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A protocol chosen to secure communications with quantum computers

Publication Date

16 May 2025

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Research

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DISC

Researcher

Scientific publication

Teacher researcher

HQC: French technology at the heart of post-quantum cybersecurity

In 2016, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States launched a major international appeal to design the cryptographic systems of the future, capable of withstanding the power of quantum computers. These machines of the future could render obsolete the current protections for our communications, whether on the Internet, military networks or even satellites.

Among the solutions proposed, a 100% French protocol stood out: HQC (Hamming Quasi-Cyclic). Designed to withstand attacks from quantum computers, HQC enables two parties to share a secret – even if their exchange is being spied on – and then use it to encrypt their communications.

This ambitious project is being led by a consortium headed by Philippe Gaborit from the University of Limoges, joined by researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO and ENAC. Together, they have contributed to the development, optimisation and validation of this “post-quantum” cryptography solution.

International recognition

NIST recently announced the selection of HQC for future standardisation. This is a major achievement for this protocol, which is set to become a pillar of global cybersecurity for decades to come, particularly in sensitive sectors such as telecommunications.

Toulouse expertise on the front line

The success of HQC is based on the key contributions of several researchers from Toulouse:

Carlos Aguilar, a professor in the DISC department at ISAE-SUPAERO from 2018 to 2022, is one of the founding members of the project. He was involved in the initial design of the algorithm and was one of the project’s main supporters throughout the standardisation phase.

Jérôme Lacan, also a professor at ISAE-SUPAERO, worked on the error coding and decoding mechanism, an essential component of the system.

Arnaud Dion, a teacher-researcher at ISAE-SUPAERO, produced a hardware implementation of the protocol on an integrated circuit, demonstrating its performance against other competing solutions.

We implemented the entire encryption/decryption algorithm directly in an integrated circuit. The aim was twofold: to prove that this algorithm could be embedded in a chip dedicated to cybersecurity, and to demonstrate its concrete performance. This meant completely rewriting the code to make it compatible with a hardware architecture, while ensuring that this implementation could be easily reproduced by an industrial company.

An international team coordinated by Limoges

Coordinator : Philippe Gaborit, University of Limoges

HQC project partners (4ᵉ round):

Carlos Aguilar Melchor (SandBox)
Nicolas Aragon (University of Limoges - Xlim Institute)
Slim Bettaieb, Loïc Bidoux (Technology Innovation Institute, UAE)
Olivier Blazy (École Polytechnique - CNRS/LIX)
Jurjen Bos (Worldline, NL)
Jean-Christophe Deneuville (ENAC, University of Toulouse)
Arnaud Dion, Jérôme Lacan (ISAE-SUPAERO, University of Toulouse)
Edoardo Persichetti (Florida Atlantic University, US)
Jean-Marc Robert, Pascal Véron (University of Toulon - Mathematics Institute)
Gilles Zémor (University of Bordeaux - Bordeaux Mathematics Institute)

DISC

Theory, Modelling, and Systems Engineering (ThéMIS) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

The “Theory, Modeling and Systems Engineering” (ThéMIS) scientific group is dedicated to the study and development of advanced methods for the design, modeling and validation of complex systems.

Our Research Areas

Our mission is to respond to the challenges posed by the design of increasingly integrated, autonomous, and mission-critical systems, by combining theoretical research, modelling methodology, and the implementation of engineering processes.

ThéMIS aims to develop robust and innovative solutions based on an interdisciplinary approach combining modelling, optimisation, and validation. We work with academic and industrial partners to meet the needs of critical sectors and innovate the technologies of tomorrow.

The ThéMIS research group carries out research in the following areas:

Theory

Preliminary design of complex systems and exploration of the design space
Architecture and trade-off analysis
Semantics of models and formal verification and validation (V&V) methods
System resilience (e.g. identification of obsolescence risks)
Technology forecasting and roadmapping

Modelling

Model-based systems engineering (MBSE)
Links with functional safety analysis (MBSA) and multidisciplinary optimisation (MDAO)
Model transformation and integration of validation and verification tools

Engineering Process

Integration of MBSE, product lifecycle management (PLM) and lifecycle analysis (LCA) methodologies

The research carried out by the ThéMIS research group has applications in the following areas:

Space (ground segment, vehicles, satellites)
Autonomous vehicles (drones, robots, intelligent cars)
Complex socio-technical systems (infrastructure management, human-machine interaction)
Critical embedded systems and cyber-physical systems (safety, reliability and performance in constrained environments)

Jonathan : Security evaluation of large distributed and reconfigurable systems
Charles MATHOU: Global methodological framework for safety analysis of UAV systems
Abdoulaye SARR: Multidisciplinary analysis and optimisation of a hydrogen-powered aircraft
Charlotte STROBBE: Design of user-centred systems combining MBSE and HSI
Augustin GALLOIS: Eco-design of a Lunar Habitat
Ariane BEAUDOIN-BUSSIÈRES : Forecasting for dual technological innovation in strategic ecosystems
Haochen GAO: Participatory design tools and systemic methods for multimodal air-rail systems
Valentin MORDEL: Fault tolerance and reliable reconfiguration in an automotive HPC/ZCU architecture
Maisa CIETTO: Identification and modelling of inefficiencies in the air transportation system

