IRSN

What IRSN does

IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire), founded in 2001, is a French public administrative establishment (EPA) under the supervision of the Ministry of Ecological Transition that served as France's national expert body on nuclear safety and radiation protection until January 1, 2025, when it merged with the Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire (ASN) to form ASNR (Autorité de sûreté nucléaire et de radioprotection) under the law of May 21, 2024. Headquartered in Fontenay-aux-Roses with additional sites including Le Vésinet, IRSN combined independent technical expertise for the regulator with applied research across nuclear physics, thermohydraulics, radiobiology, dosimetry, environmental monitoring, and geological storage, and issued formal expert opinions to ASN/ASNR and the French government on the safety of nuclear installations and radiation-protection matters.

Its portfolio spans fifteen thematic research programs (GTRs) covering materials aging, fuel behavior under accident conditions, radioactive dispersion, neutronics, fire and explosion, radiobiology, environmental risks, and deep geological storage, alongside specific projects (Rinsho, ThyroSign, Treefrog) and proprietary calculation codes hosted on the GForge platform. Operational products include the EXPOP individual radiation-exposure calculator, the CIDRRE radioactive-discharge impact calculator, the Siseri worker-exposure information system, the NRD diagnostic reference levels for medical imaging, the national radioactivity measurement network (RNM) open-data portal, the BDD TSH historical storms and submersions database, the annual risk-perception barometer, the CILEI interlaboratory proficiency-testing platform, the LEI national reference laboratory, and the IRSN Academy training service.

IRSN operated as a non-commercial institution funded primarily through French state subsidies, with no private shareholders and no venture funding. Its customers were institutional — ASN/ASNR, French nuclear operators led by EDF, government ministries, healthcare professionals using ionizing radiation, and accredited environmental radioactivity laboratories — served via institutional channels (official portals, HAL scientific repository, Repères webmagazine, social media, and direct training delivery) rather than commercial sales motions.

Name

IRSN

Legal name

Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire

Website

https://irsn.fr

Company type

Public

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

IRSN is a French public research institute providing independent nuclear-safety expertise and radiation-protection research to the French regulator, nuclear operators such as EDF, healthcare providers, and accredited laboratories. Since January 2025 its activities have been integrated into ASNR.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection Research

NAICS

Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Nuclear Electric Power Generation (221113)

SIC

Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Inspection, Audit & Compliance Management (Regulator/Third-Party Oversight) (EUAKAEAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Service Inspection (ISI) & NDE (ASME Code, Ultrasonics, Eddy Current) (EUAKABAF), Industrial Radiography & NDT Services (Gamma radiography, source handling, field inspection) (EUAKAIAF), Nuclear Materials Testing, Assay & Characterization Services (NDA/NDE, radiochemistry, materials analysis) (EUAKAIAL), Third-Party Certification, Code Compliance & Regulatory Inspection (ASME/API/ISO) (EUAEAHAN), IAEA Safeguards Implementation & Verification Support (inspections, declarations, reporting) (EUAKAJAE)

Keywords

• Nuclear safety research
• Radiation protection services
• Radioactivity measurement standards
• Nuclear regulatory expertise
• Environmental radioactivity monitoring

Headquarters

HQ city

Fontenay-aux-roses

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government funding: IRSN operates as a French public administrative institution (EPA) funded primarily by the French state through annual government subsidies for conducting nuclear safety research and expertise missions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

IRSN provides independent expert assessments, research, and technical support on nuclear safety and radiation protection to French regulatory authorities, nuclear power operators, healthcare providers, and the public. The institute conducts long-term research in radiobiology, dosimetry, thermohydraulics, and neutronics, while operating national measurement networks and reference laboratories. It also offers professional training, publishes expert reports, and provides online tools for radiation exposure estimation and radioactive discharge impact assessment.

