ESTACA

What ESTACA does

ESTACA (legal name: ESTACA Formation Aéronautique, Auto, Spatial, Ferroviaire, naval) is a French private engineering school operating as an Association Loi 1901 (non-profit) under the EESPIG designation. Founded in 1925 and headquartered in the Paris-Saclay innovation cluster (Montigny-le-Bretonneux), it is self-described as the only French engineering school exclusively dedicated to transport and mobility. It serves roughly 2,600 students across three campuses — Paris-Saclay, Laval, and Bordeaux — delivering engineering degree programs in five specializations (aeronautical, automotive, space, railway/guided transport, and naval), plus apprenticeship tracks, Mastère Spécialisé degrees (including Motorsport Engineering Performance), continuing-education / VAE modules, and PhD programs. Approximately 450 engineers graduate per year, with an 85-90% pre-graduation employment rate and alumni placements at Airbus, Ariane Group, Dassault Aviation, Safran, Ferrari (more than 20 graduates), and Corsair.

The school's core technology platform is its research center ESTACA'Lab, organized into two divisions — MSCE (Mechanics of Composite Structures and Environment) and S2ET (Embedded Systems and Energy) — addressing air quality, composites, energy and control systems, and embedded systems. Student-led associations function as applied R&D engines, producing notable outputs such as the NAGA-2 hybrid rocket motor (3.5 kN thrust, the most powerful student motor ignited in France) and the Genesis Humanoïd experimental humanoid robotics platform. Underlying technology is classical transport engineering, not platform software; no public APIs, SDKs, or commercial software products are offered, and the institution does not commercialize its outputs beyond education.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring annual tuition fees, supplemented by the French "taxe d'apprentissage" (company apprenticeship tax), endowment-funded scholarships (Bourse ESTACA distributed €216,000 to 347 students in 2025-2026), government funding tied to the EESPIG label, and corporate partnerships (annual company-visit program with ten industrial partners, plus preferential student-loan arrangements with Caisse d'Epargne, Société Générale, and Banque Populaire). Distribution runs through the Concours Avenir national entrance exam, direct international admissions, and apprenticeship pathways, supported by Discord-based student-ambassador engagement and virtual campus tours. Pricing is not publicly disclosed for tuition amounts. The institution is governed by a Board of Directors, currently led by President Arnaud Marfurt (graduate 1995) and Director Denis Bertrand (French Navy vice-admiral, appointed January 2025).

Name

ESTACA

Legal name

ESTACA

Website

https://estaca.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1925

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

ESTACA is the only French engineering school exclusively dedicated to transport and mobility, delivering aeronautics, automotive, space, railway, and naval engineering programs across three campuses to 2,600 students, with 450 annual graduates and 85-90% pre-graduation employment.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Engineering Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Engineering & Architecture Licensure Exam Prep (FE/PE, Architect Registration Exam) (EDANAIAG)

Keywords

• Engineering education
• Aeronautical engineering
• Automotive engineering
• Transport mobility
• Space railway engineering

Headquarters

HQ city

Montigny-le-bretonneux

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Educational Services: ESTACA operates as a private higher education institution (Association Loi 1901) providing engineering degree programs. Revenue is generated through tuition fees, with partnerships supporting student financing through apprenticeship tax (taxe d'apprentissage), scholarships, and endowment funds.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ESTACA is a post-baccalaureate French engineering school delivering five-year engineering degree programs across five transport specializations (Aeronautical, Automotive, Railway, Space, Naval). It also offers apprenticeship tracks, specialized Mastère programs (Motorsport Engineering Performance), doctoral programs, and continuing education. Research and applied innovation is delivered through ESTACA'Lab, with student associations producing hands-on technical projects such as hybrid rocket engines and humanoid robotics platforms.