Sophie LEMOUSSU : A model-based approach for innovative SMEs in the aeronautics industry
Sébastien SCHWARTZ : Coupling deterministic and non-deterministic simulation for predictive maintenance
Juan José MONTERO JIMENEZ: Knowledge reuse to improve system architecture for predictive maintenance
Eric-Guillaume VIDOT: Towards the certification of avionics systems based on machine learning: using mathematical proofs to guarantee reliability
Anass AKRIM : Prediction of remaining lifetimes of aeronautical components using deep learning approaches
Ombeline AIELLO: Early validation of system designs using a joint engineering approach based on models and optimisation
Sophia SALAS CORDERO: Early phases of complex system design: obsolescence considerations from an MBSE perspective
Eric RAZAFIMAHAZO: A systems engineering approach to the design of multi-use systems on mission inside buildings
Morgan GAUTHIER: Architectural optimisation of automotive applications on MpSoC components
Laetitia BORNES: Interactive systems engineering between design science and design as science

Faculty members

Theses in progress

Theses defended

Our Classes

The members of the ThéMIS group are involved in ISAE-SUPAERO’s educational programmes: the general engineering programme, industrial engineering speciality programme by apprenticeship, Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering (MAE) and various Advanced Master® (AM) programmes.

The group manages the MAE Systems Engineering major (around 30 students/promotion) and the Systems Engineering AM (around 10 students/promotion).

Members of the group are involved in other activities, in particular directing the Systems Doctoral School at the University of Toulouse.

Our Projects

New design, analysis, and qualification methods to ensure drone certification.

Formal verification methods for space systems. Development of the model-checker integrated into ESA's TASTE development platform (https://taste.tools), in collaboration with UGA/Verimag, GMV, and ESA/ESTEC.

Integrated Air Transport System chair with Thalès Group: this sponsorship, research, and teaching chair draws on ISAE-SUPAERO's expertise in optimising the flight operations and systems approach, and on the Thalès Group's expertise in flight avionics, connectivity, and air traffic control.

Our Permanent Members

Iulian Ober

Head of Themis Group

iulian.ober@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

Thémis Group | Members 2025

Our Partners

Industry Partners

Academic Partners

Job Offers

Check out the vacancies for scientific staff in the research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

Check out the Research Department's internship opportunities!

DISC

Learning, Decision, Optimisation (ADO) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

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Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

Our Research Areas

Our work focuses on decision support systems, from the collection of data to its interpretation, in order to make the best decision.

Our common scientific question is: ‘What are the models and algorithms that lead to a learning or decision-making process?’

To answer this question, the ADO group draws on and contributes to the techniques of artificial intelligence (reinforcement learning, evolutionary algorithms, constraint programming) and industrial engineering (operations research, knowledge management, systems engineering).

The applications of the research carried out within the ADO research group are in the following fields:

Aeronautics and Space: Earth Observation and Autonomous Vehicles
Production systems: System configuration and workshop programming
Industry X.0: Preventive maintenance

Doctoral and post-doctoral students

Researchers

Research areas

Teaching modules

Our Classes

Our research group is heavily involved in ISAE-SUPAERO‘s top-quality educational programmes, both in the engineering cycle curriculum and in the Masters programmes. We are fully committed to teaching, offering courses that combine theory and application, to ensure that students receive an education based on the latest scientific and technological advances.

We encourage and promote participation in research projects to enable our students to develop the practical and methodological skills that are essential in the field of decision support systems.

We are involved in the following modules:

Third-year Decision Sciences course
Data and Decision Sciences pathway
Industrial Engineering pathway

F-SD320 Supply Chain
F-SD321 Production
F-SD322 Modelling and Simulation
F-SD323 Quality and IS

F-SD311 Machine Learning
F-SD312 Big Data
F-SD313 Digital Eco. Digital
F-SD314 Case Studies
F-SD319 Seminars

Our Partners

Thomas Oberlin

Head of ADO Group

thomas.oberlin@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 89 37

Job Offers

Check out the vacancies for scientific staff in the research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

Check out the Research Department's internship opportunities!

DISC

Applied Mathematics (MA) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

Our Research Areas

One of the main fields of study, which brings together almost all these themes, is the theoretical and numerical study of problems related to fluid-structure interactions.

These research activities are carried out in collaboration with the major players in Toulouse: The Toulouse Mathematics Institute (Paul Sabatier University-INSA), ONERA and the Clément Ader Institute (ICA), as well as with other national and international partners.

The Applied Mathematics (MA) research group comprises seven faculty members and one research engineer.

Contributions are mainly made to the following research themes:

*The division presented below is not strict: Interactions exist.

In this research area, we are interested in various aspects of the control and stabilisation or stability of solutions to partial differential equations. To be more precise:

Control of partial differential equations
Fluid-Structure Interaction
Hamiltonian systems with interaction ports (pHS)

The idea behind interaction port Hamiltonian systems is to describe the dynamics of a system using the physical energy of the system (called the Hamiltonian).

In particular, this makes it possible to deal with non-linearities (non-quadratic Hamiltonian) in general. Analysis of the associated Cauchy problem is still an active research topic in the case of infinite-dimensional systems (typically non-linear partial differential equations).

Interaction ports classically consist of co-located control and observation (among other things), enabling different pHs to be coupled. The resulting system is still a pH. There are algebraic structures subordinate to pHs: Dirac structures.

