The objective remains long-term collaboration, favouring the strong inter-linking of training, research and industrial partnerships, as well as the principles of "win-win" partnerships, the driving force behind the relationships that INSA Lyon wishes to build with developed, emerging or developing countries on all five continents.

A few key development examples
 

• Within the framework of the PFIEV (Vietnam) programme, INSA Lyon is creating a new materials/polymers section and a new Urban Engineering option is being looked into in Ho Chi Minh City. The creation of the AUI “Institute of Architecture and Urban Planning”(June 2008), in partnership with ESGC (Civil Engineering High School) represents the tangible beginning of the Research area. A co-supervision agreement has just been signed, a first in Vietnam. www.pfiev.edu.vn
   
• The CEFCEET programme (China). Within the framework of the “Franco-Chinese Centre for Energy and the Environment in Tsinghua” in partnership with ENSMP, INSA has contributed to the creation of two Franco-Chinese specialised master's programmes in the fields of energy and the environment, (3rd class in progress). 20% of the participants are graduates from INSA Lyon. In parallel, the Research branch is highly active through PhD student and researcher exchanges as well as joint publications.
  A thematic school is planned in 2010. The objective is to better promote French know-how among students from the prestigious University of Tsinghua in Beijing.
   
• INSA Lyon coordinates the IFUWWT programme (Indo-French Unit for Water and Waste Technologies). Two scientific symposiums were organised in Lyon (2007) and Madras (2008). The Indian network has been expanded to 5 partners.
   

• The creation of an International Associated Laboratory (ELyTLab) in December 2008, in partnership with the ECL, the CNRS and the University of Tohoku in Japan, represents the culmination of 20 years' collaboration that has grown stronger and more institutionalised over the years (liaison offices in 2004, framework agreement in 2005, Dual Diploma agreement in 2006). Organising a scientific summer school in September 2009 reinforced our integrated approach and aimed to favour the mobility of young Japanese students and researchers. The next summer school will take place in Sendai in October 2010.
  www.elyt-lab.com
  
  
• Latin America is developing rapidly. INSA Lyon, along with the INSA network and partner universities in the countries concerned, is the driving force behind the Brafitec and Arfitec programmes as well as the Chilfitec and Mexfitec projects. INSA Lyon is the main contributor to Arcus Brésil.www.arcusrhonealpes-brazil.com/

 On a more general level, a strong policy has been built around the representative offices (Shanghai, Curitiba, Sao Paulo, Ho Chi Minh, Mexico and Sendai), initially dedicated to recruitment for the international sections and today providing a springboard for greater development.

Europe

INSA Lyon was the first French engineering school to obtain the Erasmus Mundus label. Consideration is currently being given to “Erasmus Mundus external windows”.

Europe also accounts for 45% of student mobility in terms internships and 66% for exchanges. A solid and long term position.  

INSA, which is particularly active in research on a European level, was involved in 38 projects in the European FP6 (Framework Programme for Research and Development) of which 26 are managed by INSA. INSA is the co-coordinator of an excellence network and coordinator of two Marie Curie projects (Training through Research). The 12 remaining projects are managed by the CNRS or INRIA. The main fields of expertise are Technologies of the Information Society (37%), Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, materials (26%) and Sustainable development, transport (18%). 7 projects were accepted for the FP7 in 2008. So, INSA continues to be committed to the creation of a European Research zone.

 
Algeria

In partnership with the Technological University of Catalonia and Politecnico Turin, a Tempus programme was set up to create support schemes for the professional integration of graduates and young researchers from the USTHB (University of Sciences and Technologies Houari Boumediene in Algiers).

An FSP (Priority Community Funding) programme is beginning. It involves supporting the upgrading of 11 Algerian higher education establishments as well as creating a new Technological High School in Algiers..

Chad

Several projects involve the IUST, “University Institute for Sciences and Technologies of Abéché”:

• The development of a Master's programme in Electrical Engineering and Mechanics (the first class started in 2007/2008).
• The purchase of equipment to set up a laboratory and training of teachers.

Overall, the cooperation in Chad has considerably developed over the last few years, starting out as a relationship between two university establishments and turning into a genuine consortium project, enabling a more effective response to the development of higher education in Chad.