Toulouse-based aerospace research institute specializing in power electronics, HVDC systems, wide band gap semiconductors, and multidisciplinary design optimization for electrified transport.
IRT Antoine de Saint Exupéry is a French collaborative research institute based in Toulouse, focused on advanced aerospace engineering — particularly power electronics, high-voltage systems, and multidisciplinary design optimization for aircraft and transport platforms. They develop next-generation power converters, cable systems, and semiconductor technologies (SiC, diamond) for high-altitude and high-voltage aerospace applications. Their work spans from computational simulation and adjoint-based optimization methods to physical hardware like modular DC converters and arc fault detection systems. They also contribute to 5G-enabled transport corridors and railway traction systems, extending their electronics and reliability expertise beyond aviation.
Core focus across HYPNOTIC (modular DC converters), DCADE (diamond semiconductors for high-altitude), IMPERIAL (power conversion on aircraft), HIVACS (high-voltage cable systems), and DEFLECT (electrical cabinet materials).
MADELEINE applied adjoint-based MDO with HPC for aeronautics, while RHEA extended this to uncertainty-based optimization for ultra-high aspect ratio wings.
DCADE explores diamond-based converters, RECET4Rail uses SiC semiconductors for railway traction, and HYPNOTIC develops novel converter topologies.
RECET4Rail focuses on reliability and robustness engineering with predictive maintenance, complementing the fault detection work in DCADE.
5GMED (their largest project at EUR 720K) addresses sustainable 5G deployment for cross-border connected and automated transport in the Mediterranean corridor.
In their early H2020 period (2018–2019), IRT Saint Exupéry concentrated on computational methods — adjoint-based multidisciplinary optimization, HPC simulations, and foundational power electronics converter design for aerospace. From 2020 onward, the focus shifted toward applied hardware challenges: wide band gap semiconductors (SiC, diamond), arc fault detection for high-altitude operations, wireless charging, and 5G-enabled transport corridors. This evolution shows a move from simulation and design methodology toward real-world deployment of advanced materials and systems in both aerospace and ground transport.
They are moving toward applied semiconductor and power conversion technologies for electrified aerospace and multimodal transport, making them a strong partner for projects bridging aviation electrification with ground mobility.
IRT Saint Exupéry operates predominantly as a contributing partner (8 of 9 projects), coordinating only once (HIVACS), which suggests they bring deep technical expertise to consortia led by others rather than managing large collaborative efforts themselves. With 73 unique partners across 14 countries, they maintain a broad European network — not locked into a small cluster of repeat collaborators. This makes them accessible and experienced in integrating into diverse teams, particularly within Clean Sky 2 Joint Undertaking and transport-focused consortia.
They have collaborated with 73 distinct partners across 14 countries, indicating a well-connected European network centered on the aerospace and transport sectors. Their Toulouse base places them at the heart of Europe's aerospace corridor, with strong ties to Clean Sky 2 and Shift2Rail communities.
IRT Saint Exupéry sits at a rare intersection: they combine deep competence in computational MDO and HPC simulation with hands-on expertise in power electronics hardware — from SiC and diamond semiconductors to modular HVDC converters. Few organizations can credibly contribute to both the simulation/optimization side and the physical power systems side of aerospace electrification. Their position in Toulouse, embedded in Europe's aerospace ecosystem, and their Clean Sky 2 track record make them a natural partner for any consortium working on electric or hybrid aircraft power architectures.
