SUPMECA was created in 1948, under the name ISMCM (Institut Supérieur des Matériaux et de la Construction Mécanique), jointly by the Federation of Mechanical Industries and by the Ministry of Education: it is an autonomous State Institution of Training and Research in Mechanical Engineering, placed under the Ministry of Education.

Since 1956 in Paris and 1994 in Toulon, the Institute has initiated an engineering curriculum. The curriculum combines a strong scientific background with industrial experience. It leads to the national Engineering degree (officially recognised by the national “Commission du Titre d’Ingénieur”, CTI), which is a Master degree in the European Bologna Process scheme . This degree also confers the professional title of engineer.

In 2002, ISMCM has changed name into Supméca, so as to feature clearly its main fields of activity : Mechanical and Industrial Engineering.