Product overview

ESTACA is a post-baccalaureate French engineering school offering a unified portfolio of transport and mobility education programs across five specializations (Aeronautical, Automotive, Railway, Space, and Naval engineering). The school operates through its main engineering programs, apprenticeship tracks, specialized post-master degrees, and research activities conducted at ESTACA'Lab. Notable student-led technical projects include the Genesis Humanoïd experimental robotics platform and the NAGA-2 hybrid rocket engine. Programs are delivered across three campuses (Paris-Saclay, Laval, Bordeaux) with partnerships with approximately 60 international universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ingénieur Aéronautique (Aeronautical Engineering Program) Five-year post-baccalaureate engineering degree program training engineers for the French aerospace industry, covering aircraft design, propulsion, and aeronautical systems. Targeted at high-school graduates seeking careers in aeronautics.
• Ingénieur Automobile (Automotive Engineering Program) Five-year post-baccalaureate engineering degree program focused on designing future vehicles, including electric and autonomous vehicle technologies. Targeted at prospective engineers in the automotive sector.
• Ingénieur Ferroviaire (Railway & Guided Transport Engineering Program) Five-year post-baccalaureate engineering degree program covering rail systems, infrastructure, and rolling stock design. Targeted at engineers pursuing railway and guided transport careers.
• Ingénieur Spatial (Space Engineering Program) Five-year post-baccalaureate engineering degree program training engineers for strategic space programs, including satellite systems and launch vehicles. Targeted at prospective space industry engineers.
• Ingénieur Naval (Naval Engineering Program) Five-year post-baccalaureate engineering degree program covering propulsion systems, intelligent ships, energy solutions, and air quality for maritime applications. Targeted at engineers entering the naval sector.
• Mastère Spécialisé Motorsport Engineering Performance Advanced post-master program in motorsport engineering and performance, targeting engineers seeking careers in competitive racing and high-performance automotive engineering.
• Ingénieur par apprentissage - Véhicules systèmes autonomes et connectés Apprenticeship-based engineering degree program specializing in autonomous and connected vehicle systems, combining academic coursework with industry work experience.
• ESTACA'Lab Research Center ESTACA's research center organized into two divisions: the Mechanics of Composite Structures and Environment pole (MSCE) and the Embedded Systems and Energy pole (S2ET). Conducts research in air quality, weight reduction, energy and control, and embedded systems.
• Formation Continue / VAE (Continuing Education) Continuing education and validation of acquired experience (VAE) programs allowing working engineers and technicians to earn credentials or specialize in transport and mobility.
• Doctorat (PhD Program) Doctoral research program offered through ESTACA'Lab for advanced research in transport and mobility.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Esslingen University of Applied Sciences (Hochschule Esslingen)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Long-standing collaboration in automotive engineering. Delegation visited Paris and Laval campuses to strengthen academic cooperation, discover research facilities, and meet student innovation associations.
• JAMK University of Applied Sciences (Finland)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 June 2026Erasmus+ faculty mobility partnership. Professors of Mathematics visited ESTACA as part of international exchange program, fostering teaching practices and research perspectives.
• University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 June 2026Partnership focusing on transport engineering, complex systems, railway engineering, and aerospace engineering. Includes student exchange programs, joint educational projects, and collaborative applied research. Cooperating agreement signed June 2026.
• CorsaircoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 December 20243-year partnership agreement between Corsair and ESTACA to strengthen ties between academia and aeronautics industry. Corsair engineers participate in training through themed conferences, industrial projects, maintenance hangar visits, and career planning support including internships and simulated interviews.
• Airbus AtlanticcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace manufacturer welcoming ESTACA students during annual company visit program for 3rd-year students. Provides technological immersion and engineering career insights.
• Ariane GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace launcher manufacturer participating in ESTACA company visit program, offering students insights into aerospace engineering challenges.
• Dassault AviationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAerospace company hosting ESTACA students during annual company visit program. Provides exposure to civil and military aviation engineering.
• Safran Aircraft EnginescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAero engine manufacturer welcoming ESTACA students during company visit program, showcasing propulsion technology and engineering careers.
• PorschecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive manufacturer hosting ESTACA students during company visits, providing insights into luxury vehicle engineering.
• ValeocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAutomotive supplier participating in ESTACA company visit program, showcasing mobility technology and innovation.
• Hitachi RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRailway equipment manufacturer hosting ESTACA students during company visits, providing exposure to rail transport engineering.
• Colas RailcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerRailway construction and infrastructure company participating in ESTACA company visit program for railway engineering students.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• EPF: Private French engineering school (IONIS Group) in Paris and Troyes with general engineering curriculum plus strong industry partnerships. Direct peer via Concours Avenir participation and similar mid-size private post-baccalaureate model targeting the same prospective engineering students.
• ESILV: Private French engineering school in Paris-La Défense (Pôle Léonard de Vinci), with specializations in computer science, finance, and energy. Direct competitor in the Concours Avenir post-baccalaureate pathway and similar mid-size private institution model with tuition-based revenue.
• ECAM Lyon: Private French engineering school in Lyon founded by Catholic institutions, offering multi-disciplinary engineering programs with industry specializations. Direct peer as a private post-baccalaureate school participating in Concours Avenir with similar tuition, scale, and partnership-driven business model.
• ISAE-ENSMA: Public French engineering school in Poitiers specialized in mechanics and aerotechnics, member of the same Groupe ISAE as ESTACA. Trains engineers for aerospace, transportation, and energy sectors with similar transport/mobility focus, directly competing for top applicants and corporate research partnerships in aeronautics.
• IPSA: Private French engineering school (IONIS Group) specializing in aeronautics and space, with campuses in Paris and Toulouse. Directly comparable to ESTACA as a private post-baccalaureate school recruiting through Concours Avenir and offering transport/aerospace engineering programs with similar tuition-dependent model and industry placement focus.
• ECE Paris-Lyon: Private French engineering school (Pôle Léonard de Vinci) in Paris and Lyon focused on digital, electronics, and computer engineering. Direct peer via Concours Avenir participation, sharing the post-baccalaureate private engineering school economics and similar employer-recruitment dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• ISAE-SUPAERO: Elite public aerospace engineering school in Toulouse, also part of Groupe ISAE. Larger and more research-intensive than ESTACA, with stronger aerospace brand but no equivalent focus on automotive, railway, or naval — competes for top applicants and corporate research partnerships in aerospace.
• CentraleSupélec: Elite French engineering grande école on the Paris-Saclay campus with approximately 5,000 students, part of the Centrale group. Top-tier generalist competitor located in the same Paris-Saclay innovation cluster as ESTACA, absorbing a portion of top engineering applicants who would otherwise consider ESTACA.
• INSA Lyon: Public French engineering school and flagship of the INSA network, with approximately 6,000 students offering broad engineering curricula. Larger generalist competitor that absorbs a portion of top Concours Avenir applicants who would otherwise consider transport-specialized schools like ESTACA.
• Arts et Métiers ParisTech: Largest French engineering grande école with multiple campuses and roughly 6,000+ students, focused on mechanical, industrial, and energy engineering. Broader incumbent competing for engineering talent and corporate partnerships across transport and manufacturing, with a stronger research profile but less transport-specific specialization than ESTACA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.estaca.fr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https://www.estaca.fr
• TikToktiktok.com/@estaca_ecole_ingenieurs
• Xx.com/Estaca_twit

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about ESTACA