Ukrainian developers presented the “Safety Meta” project at the I4N European Finals in Edinburgh
On June 11, Edinburgh (UK) hosted the finals of the prestigious Innovation for Nuclear (I4N) Europe 2026 competition, organized by the European Nuclear Society – Young Generation Network (ENS-YGN). Having previously won the national selection stage, the “Safety Meta” team proudly represented Ukraine on the international stage.
What is “Safety Meta”?
The project is a unique ecosystem designed for metal fatigue monitoring and addressing critical Long-Term Operation (LTO) challenges for nuclear reactors.
Developed by experts from the Ukrainian company IPP-Centre and members of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society (UkNS) branch at the enterprise — Oleksii Ishchenko and Kostiantyn Lukianenko — the project demonstrated how advanced technologies originally used for oil and gas pipelines can be successfully applied to prevent the degradation of primary circuit components in nuclear reactors.
Technology at a Glance
At the core of this technology is the proprietary “3D PipeMaster” software. It allows for:
- Calculating the stress-strain state of the NPP primary circuit.
- Simulating potential operational emergency scenarios.
- Identifying “stress concentration zones” with high precision.
By installing customized strain gauges in these critical areas, the software performs daily automated calculations of accumulated metal fatigue.
Team’s Insight:
“Reaching the European finals is a major milestone for our team. The competition was incredibly fierce. Presenting our technology on such a prestigious stage earned us I4N certificates, officially validating the high technical and scientific level of our development. We are returning with new insights, stronger European connections, and immense motivation to move forward.”
Strategic Support
The team’s participation was made possible through the robust coordination of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, specifically Khrystyna Lylak (selection committee representative) and Eduard Omelchuk (Head of the UkNS Youth Section), who supported the speakers in the UK.
- Scientific & Engineering Support: LLC “IPP-CENTRE”.
- Financial Support: Provided in part by the Nurecab mobility program (EU-UA Nuclear Research and Education Capacity Building, GA №101173510, Euratom, Horizon Europe).
I4N Europe 2026 Results:
The competition was intense, with the top spots awarded to:
- 1st Place: Hungary (Budapest University of Technology) with the project “ATLAS: Rethinking Nuclear Safety”. They will represent Europe at the I4N Global Finals in Avignon, France.
- 2nd Place: UK (Amentum) with a concept for hydrogen technologies to evolve green steel using nuclear energy.
- 3rd Place: Austria (Austrian Nuclear Society & UN Young Nuclear Generation) with the innovative “E-Beams4CoffeeBeans” solution.
The Ukrainian Nuclear Society sincerely congratulates our colleagues on this high international achievement! The creation and presentation of such knowledge-intensive projects prove that young Ukrainian professionals and engineers are actively shaping the future of safe and reliable nuclear energy.