Product overview

IRSN (Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire), now integrated into ASNR since January 2025, operates as a platform of specialized tools and services for nuclear safety expertise and radiation protection. The portfolio includes EXPOP for individual radiation exposure estimation, CIDRRE for radioactive discharge impact calculation, Siseri for worker radiation monitoring, and NRD for diagnostic reference levels. Supporting infrastructure includes RNM (national radioactivity measurement network), BDD TSH (historical storms/submersions database), GForge (scientific software development platform), and CILEI/LEI (accreditation and inter-laboratory comparison services). Additional offerings include BEHRIG (hydrogeology and flood expertise), IRSN Academy (training), a media library, and HAL institutional publication repository. The ecosystem collectively serves nuclear industry professionals, healthcare providers, regulatory bodies, and the general public through research, expertise, and open data platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ASNR Recherche et Expertise: The research and expertise website of ASNR, formerly IRSN content
• CILEI
• BDD TSH (Base de données Tempêtes et Submersions Historiques)
• Baromètre ASNR
• CIDRRE

Products and services

• EXPOP - Estimateur d'exposition aux rayonnements ionisants Interactive online calculator that allows individuals to estimate their annual exposure to ionizing radiation based on residence location, altitude, radon levels, medical examinations, air travel, seafood consumption, and smoking habits. Targeted at the general public for radiation risk awareness.
• CIDRRE - Calcul d'Impact des Déversements Radioactifs dans les Réseaux Calculator providing conservative estimates of the radiological impact of radioactive discharges on sewage network workers and workers handling sewage sludge treatment, for radionuclides used in nuclear medicine. Used by healthcare facility radiation safety officers.
• NRD - Niveaux de Référence Diagnostiques Diagnostic Reference Levels system for radiology and nuclear medicine helping medical professionals optimize patient radiation protection and comply with imaging dose standards. Targeted at hospitals and radiology departments.
• RNM - Réseau National de Mesures de la radioactivité National network and open data platform providing environmental radioactivity measurements across France, supporting transparency and environmental surveillance. Used by public authorities, researchers, and citizens.
• CILEI - Comparaisons Interlaboratoires pour l'Environnement Interlaboratory comparison program for environmental radioactivity measurement laboratories organized to support laboratory accreditation for environmental sample measurement. Used by French environmental testing laboratories.
• LEI - Laboratoire des Étalons et des Intercomparaisons National reference laboratory organizing interlaboratory proficiency tests for environmental radioactivity measurement laboratories and preparing radioactive standards for IRSN measurement laboratories. Used by laboratories requiring accredited radioactivity measurements.
• BEHRIG - Bureau d'Expertise en Hydrogéologie et Risques d'Inondation Expert bureau specializing in hydrogeology, groundwater vulnerability, geotechnical risks, and flood/meteorological hazard assessment for nuclear installation safety dossiers. Used by nuclear operators and regulatory authorities.
• IRSN Academy - Formations en sûreté nucléaire Professional training platform offering courses in nuclear safety, security, and radiation protection for industry professionals, healthcare workers, and technical staff requiring certification.
• Siseri - Système d'Information de la Surveillance de l'Exposition aux Rayonnements Ionisants Information system for monitoring worker exposure to ionizing radiation, providing surveillance and dosimetry data management for occupational radiation protection. Used by employers and labor inspectors in France.

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual exposure of French population averages 4.5 mSv/year, with two-thirds from natural sources and one-third from artificial sources (primarily medical imaging)

