools