A non-profit international educational and scientific organisation, hosting three departments (aeronautics and aerospace, environmental and applied fluid dynamics, and turbomachinery and propulsion).

It provides post-graduate education in fluid dynamics (research master in fluid dynamics, former "Diploma Course", doctoral program, stagiaire program and lecture series) and encourages "training in research through research".

It undertakes and promotes research in the field of fluid dynamics. It possesses about fifty different wind tunnels, turbomachinery and other specialized test facilities, some of which are unique or the largest in the world. Extensive research on experimental, computational and theoretical aspects of gas and liquid flows is carried out under the direction of the faculty and research engineers, sponsored mainly by governmental and international agencies as well as industries.