Numerical simulation of pHs calls for special numerical methods to preserve the Hamiltonian (or, more precisely, the existence of a Dirac structure associated with the discretized system).

It should also be noted that closed-loop stabilisation is easily obtained in pHs, and that they also allow, at least in finite dimension, constraints to be taken into account in the form of algebraic equations coupled to the dynamical system.

Fractional and Diffusive Differential Systems (SDF)
Well-Posed Linear Systems (WPLS)

This area of research focuses on numerical optimisation and multidisciplinary optimisation in the context of pre-project design. To be more precise:

Development and analysis of optimization algorithms (deterministic and stochastic)
Solving large linear systems and preconditioning
Uncertainty propagation (UQ)
Sensitivity analysis
Substitution models
High-Performance Computing (HPC)

This area of research focuses on the application of probability and statistics to practical problems encountered by industry. To be more precise:

Performance analysis of communication networks
Sensitivity analysis
Random trees

Our Partners

Michel FOURNIE

Head of MA Group

michel.fournie@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

Job Offers

Check out the vacancies for scientific staff in the research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

Check out the Research Department's internship opportunities!

DISC

Design and Analysis of Critical Systems (CASC) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

The “Design and Analysis of Critical Systems” (CASC) scientific group focuses on methods, processes and tools to support System Engineering and Systems Engineering.

Our Research Areas

The Critical Systems Analysis and Design (CASC) group focuses on methods and tools to support systems engineering, with the following objectives:

To extend the state of the art in terms of software dependability, from the design of the initial model to the hardware target, as well as in the definition and use of support tools for formal simulation/verification.
To contribute to the definition and formal modelling of new system architectures, and to the integration of new software functionalities such as those arising from AI.

The CASC group covers several facets of software-intensive system engineering: design, verification, and validation of critical systems, deployment on hardware targets, and, finally, distributed and real-time simulation.

Our contributions are applied to aeronautics and space, but also more broadly to embedded and cyber-physical systems. These contributions are presented through publications on OpenScience and software, some of which can be freely distributed.

The CASC group is organised around two research themes:

The Formal Methods and Dedicated Languages theme is concerned with the formal semantics of programming languages as well as programs and their specifications, applied particularly to languages adapted to the design of critical embedded systems.

The use of formal methods (programme proofs, SAT/SMT methods, correction by construction, etc.) for the rigorous design of avionics functions can be applied to the various stages in the design and implementation of a product: architecture consistency verification, proof of correct operation of model transformation/code generation tools, and proof of correctness of the application code to be embedded.

The study of dedicated languages (synchronous reactive, probabilistic, etc.) and their semantic aspects will ensure that programmes can be embedded for the implementation of avionics functions, for example, taking into account the strong requirements and constraints of the field, both in terms of computing resources and the implementation of advanced AI-based functions (neural networks or learning by Bayesian inference).

The Architecture and Simulation of Cyber-Physical Systems theme focuses on the V&V stages of critical systems, particularly in conjunction with the PRISE platform.

New avionics architectures: taking into account new processor and network paradigms and their safe integration into an avionics platform (SMARTIES project)
Embeddability of applications on hybrid architectures (CPU, GPU and FPGA), in particular neural networks and their complex decision tasks
Systems simulation based on state-of-the-art tools
- Real-time distributed simulation, through the implementation of the HLA standard by the CERTI middleware developed in partnership with ONERA. CERTI implements versions 1.3 and 1516 of the HLA simulation standard.
- Interoperability and coupling of simulation models for cyber-physical systems, with the Ptolemy-HLA tool. This distributed co-simulation environment couples two open-source tools, Ptolemy II and CERTI/HLA. It takes advantage of Ptolemy's calculation models and the HLA standard for interoperability and deterministic distribution of simulations.

Our Team

Permanent Team Members

7 PhD Students

Xavier Thirioux

Head of CASC Group

xavier.thirioux@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

Job Offers

Check out the vacancies for scientific staff in the research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

Check out the Research Department's internship opportunities!

DISC

Connected Systems (SysCo) Scientific Group

Publication Date

06 May 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

Doctoral student

PhD

Post-doctorate

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Space

Teacher researcher

Thesis

Our Research Themes

To meet the Institute’s teaching needs, the SYSCO research team’s skills cover all the fields of application of networks and connected systems in the various aerospace contexts.

The global vision developed by the team has made it possible to identify three major research themes on which research efforts have been focused for several years:

Satellite networks: Secure and deterministic data transmission
Embedded systems and networks: Design and performance analysis of embedded systems and networks subject to deterministic and security constraints
Distributed systems: Reliable and secure large-scale distributed storage

Each teacher-researcher contributes to at least two of the team’s three research themes, which makes it possible to generate multiple collaborations and cross-disciplinary contributions in addition to results focused on one area.

In addition, several collaborations with members of the department’s other research groups and other departments (notably DEOS) are also prolific.

