The Institut de Recherche Dupuy de Lôme (IRDL) is a joint research unit (UMR CNRS 6027). A leading laboratory in mechanical sciences and engineering, it is supported by five supervising institutions: Université Bretagne Sud (UBS), ENSTA, Université de Bretagne Occidentale (UBO), Bretagne INP-ENIB and CNRS.
Based in Brittany, IRDL carries out research with strong scientific, technological, industrial and environmental impact, addressing the major challenges of the energy transition, sustainable mobility, industrial sovereignty and reindustrialisation.
The laboratory’s research covers a broad spectrum: mechanics of materials and structures, fluid–structure interactions, advanced manufacturing processes, heat transfer, complex flows and energy systems. IRDL combines state-of-the-art experimentation, multiphysics modelling and advanced numerical simulation, drawing in particular on recognised technology platforms such as Compositic, MASMECA and Prodiabio.
With strong maritime and industrial roots, IRDL conducts recognised research in the maritime field, while developing collaborations in many strategic sectors: aeronautics, space, energy, transport, defence and advanced industrial processes.
Backed by leading higher education and engineering institutions, as well as graduate schools under the authority of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces, IRDL is actively involved in research-based training for engineering, master’s and doctoral students, with the ambition of conducting excellent, collaborative research that is open to societal and industrial challenges.
IRDL has around 318 members, including 158 permanent staff (127 faculty members and researchers, 31 administrative and technical staff) and more than 138 PhD students and postdoctoral researchers.
Objectives
Research at IRDL is fully in line with the orientations of the document Prospectives Sciences de l'Ingénierie 2030 (Engineering Sciences Outlook 2030) of the CNRS Engineering institute. It aims to advance knowledge in engineering sciences while providing concrete answers to major scientific, industrial and societal challenges.
The laboratory develops original approaches combining experimentation, multiphysics modelling, numerical simulation and data science to design the materials, processes, structures and systems of tomorrow. This approach helps accelerate the environmental, energy, digital and industrial transitions by fostering more frugal, more reliable and more sustainable technologies.
IRDL also aims to push back the frontiers of knowledge in emerging fields such as functional and architected materials, metamaterials, smart systems and the characterisation of materials under extreme conditions. Through close collaboration with academic, industrial and institutional partners, the laboratory turns advances in fundamental research into innovations that support competitiveness, technological sovereignty and sustainable development.