École Nationale Supérieure de Mécanique et des Microtechniques (ENSMM) was established in 1902 when it opened as the Laboratoire de Chronometrie at the University of Franche-Comte.
It joined France’s network of Grandes Ecoles in 1961 as the Ecole National Superieure de Chronometrie et Micromechanique, and between 15 and 20 per cent of graduates still go to work in the watchmaking industry, mostly in Switzerland.
It is located in Besancon’s academic quarter at the Bouloie University campus.
Aiming to provide "multidisciplinary training for engineering, with particular focus on mechatronic systems and microsystems’, it offers a three-year master's course. Students who are two years on from their baccalaureate are able to apply. They will then complete at least three internships, three spells outside France and proven competence in at least two other languages during their course.
Students who take joint degrees with nine international partners in Germany, Brazil, Italy, Spain, Japan, Canada and Morocco spend 18 months abroad. There are also joint options with eight other French schools in the Polymeca network.
As France’s sole school of microtechnology engineering, it celebrated its 120th anniversary in 2022, by adding SUPERMICROTECH to its branding, a move intended to "embody leadership in microtechnology training in France and internationally".