This research work has been put to good use in a number of ways over the last 5 years:

Supervision of more than twenty doctoral and post-doctoral students
Publication of around a hundred scientific papers and international patents
Setting up three research platforms: Ireal/Satenet for satellite networks, Blockchain 4 UAV for distributed systems, and Factoring for embedded networks
Participation in more than a dozen research projects with industrial and academic partners, including regional projects, ANR projects, industrial projects (TAS, Thales Avionics, AIRBUS), CNES R&T, and projects with the Institut de Recherche et de Technologie (IRT) Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

Our Scientific Challenges

The main scientific issues that we are considering in order to advance the state of the art in our work in each of these research areas are:

For Satellite Networks

Large-scale multi-orbit dynamic system and its heterogeneity with terrestrial networks
Improving the security of communication protocols using post-quantum cryptography
Definition and integration of secure routing with deterministic QoS guarantees (throughput, delay)

For Embedded Networks and Systems

Heterogeneous hardware architectures and a variety of access control mechanisms
Joint SW and HW approach for deterministic execution on multicore/manycore
Definition and analysis of scheduling strategies for embedded applications
Definition and analysis of security mechanisms adapted to real-time networks
Methods for evaluating the security/performance trade-off

In Distributed Systems

Ensuring scalability, data integrity, and mitigation of cyber-security risks
Implementation of cybersecurity mechanisms and post-quantum cryptography
Definition of 'zero knowledge' mechanisms for blockchains and peer-to-peer networks
Integration of erasure codes to ensure the reliability and integrity of distributed storage

Team Members

Ahlem MIFDAOUI (Team Leader)

Oana HOTESCU

Real-time and satellite networks
Routing, QoS

Marina DEHEZ CLEMENTI

Cryptography and Cybersecurity
Blockchains

Jonathan DETCHART

Cryptography and reliability
Distributed Systems/Blockchains

Jérôme LACAN*

Cryptography and Cybersecurity, Blockchains
Satellite networks, Routing, QoS

*Head of DISC

Michaël LAUER

Real-time Networks and Systems
Dependability, OS

Tanguy PERENNOU

Distributed Systems/Blockchains
Dependability

Ahlem MIFDAOUI

Head of SysCo Group

ahlem.mifdaoui@isae-supaero.fr +33 5 61 33 80 80

Our Partners

Academic Partners

At the National Level

L’équipe SARA

L'équipe IVC

L'équipe IRT

Le département ONERA/DTIM

L'équipe LabSoc

At the International Level

State and Industrial Partners

Job Offers

Check out the vacancies for scientific staff in the research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

Check out the Research Department's internship opportunities!

ISAE-SUPAERO researchers explore the quantum universe

Publication Date

05 May 2025

Category

Research

Tag

DISC

Researcher

Scientific publication

Teacher researcher

At the crossroads of disciplines, quantum shapes the future

Quantum computing: first steps, communications security in focus

” Quantum computing is based on completely different foundations to classical computing and represents a revolution that could change the world,” comments Arnaud Dion, a teacher and researcher in embedded systems.

Quantum computing will, for example, enable the optimisation of processes such as the programmed maintenance of aircraft for companies with very large fleets, and increased reliability beyond weather forecasts, particularly for agriculture, transport and energy production. In the field of health, these developments will accelerate our understanding of diseases and improve the precision of treatments, as well as simulating increasingly complex molecules.

The second quantum revolution will rapidly revolutionise computer security as we know it today. Researchers from ISAE-SUPAERO’s Complex Systems Engineering Department have been involved for nearly 10 years in a cryptography research programme initiated by the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST – USA). Launched in 2016, this campaign to standardise new algorithms has included projects submitted by ISAE-SUPAERO and its partners.

Hamming Quasi-Cyclic (HQC), a protocol developed by researchers at ISAE-SUPAERO, ENAC, the University of Limoges and other universities, has just been selected to meet the future threats posed by quantum computers. This technology will ensure the security of digital exchanges in the fields of telecommunications and sensitive networks. This choice marks a decisive turning point in the history of cryptography and places HQC at the heart of global cybersecurity.

” When quantum computers are operational in 10 to 15 years’ time, they will unlock codes in a matter of hours. If we don’t take an interest in post-quantum cryptography now, IT infrastructures could collapse overnight,” says Arnaud Dion.

The Institute is also developing a quantum computing research activity to explore space and aeronautical applications such as image analysis and orbital probe trajectography, which could be envisaged in the future.

Quantum communications networks and signal processing: research on the move

At the heart of the Electronics, Optronics and Signal Processing (DEOS) department, researchers have been working for several years on quantum telecommunications and laser links in free space. Their interest focuses on ground satellite communications, the effects of which are being modelled and quantum entanglement links are being tested.

“From an experimental point of view, we have our own satellite laser link / infra-red bench on the ground satellite links. The experiment using entangled photons, which is currently used for teaching practical work in quantum physics based on the work of Alain Aspect (winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize), will in the future be used to develop our research “, explains Angélique Rissons, professor and head of the DEOS department.

Meryem Benammar, a researcher specialising in information theory, is working on physical layer security techniques. She is particularly interested in the generation of secure keys to connect users, while ensuring their resistance to attacks and interception by spy networks.

We are developing algorithms for extracting secure communication keys that are useful in quantum key distribution (QKD) schemes,” she explains.

These codes are based on quantum sources of randomness such as entangled photons or photon polarisation, and are by construction robust to quantum computers, unlike mathematically generated keys. The practical applications of satellite-transmitted QKD schemes are large-scale, as they offer the opportunity to distribute quantum sources over long distances via optical communication links. In fact, Europe is leading major projects to develop its own quantum key distribution networks.

