IRUP

What IRUP does

IRUP (Institut Régional Universitaire Polytechnique) is a French grande école specializing in alternance (work-study) vocational training, founded in 1995 and headquartered in Saint-Étienne, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. Operating as a non-profit association (association déclarée) and as a CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis) since 2019, IRUP delivers programs from BAC to BAC+5 across four strategic verticals: nuclear, building innovation, industrial performance, and IT/digital. Together with strategic partner ISTP, it forms the largest national alternating training pole for France's civil nuclear sector, training 27% of French nuclear technicians and 39% of nuclear engineers.

The school's core technology is its dual-learning pedagogical model combining classroom instruction with enterprise apprenticeships, supported by specialized infrastructure including two CEFRI-certified nuclear school construction sites, a virtual reality training room for nuclear-site interventions, and a FabLab 4.0 equipped with 3D printers, laser cutting, augmented reality, robotics, cobotics, and industrial vision systems. The main campus spans 8,000 m² on the Copernic site in Saint-Étienne, with a further 8,500 m² expansion inaugurated in March 2025 and an additional Fauriel site, bringing total facility space to 17,000 m². Notable certifications include Qualiopi, ISO 9001, CEFRI-F (RN N 779F), EDF-FCIN, and BBC Rénovation for low-energy campus operations.

IRUP generates revenue through three streams: (1) OPCO-funded apprenticeship contracts via its CFA status, (2) custom enterprise training programs (Solutions sur Mesure Entreprise) sold through dedicated account management, and (3) the apprenticeship tax (Taxe d'Apprentissage). Enterprise customers span EDF, Framatome, Vinci Energies, Onet, Otis (20-year partnership), Industeel, and the Gendarmerie, supported by an integrated recruitment service that handles end-to-end apprenticeship matching including job-dating events such as Nuclear Day. The institution operates three sub-brands (IRUP, IOMI Business School, IRON Formation) and runs complementary platforms including the alumni network and the Nuclear-Connect.fr community/job-board launched in May 2026.

Name

IRUP

Legal name

INSTITUT REGIONAL UNIVERSITAIRE POLYTECHNIQUE

Website

https://irup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

IRUP is a French non-profit grande école founded in 1995 in Saint-Étienne that delivers alternance (work-study) training from BAC to BAC+5 across nuclear, building, industrial, and IT verticals, operating as a CFA with 350 students and 500+ enterprise partners including EDF, Framatome, and Otis.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Technical and Vocational Education

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Computer Training (611420)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Polytechnic & Applied Sciences Universities (EDAHAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Software Engineering & Application Development Training (Languages, Frameworks, Testing) (BPAEANAI), Information Technology & Cybersecurity Certification Prep (CompTIA, Cisco, Microsoft, AWS, ISC2/ISACA) (EDANAIAF)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Alternance training
• Nuclear sector training
• Apprenticeship programs
• Work-study education

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Étienne

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Apprenticeship Training: IRUP operates as a CFA (Centre de Formation d'Apprentis) since 2019, providing apprenticeship contracts where companies fund training through OPCO (skills operators) contributions. Training is included in the OPCO coverage framework for apprenticeship contracts.
2. Enterprise Training Solutions: Custom training programs for companies including internal staff development, new employee integration, career conversion support. Billed through contracts with companies, with OPCO coverage possible. Prices not publicly disclosed; company-specific quotes provided.
3. Apprenticeship Tax (Taxe d'Apprentissage): French companies contribute to IRUP through apprenticeship tax (solde de la taxe d'apprentissage), which funds development of technological and professional training outside apprenticeship and professional integration. Managed through SoltéA platform with UAI code 0422256Z.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

IRUP operates a grande école (higher education institution) specializing in alternance (work-study) vocational training from Bac to Bac+5 levels across four strategic sectors: nuclear, innovative building, industrial performance, and IT/digital. The institution serves as a Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) delivering apprenticeship contracts, while also providing custom enterprise training solutions, recruitment services connecting companies with apprentices and alumni, and operating digital platforms including Nuclear-Connect.fr for the nuclear industry.

Product overview

IRUP (Institut Régional Universitaire Polytechnique) is a vocational education institution offering work-study (alternance) training programs up to BAC+5 level. The institution operates four main training tracks: Formations Nucléaire, Formations Bâtiment Innovant, Formations Performance Industrielle, and Formations Informatique et Numérique. Under the CFA IRUP sub-brand (CFA since 2019), the school provides apprenticeship-based vocational training. IRUP also operates the Nuclear-Connect.fr platform for nuclear industry networking, offers enterprise custom training solutions (Solutions sur Mesure Entreprise), and maintains an alumni platform (IRUP Alumni). The institution operates across two sites in Saint-Étienne totaling 17,000 m² of educational facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Nuclear Institute of Technology (NIT): A sub-brand label for nuclear training activities of ISTP and IRUP, covering Bac to Bac+5 programs for the nuclear sector including nuclear engineering, operations, maintenance, safety, radiation protection, and decommissioning.
• Nuclear-Connect

Products and services

• Formations Nucléaire
• Formations Bâtiment Innovant
• Formations Performance Industrielle
• Formations Informatique et Numérique
• CFA IRUP
• Nuclear-Connect.fr
• Solutions sur Mesure Entreprise

Quantifiable outcome

• 90% of graduates find employment within 6 months
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered major, minor and core.

• IndusteelmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2025Partnership convention signed with Industeel for concrete non-profit actions in social, economic, cultural, political, and environmental domains.
• OtismajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 March 202520-year partnership with global elevator leader Otis for technician training development; Otis invests in French skills through IRUP collaboration.
• Gendarmerie of Saint-ÉtienneminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 February 2025Educational partnership between IRUP, ISTP, and the Gendarmerie to bring together academic and security sector collaboration.
• Erasmus+majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (2021-2027) enables international mobility for IRUP students; supports international exchanges and European collaboration in higher education.
• ISTP (Institut Supérieur Technique de Paris)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISTP is IRUP's primary strategic partner, together forming the largest alternating training pole for French civil nuclear sector. ISTP provides engineering training (Mines Saint-Étienne) while IRUP provides technician-level training, creating a complete educational pathway from Bac to Bac+5 in nuclear sector.
• EDFcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDF is a key enterprise partner for nuclear sector training, providing apprenticeship opportunities, practical training sites, and expertise in nuclear operations and maintenance. EDF validates and supports IRUP's nuclear training programs.
• FramatomecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFramatome, nuclear equipment specialist, partners with IRUP for technician training and workforce development in nuclear sector. Provides industry expertise and practical training opportunities.
• Vinci EnergiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVinci Energies nuclear activity partners with IRUP for training development and recruitment of nuclear sector professionals.
• Mines Saint-ÉtiennecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering degree partnership with Mines Saint-Étienne for nuclear engineering program, creating educational pathway for IRUP graduates to pursue engineering qualifications.
• CEA (Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCEA is a key institutional partner; Laurence Piketty, Deputy General Administrator of CEA, participated in Mines Saint-Étienne x ISTP graduation ceremony as godmother.
• INSTN (Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with INSTN for nuclear engineering training, providing specialized nuclear science and techniques education integrated with IRUP-ISTP programs.
• Nuclear ValleymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNuclear sector competitiveness cluster; IRUP participates in Nuclear Valley ecosystem for nuclear industry collaboration and development.
• GIFENmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNuclear Industry Grouping for France (GIFEN) partners with IRUP for nuclear sector workforce development and industry-academia collaboration.
• EPSIminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAcademic partner for IT and digital sector education collaboration.
• France TravailmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational employment service partners with IRUP for job dating events, professional integration support, and nuclear sector recruitment campaigns.
• Digital LeagueminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCompetitiveness cluster for digital sector; IRUP collaborates for digital transformation training and industry partnerships.
• AFDETminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAssociation for Development of Technical Education; professional partner for educational development in technical fields.
• AgeraminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional academic network for education and training collaboration.
• Institut Français de SouduremajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for welding technician training with 40% at French Welding Institute in Corbas (69) and 60% at IRUP Saint-Étienne, addressing specialized nuclear sector skills needs.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• INSTN (Institut National des Sciences et Techniques Nucléaires): National nuclear training institute operated by CEA, delivering post-graduate qualifications and lifelong nuclear training across France. Directly comparable as a French civil-nuclear-focused training provider with overlapping qualification pathways for technicians and engineers.
• AFTRAL: France's largest specialised work-study training provider (CFA) focused on transport, logistics, and adjacent industrial sectors. Closely analogous to IRUP as a CFA-led alternance operator with sector-specific employer integration and OPCO funding model.
• Pôle Formation UIMM: Network of 45 French training centres operated by the metalworking industry's UIMM federation, offering work-study programs in industrial/technical trades (including welding for nuclear). Comparable dual-tutoring apprenticeship model with strong sectoral employer integration.
• CESI: Major French higher-education network running work-study (alternance) engineering, IT, and industrial performance programs from Bac+2 to Bac+5. Closely matches IRUP's alternance pedagogical model, breadth of technical tracks, and enterprise-led apprenticeship recruitment.
• ENI (École Nationale d'Ingénieurs): Network of French IT and digital engineering schools operating Bac to Bac+5 work-study programs (Bachelor, Mastère) in software development and digital transformation. Comparable to IRUP's IT/Digital and Industrial Performance verticals on a shared alternance, OPCO-funded model.

Emerging players

• ESIEA: French post-bac engineering school focused on digital, cybersecurity, and embedded systems with work-study engineering tracks. Comparable to IRUP in IT higher-education alternant pedagogy and cybersecurity certification offerings.
• IMIE (Institut des Métiers de l'Ingénierie): French IT and digital engineering school delivering work-study professional programs from BAC to BAC+5. Comparable in digital training vertical and OPCO-funded alternance model, though more narrowly specialised than IRUP.

Broad incumbents

• AFPA: France's largest national vocational training operator running Qualiopi-certified work-study programs across all regions. Comparable as a broad multi-sector vocational training provider with similar OPCO funding mechanics, though with a much wider catalog and lower specialisation.
• Mines Saint-Étienne: Engineering school co-located in Saint-Étienne delivering Bac+5 engineering programmes with strong civil-nuclear specialism. Active ISTP-IRUP academic partner; serves the same nuclear-talent pipeline at degree level rather than technician level.
• INSA de Lyon: Public polytechnic university in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes delivering multi-disciplinary engineering degrees from Bac to Bac+5. Comparable polytechnic positioning and regional base within ~60km of IRUP, with overlapping nuclear, building, and IT engineering offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1fy_YWpO9uVscBUvTGNAiA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/irup
• Instagraminstagram.com/irup_officiel

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 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 IRUP