Innovation, Safety, and Development: Outcomes of the International Conference NUCNEXT-2025
On September 25–26, the VII International Scientific and Technical Conference NUCNEXT-2025: “Prospects for Implementing Innovations in Nuclear Energy” was held in the Grand Conference Hall of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The event was organized by the Ukrainian Nuclear Society together with SE NNEGC “Energoatom”, the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine, and the Council of Young Scientists of the NASU Department of Energy and Energy Technologies.
Over two days, more than 200 participants – representatives of ministries, Members of Parliament, researchers, Energoatom specialists, experts from international organizations, and young professionals – discussed the key challenges and prospects for the development of nuclear energy.
At the opening of the conference, Ihor Ivanov, Director of the Department of Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Industry of the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, delivered a welcome address on behalf of the Ministry. He emphasized the strategic importance of the nuclear sector for Ukraine’s energy security and underlined the need for state support to implement innovations, ensure sustainable development, and preserve the human resource potential of the industry.
Oleksandr Kopylenko, Academician of the NAS of Ukraine, Member of Parliament, and Chairman of the National Commission on Radiation Protection of the Population of Ukraine, stressed the importance of legislative support for the nuclear sector, particularly institutional reforms, investment stimulation, and the introduction of new technologies.
Pavlo Kovtonyuk, Acting Chairman of the Board of JSC NNEGC “Energoatom,” highlighted the company’s crucial role in ensuring the nation’s energy stability, especially under the current wartime challenges. He outlined Energoatom’s priorities: enhancing the reliability of nuclear units, advancing innovative technologies, fostering international cooperation, and ensuring nuclear safety.
The conference participants were also addressed by Volodymyr Kholosha, President of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, and Anatolii Nosovskyi, Vice President of UkrNS for Scientific and Technical Development and Director of the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the NAS of Ukraine. They emphasized the importance of continuing scientific and technical conferences during wartime as a driver of industry development and stressed the need for scientific cooperation to strengthen the role of research in Ukraine’s post-war recovery.
Plenary Session
The plenary session brought together representatives of Energoatom, scientific institutions, organizations, and leading industry enterprises. The agenda included Ukraine’s energy strategy, construction of new nuclear units, global trends in nuclear energy, and the projected conditions for deploying small modular reactors. Special attention was paid to wartime challenges – from new safety requirements and legal aspects of military impacts on nuclear facilities to the problem of the occupation of Zaporizhzhia NPP. Initiatives for innovation development, international cooperation, and the creation of a national platform for the future of nuclear energy in Ukraine were also presented.
Thematic Sections
The conference featured seven thematic sections, covering the full spectrum of contemporary nuclear energy challenges:
- Lifetime extension and new nuclear units; Computational innovations for NPP safety and efficiency (Moderator: Oleksandr Mazurok, Energy Safety Group).
- Trends in reactor technologies and innovative solutions (Moderator: Valerii Zuiok, NSC Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology).
- New materials and technologies for safe and efficient nuclear energy (Moderator: Vitalii Khomenko, Pivdennoukrainsk NPP, UkrNS).
- Safety and physical protection of NPPs under wartime conditions (Moderator: Kateryna Piliuhina, ENEN).
- Innovations in spent nuclear fuel management, radioactive waste, and radioecology (Moderator: Volodymyr Kholosha, UkrNS President).
- Innovations and communication in nuclear energy (Moderator: Khrystyna Lylak, UkrNS).
- NURECAB consortium panel (Moderator: Serhii Puhach, NSC Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology), focusing on strengthening nuclear education and integration of Ukrainian researchers into the European nuclear community.
Partners and Sponsors
The success of the conference was made possible thanks to its partners and sponsors.
- General Partner: JSC NNEGC “Energoatom” – traditionally supporting expert dialogue in the nuclear field.
- Information Partner: European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), fostering integration of Ukraine’s academic and research community into the European framework.
- Sponsors: Energy Safety Group, IPP-Centre, Atomkompleksprylad, SSTC NRS, Phoenix Contact Ukraine, Witkowiz Atomica, CestaSynergoatom, and Triumph. Their support confirmed the importance of consolidating the efforts of business, science, and government for innovation and nuclear safety development.
Co-Organizers
- Council of Young Scientists of the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of NAS of Ukraine
- Council of Young Scientists of the Institute for Nuclear Research of NAS of Ukraine
- Gas Institute of NAS of Ukraine
The NUCNEXT-2025 conference confirmed Ukraine’s strong scientific and engineering potential in nuclear energy, its ability to respond to current challenges, and its readiness to integrate into the global nuclear community. Discussions in the sections gave a powerful impetus to the development of innovations, new educational projects, enhanced nuclear safety, and expanded international cooperation.