In terms of training, ISAE-SUPAERO, in partnership with ENSEEIHT, ENAC and INSA Toulouse, is offering 3rd year engineering students the ‘Advanced Communication Systems’ Master’s degree, one of the few courses to address the security of the physical layer for research purposes.

From basic research to collaborative projects: the next stage

At ISAE-SUPAERO, the expertise and disciplinary advances in the field of quantum physics are now making it possible to build bridges between the various specialists.

In the future, all these skills will be put to good use on cross-disciplinary subjects through applied theses in conjunction with industrial partners.

Fundamental research, which increasingly combines the sciences of telecommunications, signal processing and quantum computing, is evolving towards engineering.

ISAE-SUPAERO will have its place at the heart of these technologies!

DISC

Complex Systems Engineering Department (DISC)

Publication Date

23 April 2025

Category

Tag

DISC

PhD

Researcher

Science

Scientific publication

Teacher researcher

Our Research Department

The Complex Systems Engineering Department (DISC) at ISAE-SUPAERO conducts cutting-edge research and develops models, methods, and tools to control the behaviour and performance of complex systems.

Structured into five complementary scientific groups and a transverse technical group , it covers a broad spectrum of skills.

Scientific groups

Professors and faculty

Department assistants

Engineers and technicians

Doctoral and post-doctoral students

Our aim is twofold: To pioneer research into mathematical and numerical aspects of aeronautics and space, and to support our students in these areas as part of their education and future goals.

Jérôme Lacan Department Head

Research Activities at DISC

With 43 permanent staff and 45 PhDs, the DISC is structured into five scientific groups covering the department’s scientific fields. These groups are responsible for their own or cross-disciplinary research themes that contribute to ISAE-SUPAERO’s strategic priorities. A technical group supports each scientific group.

The Applied Mathematics group (MA), specialising in stochastic processes (in particular Markov processes), numerical optimisation (multidisciplinary, non-linear programming) and parallel computing, stabilisation, control and numerical resolution of partial differential equations, and finally financial engineering
The Connected Systems group (SysCo), which specialises in network issues related to aeronautics and space, i.e. space communications, on-board networks, and delay-tolerant networks
The Critical Systems Analysis and Design group (CASC), which specialises in methods, processes, and tools for the specification, design and development of software-critical systems
The Learning, Decision and Optimisation (ADO) group, which specialises in decision-making for autonomous systems (planning, learning, supervision) and industrial applications (design, development, operations, etc.)
The Theory, Modeling, and Systems Engineering (ThéMIS) group, specialising in the study and development of advanced methods for the design, modelling, and validation of complex systems

and eight scientific themes:

Fluid-structure interactions
Multidisciplinary optimisation
Aerospace communication networks
Connected systems

Systems engineering: processes and models
Simulation of cyber-physical systems
Industrial engineering
Decision, optimisation, and learning

SysCo Scientific Group

Research Themes

Modelling, performance analysis, and optimisation of real-time systems and networks (embedded, satellite, 5G)
Reliability of transportation protocols
Distributed storage
Cybersecurity / cryptography

More about SysCo

CASC Scientific Group

Research Themes

Formal methods
Dedicated programming languages
Simulation of cyber-physical systems
Hardware architecture design

More about CASC

MA Scientific Group

Research Themes

Partial differential equations: Numerical methods, fractional derivatives and/or diffusive models, Hamiltonian systems with interaction ports
Optimisation and uncertainties: Multidisciplinary optimisation, non-convex, stochastic, optimal control, inverse problems
Applied probability and statistics: High-dimensional statistics, statistical learning, parametric estimation, extreme values

More about MA

ADO Scientific Group

Research Themes

Learning: Reinforcement learning, vision and image analysis, generative AI, LLMs
Decision making: Activity planning models, sequential decision making
Optimisation: Evolutionary algorithms, combinatorial optimisation

More about ADO

ThéMIS Scientific Group

Research Themes

Preliminary design of complex systems and exploration of the design space
Architecture and trade-off analysis
Semantics of models and formal verification and validation (V&V) methods
System resilience (e.g. identification of obsolescence risks)
Technology forecasting and strategic planning (roadmapping)

More about THEMIS

DISC Technical Group

Activities

Support for teaching activities: Design and production of experimental materials, supervision of design offices and student projects
Support for research activities: Concorde, Cohoma, Imuda, Mermoz, SolarBoost, Inemar, Carla, Scrimp, Halion, Factoring, GAS
Areas of work: Embedded systems engineering, software development, AI, HPC, modelling, simulation, automation, and electronics
Management of experimental platforms: Autonomous systems, nanosatellite bench, HPC, photovoltaic bench, etc.

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Our Lessons

The DISC is heavily involved in ISAE-SUPAERO courses:

In the ISAE-SUPAERO engineering cycle courses: the DISC runs the common core courses in mathematics, computer science, and engineering and business (systems engineering and project management). In the final year of this course, DISC’s professors contribute to the Complex Systems and Simulation and Autonomous Systems fields, as well as to the Decision Sciences, IT Telecoms Networks, and Signals and Systems streams.
In the Master of Aerospace Engineering: DISC is responsible for the Aerospace Systems and Systems engineering programmes.
The department also runs the Embedded systems, Systems Engineering, Aerospace Project Management and IEM Advanced Master® programmes.
DISC is also involved in the University of Toulouse’s Mathematics and Applications master’s programme, for the Operational Research and Research and Innovation tracks, as well as the Networks and Telecommunications Master’s programme.
Finally, the DISC organises an INCOSE systems engineering certification preparation programme for engineering and Master’s students. It represents ISAE-SUPAERO on the INCOSE Academic Council.