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Initiative (SNRSI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational scientific collaboration in nuclear research and safety between IRSN's LEI laboratory and Singapore's nuclear research institute.
• Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific cooperation in nuclear research between IRSN and the Korean atomic energy research institute.
• Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with the German Federal Office for Radiation Protection on measurement standards and interlaboratory comparisons.
• Commission d'ETAblissement des Méthodes d'Analyse (CETAMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical committee for analytical methods working on standardization of measurement techniques.
• Centre scientifique et technique du bâtiment (CSTB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on building science and construction expertise relevant to nuclear facility engineering.
• Consortium CIROQUOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConsortium led by Ecole Centrale de Lyon bringing together academic and technological research partners for advanced studies.
• GIS HED² (Hydraulique pour l'Environnement et le Développement Durable)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerScientific interest group focused on hydraulics for environment and sustainable development.
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission (US NRC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational collaboration with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission on nuclear safety matters.
• Météo France / CNRMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on meteorological data and climate modeling for nuclear safety hazard assessment.
• BRGM (Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership on geological and mining research applicable to nuclear facility siting and groundwater assessment.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore French research partner on nuclear energy through ANR TANDEM project collaboration.
• Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l'Environnement (LSCE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on climate science and environmental research relevant to nuclear safety hazard assessment.
• Shom (Service hydrographique de la marine)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrench naval hydrographic service providing marine data for coastal nuclear facility safety assessment.
• French universities (Côte d'Azur, Gustave Eiffel, Nantes, Rouen Normandie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnerships with French universities for joint research and doctoral training programs.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Bel V: Belgian nuclear safety technical support organization, spun off from AVN, providing expert assessment and inspection services for Belgian nuclear facilities. Comparable as a federally-supported technical expert organization supporting nuclear safety regulation, similar to IRSN's mandate within ASNR.
• ENSI (Eidgenössisches Nuklearsicherheitsinspektorat, Switzerland): Swiss Federal Nuclear Safety Inspectorate responsible for nuclear facility oversight and radiation protection. Comparable as a national nuclear safety inspectorate performing safety assessments and expert reviews — similar role to IRSN/ASNR within the Swiss regulatory system.

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): U.S. federal regulator responsible for nuclear safety and radiation protection regulation. Comparable as a national nuclear safety and radiation protection authority; broader in scope as a regulator but maintains a research support function through international collaboration with IRSN/ASNR.

Direct peers

• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives): French public research organization covering nuclear energy R&D, including reactor physics, fuel, materials, and nuclear safety research. Closely comparable as a state-owned French nuclear research peer with overlapping expertise in nuclear physics and fuel behavior; explicitly a core IRSN/ASNR research partner via ANR TANDEM.
• Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear (CSN, Spain): Spanish Nuclear Safety Council responsible for nuclear safety and radiation protection regulation. Comparable as a national nuclear safety and radiation protection authority with similar regulatory oversight and technical expertise functions to IRSN/ASNR.
• Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz (BfS): German Federal Office for Radiation Protection, responsible for radiation protection, nuclear safety, and environmental radioactivity monitoring. Directly comparable as a national expert body with interlaboratory comparison programs and measurement standards work, explicitly a collaboration partner of IRSN's LEI laboratory.
• KAERI (Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute): Korean government-funded nuclear research institute conducting research in reactor technology, nuclear safety, fuel, and radiation applications. Comparable as a state-funded nuclear research organization with broad nuclear safety and fuel behavior research programs; explicitly a collaboration partner of IRSN.
• ONR (Office for Nuclear Regulation, UK): UK's independent nuclear regulator with responsibility for nuclear safety, security, and safeguards. Comparable as a national nuclear safety and regulatory expert body providing independent assessment of nuclear facility safety — similar in mandate structure to IRSN/ASNR.
• STUK (Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority, Finland): Finnish radiation and nuclear safety authority providing regulatory oversight and radiation protection expertise. Comparable as a national nuclear safety and radiation protection expert body with research capabilities and radiation monitoring functions similar to IRSN/ASNR.

Others

• European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group (ENSREG) / European Commission JRC: European-level coordination body for nuclear safety regulators and the EC's Joint Research Centre providing nuclear safety research support. Comparable as a supranational peer organizing EU-wide nuclear safety and radiation protection activities where IRSN/ASNR participates as France's expert representative.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/suretenucleaire
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@ASNRvideo
• Facebookfacebook.com/asnrautoritedesuretenucleaireetradioprotection
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asnr
• Instagraminstagram.com/asnr_fr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 IRSN