Safety of advanced and innovative nuclear designs and fuels

Proposed research should support the safety assessment and development of advanced and innovative reactor safety designs and technologies for deployment in the medium and long term, including Research Reactors and the Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Proposed research should develop design with intrinsic safety features, integrated in a competitive plant design also improving non-proliferation and safeguards, reducing waste generation and improving safety, energy security and improved economics.

R&D should support advanced and innovative concepts to improve long-term operation by design, safety by design, possibly with a high level of passive safety systems, safe and trusted AI-enabled core monitoring/diagnostics, innovative manufacturing of components, components including joining or welding or welding-less techniques, fuels and reactivity control, reducing the need for maintenance and enhancing the economics. In addition, advanced primary and secondary cooling systems c