The department welcomes a large number of trainees and projects from various academic courses as part of its research or engineering activities, enabling them to put their work into practice in its facilities.

Our Research Facilities

Autonomous Systems Platform

The autonomous systems platform enables robots and drones to evolve in a secure, instrumented area (10m x 10m x 4m). The test zone is equipped with a motion capture system and audiovisual resources.

This platform is a development area suited to ISAE-SUPAERO’s research and teaching activities, activities relating to the development of autonomous mini-UAVs (airborne and ground-based), cooperation between heterogeneous UAVs, and the study of UAV-robot/human operator interaction.

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Network / Blockchain Platform

DISC has a room containing 35 PCs dedicated to research, teaching, and communication activities related to different types of communication networks.

This platform is used to carry out performance tests on specific applications: real-time multimedia transmissions over noisy links, peer-to-peer networks, distributed storage systems, and blockchains.

On this last theme, a system for deploying the Ethereum blockchain is used to carry out performance tests.

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PRISE Platform

The PRISE platform (Platform for Research in Embedded Systems Engineering) aims to define and implement a platform for research, study, design, hybrid simulation, and validation of critical embedded systems.

The scientific objectives of the PRISE platform concern the performance and functional validation of critical embedded systems, particularly for the aerospace industry. The platform enables the execution and simulation of the entire avionics chain of an aircraft, drone, or satellite.

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HYCUBE Nanosatellite Development Platform

This modular flatsat platform, inspired by the EYESAT project, aims to provide tools for the development of CubeSat nanosatellites in support of ISAE-SUPAERO’s teaching and research activities.

It is made up of three development building blocks that meet the key requirements of any space mission: the ground segment, the onboard system (the space segment), and the simulation of the space environment.

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Job Offers

Consult the job offers for scientific staff in the DISC research department

Thesis Offers

Check out the DISC research department's thesis and post-doctorate vacancies

Internship Opportunities

Check out the internships available in the DISC research department

Scientific and research integrity

Publication Date

10 April 2025

Category

Tag

DAEP

DCAS

DEOS

DISC

DMSM

Researcher

Science

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What is scientific integrity?

Scientific integrity refers to the set of rules and values that must govern research activities to ensure that they are honest and rigorous. Mentioned in the Research Code (article L. 211-2 of the Research Code), it “helps to guarantee the impartiality of research and the objectivity of its results”.

Scientific integrity is essential to the smooth running of research communities, and also forms the basis of a relationship of trust between the research community and other parts of society.

Beyond the specificities of each discipline, good practice in research is based on common principles, which are set out in the European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity:

Reliability in the design, methodology, analysis and use of resources;
Respect for colleagues, research participants, society, ecosystems, cultural heritage and the environment;
Honesty in designing, carrying out, evaluating and disseminating research in a transparent, fair, complete and objective manner;
Responsibility in carrying out research activities, from idea to publication, in their management and organisation, in training, in coaching and mentoring, and in the wider implications of research.

Scientific Integrity Officer at ISAE-SUPAERO

By signing this charter, the Institute undertakes to put in place an institutional policy on scientific integrity and to appoint a “scientific integrity referent”.

As such, Pierre Magnan, Professor Emeritus at the Institute, has been appointed Scientific Integrity Coordinator at ISAE-SUPAERO.

The role of the Scientific Integrity Officer (RIS) is to ensure that the Institute’s researchers comply with the main principles of scientific integrity as defined by OFIS, a department of Hceres, and set out in the European code of conduct and in the “French Charter of Ethics for Research Professions”: To aim for reliable, honest, respectful and responsible research and to combat breaches.

In particular, the referee must:

To provide information on the implementation of the programme, and on a regular basis, for new arrivals;
Participate in a training programme for doctoral students in conjunction with the École des Docteurs;
Ensure that the laboratory notebooks are regularly kept, via the departments;

Run a web page on the Institute’s website (raising awareness, examples of breaches);
Participate in the network of scientific integrity officers at the various institutions;
Keeping an up-to-date list of breaches, with regular reports to the Director General.

Scientific Integrity Coordinator (RIS) at ISAE-SUPAERO

For any request for advice or to report a possible breach of scientific integrity (SI):

Pierre Magnan

pierre.magnan@isae-supaero.fr
Professor Emeritus
Electronics, Optronics and Signal Department

What is a breach of scientific integrity?

Any practice that undermines the reliability of results and the proper functioning of research communities is likely to constitute a breach of scientific integrity. A breach may concern all aspects of research activities in all disciplines, whether public or private.

Instruction procedure

Any person acting in good faith who is aware of a possible breach of scientific integrity may send a report to the Scientific Integrity Officer.

Receipt

The allegation of misconduct is sent by email or post, signed and dated. This statement describes the situation and the people involved. The whistleblower’s anonymity is guaranteed by the Scientific Integrity Officer.

