More than 300 participants from over 80 countries came to the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna today to participate in the International Conference on Research Reactors. Achievements and experience will be in focus as the conference discussions will address a range of topics on how to ensure the sustainability and continued success of these facilities well into the future.
This conference is the largest international forum in which reactor operators, managers, users, regulators, designers and suppliers can share experience in all relevant areas including safety, security, operation, fuel front and back-end options, utilization, infrastructure and capacity building, and management.
"Research reactors are important at this time of growth, at this time of promise," said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi. "They are a conveyor belt of knowledge, of capacity building in our countries. They are a fundamental instrument and tool to educate our workforce."
Research reactors have been in operation since the middle of last century, with 227 currently operating in 54 countries according to the IAEA's Research Reactor Database. Unlike nuclear power reactors, research reactors have low power of typically no more than 100 MW (thermal), and rather than generating electricity, they are used to produce neutrons for various applications, as well as for education and training. From testing materials for nuclear industry to producing radioisotopes such as Mo-99 for medical imaging and Lu-177 for cancer treatment, research reactor facilities provide many benefits to society and support progress on several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being and SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure.
Research reactors are essential centres of innovation and development in nuclear science and technology. Pleased to open @IAEAorg #ResearchReactors2024 conference this morning as experts gather in Vienna to share achievements, experiences and way forward. https://t.co/7QGatXP6qS pic.twitter.com/cP79qulsMR
— Rafael MarianoGrossi (@rafaelmgrossi) November 11, 2024
The conference will consist of plenary presentations, panel discussions and poster sessions focused on topics within seven subject areas: utilizations and applications, operation and maintenance, new research reactor programmes, safety, security, fuel management and common management considerations. The meeting will also feature five side events, including a joint event with Women in Nuclear Global that will look at challenges and opportunities for women at research reactors.
"This conference is essential for addressing global challenges facing research reactor programmes, including how to ensure long-term sustainability," said Khaled Toukan, Chairman of the Jordan Atomic Energy Commission and Conference Chair. "This collaboration strengthens the role of research reactors as valuable assets, advancing scientific progress and reaping benefits to individual Member States and the international community at large."
Concerted efforts are needed for research reactors to continue delivering results globally and remain sustainable for decades to come. About 50% of the research reactors in operation have reached 50 years of age, with about 30% operating for 60 years. Robust life management programmes, which involve modernization and refurbishment activities, are necessary for safe operation and to ensure the ongoing availability of the wide range of products and services offered by research reactors.
Research reactors are also crucial for workforce development, serving as vital education and training centres for the next generation of nuclear scientists, engineers, and reactor operators. The IAEA estimates that upwards of 4 million professionals will be supporting the nuclear power industry by 2050, and with one-third of the existing workforce projected to retire by 2033, there will be a need for potentially more than one million new workers to enter the industry by then. The availability of training facilities, including research reactors is a key component of capacity building and human resource development.
