Full Title: Strategic Roadmap for Nuclear Reactor Safety Research
Author(s): Nuclear Energy Agency
Publisher(s): Nuclear Energy Agency
Publication Date: October 23, 2025
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Description (excerpt):
Projections indicate that nuclear capacity will expand substantially in the coming years, as many countries pursue programmes to increase supply and broaden applications of nuclear energy. Ensuring the safe, efficient and resilient operation of existing plants – while enabling the timely deployment of innovative designs such as small modular reactors (SMRs) – is therefore an urgent priority.
This publication presents a strategic roadmap for international nuclear reactor safety research, designed to help governments, regulators, industry and research organisations address emerging safety challenges. It highlights the growing gap between research needs and available facilities following the closure of key experimental infrastructures, and calls for stronger international co-operation to sustain expertise and accelerate progress.
The roadmap identifies urgent priorities across fuels and claddings, advanced materials, thermal-hydraulics, severe accidents, long-term operation and disruptive technologies such as advanced manufacturing and artificial intelligence. It offers actionable recommendations for co-ordinated research, funding and stakeholder engagement to ensure nuclear safety keeps pace with innovation.
By aligning safety research with global deployment goals, this roadmap aims to support a safe, flexible and sustainable nuclear energy future.