Admissibility of the report

During the preliminary investigation phase, the officer in charge verifies that the report is sufficiently detailed to allow action to be taken. If an investigation is launched, he or she quickly informs the persons implicated.

Investigation

In all cases, absolute priority is given to the facts and to the presumption of good faith on the part of the persons concerned. It is understood that, at any stage of the procedure and whenever possible, the Reporting Officer may propose mediation to the persons concerned, in order to resolve the situation through a series of appropriate measures accepted by all parties.

The investigation is carried out in an adversarial manner, with uniform treatment, and if necessary involving independent experts. An inventory of the facts reported, the facts established and the arguments put forward by the various parties leads to the drafting of a report by the Scientific Integrity Officer, which may include recommendations. The report is submitted to the President of the University.

Follow-up

The Director General of ISAE-SUPAERO is responsible for deciding what action to take on the investigation report.

Scientific integrity, research ethics and professional conduct are three essential components of responsible research conduct.

Scientific integrity refers to good practice in the production and dissemination of scientific knowledge. It guarantees the honest and rigorous nature of research activities.

Ethics refer to a set of obligations specific to the practice of a profession. In France, when a researcher is a civil servant, his or her obligations are set out in the General Civil Service Code.

Research ethics concerns, on the one hand, the major issues raised by certain scientific developments and, on the other hand, the more operational issues of compliance of research protocols with the legal rules and ethical recommendations in force.

Ethics refer to a set of obligations specific to the practice of a profession. In France, when a researcher is a civil servant, for example, his or her obligations are set out in the General Civil Service Code.

The planning and implementation of the research project: Failure to obtain the necessary authorisations (ethical approval, consent of participants); non-compliance with authorised protocols; misuse of research funds.

Management and practices relating to data of any kind (including bodies of text, archives, images, etc.): Falsification or fabrication; deliberately deficient management or archiving; retention without legal justification, omission or selection without scientific justification; problematic statistical processing; unmentioned embellishment.

Publication, communication and authoring practices: Plagiarism; improper signature or failure to acknowledge a contribution; self-plagiarism; non-compliance with AI usage requirements; improper or biased citations; lack of impartiality or transparency when speaking publicly.

Interactions between peers: Biased peer-reviewing, appropriation of research projects or ideas, lack of supervision, undue hindrance of the progress of a peer's work, unfounded accusations of misconduct.

Failure to declare links or conflicts of interest, or their poor management at all or part of the stages of a research activity (e.g. application for funding, evaluation, expert appraisal and dissemination of results).

The most serious forms of misconduct - such as fabrication, falsification of data and plagiarism (FFP) - are liable to disciplinary action.

Reference texts on scientific integrity

ANR Charter of ethics and scientific integrity
European Code of Conduct for Research Integrity
Singapore Declaration on Scientific Integrity
The Corvol report
French Office of Scientific Integrity
Report by the CNRS Ethics Committee (COMETS) – “Ethical reflection on plagiarism in scientific research”.
Guide “Practising research with integrity and responsibility” published by the CNRS

As developments in this area, both nationally and internationally, are fairly frequent, it is advisable to refer to the Ofis website, which is regularly updated.

Research

Publication Date

05 September 2024

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DAEP

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DISC

DMSM

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LACS

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Science

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Thesis

Our scientific activities cover a broad spectrum of strategic themes, closely linked to the major challenges facing the aerospace sector. Supported by our research departments, our activities combine academic excellence, technological innovation, and responses to industrial and societal challenges. Thanks to our complementary approach and our openness to interdisciplinarity, the Institute is positioned as a major player in French and international research.

Our research policy is resolutely focused on the technological challenges of tomorrow, in response to the emerging needs of the aerospace and high technology industries. This dynamic approach is underpinned by close collaboration with industry, through sponsorship agreements in strategic areas, and the active participation of a large number of professionals in teaching, who pass on the latest innovations and best practices in the sector.

Research at ISAE-SUPAERO

International

ISAE-SUPAERO's research contributes to its position as an international leader for its general engineering curriculum, its post-graduate courses, in particular Master's degree in aerospace engineering (MAE), Advanced Master® and doctorate (PhD) programmes.

Interdiscplinary

We combine an interdisciplinary approach with advanced research into scientific knowledge, models, methodological approaches, and tools for the design of aeronautical, space and embedded systems, from the expression of requirements and specifications through to verification and validation (V&V) or qualification with planned future certification.

Innovative

ISAE-SUPAERO's scientific strategy addresses the societal and industrial challenges of sustainable development and the performance of aerospace systems, including issues of safety, security, resilience, competitiveness, (digital) virtualisation, new technologies, processes, services or innovative concepts.

ISAE-SUPERO's research activity has developed considerably in recent years.

The Institute's laboratories employ around 400 people.
The campus is also home to ONERA's Toulouse research centre, which also has 400 employees.

The ISAE-SUPAERO and ONERA laboratories cover a wide range of activities and disciplines related to aeronautics and space - from aerodynamics to neuroergonomics to the development of new technologies in
electronics, signal processing, and structural mechanics. Nearly 300 doctoral students are enrolled at ISAE-SUPAERO.

The ISAE-SUPAERO laboratories are open to all our students. The campus has been designed to combine research and teaching areas, and to ensure that students have easy and permanent access to researchers.

Our campus is also adjacent to that of Paul Sabatier University and major CNRS laboratories such as LAAS and the Midi-Pyrénées Observatory - partners that offer many opportunities for discovery or work placements for our students who are interested in research.

Of the 130 permanent teaching staff at ISAE-SUPAERO, 120 are also researchers.

The general engineering curriculum includes extensive exposure to research. In the second year, our faculty offer students research placements in the school's laboratories or those of our partners in Toulouse.

Some teaching activities, such as Experimental Practice' in the first year or practical work as part of elective or third-year courses, also take place in research laboratories. Our doctoral students are also on hand to give lectures and tutorials.

For students who are interested in doing a thesis, a 'research pathway' has been set up, which allows them to adjust their schooling and spread their third year over two years, so that they can do work placements in several laboratories, particularly abroad, before starting their thesis.

Our engineering students can also take a research-oriented Master's degree during their third year, with courses that allow them to combine a general engineering degree with a Master's degree in fields such as the sciences of the universe or operational research. As a result, around 15% of our students go on to do a PhD, either with us or in other laboratories in France or abroad.

SCIENTIFIC INTEGRITY AND RESEARCH: ISAE-SUPAERO is a signatory to the National Charter of Ethics for Research Professionals, which governs research activities to ensure that they are honest and rigorous

5 Strategic Priorities

ISAE-SUPAERO’s scientific policy for aeronautical and space systems is organised into 5 strategic areas:

Integrated design for aerospace system performance, operational safety, and the environment
Models and optimisation for energy efficiency, the environment, and competitiveness
Earth observation, environmental monitoring, and space exploration
Resilient telecommunications, networks, and connected cyber-physical systems
Data analysis, decision sciences, and mastering complexity

6 Research Departments

As part of its missions and under the aegis of its Research Council, ISAE-SUPAERO and its 6 departments, carries out its scientific strategy in two research units (laboratories evaluated by the HCERES):

ISAE-SUPAERO Research, a multidisciplinary laboratory and the Institute’s own unit
Institut Clément Ader (ICA) UMR n°5312 of the CNRS, a solid mechanics laboratory in the Midi-Pyrénées region under the supervision of the CNRS, UT3, INSA, MINES-ALBI, and ISAE-SUPAERO

and with the support of 6 doctoral schools in the Toulouse area, in particular the Aeronautics and Astronautics Doctoral School (EDAA), of which ISAE-SUPAERO is the supporting institution.

ISAE-SUPAERO leads scientific, disciplinary, or cross-disciplinary themes, as well as cross-disciplinary research and innovation actions (ATRI), which are extended into national scientific interest groups: the 'Microdrones' and 'Centre Spatial Universitaire Toulousain' GISs.

LACS research is housed in the LISST and LAIRDIL laboratories at UT2 Jean Jaurès, which are evaluated separately.

ISAE-SUPAERO's partnership with ONERA and ENAC is a key element of the higher education and research cluster dedicated to the 'aeronautics and space' sector on the Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées Federal University site.

OPEN SCIENCE: ISAE-SUPAERO'S SCIENCE AVAILABLE TO ALL

Discover OPEN SCIENCE: Our new open archive platform.

Anyone can access our theses, publications, scientific instruments, and technological platforms.

Discover ISAE-SUPAERO's 4 commitments to Open Science!

Further Information

Find out more about our six research departments: DEOS, DCAS, DISC, DAEP, DMSM, and LACS.

DEOS

The Electronics, Optronics, and Signal Processing Department (DEOS) develops and produces payloads for tomorrow's advanced aeronautical and space applications. The skills of its teams cover a wide range of technologies, from the design of silicon sensors to interplanetary scientific payloads, and from signal theory studies to advanced communication and navigation systems.

Further Information

DCAS

The Aerospace Vehicle Design and Operation Department (DCAS) develops methods, simulation tools, and experimental platforms for the design and operation of aerospace vehicles.

Further Information

DISC

The Department of Complex Systems Engineering (DISC) develops skills in mathematics and computer science for aeronautical and space engineering. In both teaching and research, it focuses on the models, methods, and tools needed to control the behaviour and performance of complex systems. This complexity may be induced by the multi-physics or multiscale nature of the systems studied, their dynamic behaviour, or their distributed and communicating structure.

Further Information

DAEP

The Aerodynamics and Propulsion Department: 62 people, 30 research projects, including 5 on a European scale, an exceptional fleet of test facilities for teaching and research purposes, 3 research groups contributing to a growth strategy focused on 4 themes with topical scientific and social-economic challenges, supported by 2 structuring projects: the SAA wind tunnel and the IC3 large-scale simulation code.

Further Information

DMSM

The role of the Structures and Materials Mechanics Department is to organise and supervise all teaching activities in the mechanics of deformable solids for ISAE-SUPAERO courses, in synergy with upstream and applied research activities on aeronautical materials and structures. This strong interaction between teaching and research is the basis of our department's organisation.

Further information

LACS

In the Languages, Arts, Cultures, and Societies Department, we teach languages, interculturality, geopolitics, general culture, economics, sport... Multi-dimensional skills that bring out knowledge, interpersonal skills, know-how and interpersonal skills.

Further Information

A protocol chosen to secure communications with quantum computers

HQC: French technology at the heart of post-quantum cybersecurity

International recognition

Toulouse expertise on the front line

An international team coordinated by Limoges

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