The first stage of the competition of scientific projects in the field of nuclear science, nuclear energy and industry “Nuclear Innovators” has been completed

The competition was launched in 2023 by the Ukrainian Nuclear Society with the participation of the Council of Young Scientists at the Department of Physical and Technical Problems of Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine and the Council of Young Scientists at the Department of Nuclear Physics and Energy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

The project is aimed at increasing the motivation of young scientists, students, graduate students and specialists to create innovative solutions, developments, approaches that will contribute to the development of nuclear energy, improve the efficiency of production processes, and will also influence the development of nuclear science and technology.

The conditions of the competition provide for monetary rewards for the winners, as well as support in the further implementation and scaling of their own project.

Leading companies operating in the nuclear industry became partners of the competition. In particular, NNEGC Energoatom, Cameco Corporation, Energy Safety Group, Phoenix Contact.

The first stage included a preliminary assessment of the projects by the jury members based on the consideration of a short summary of the projects and their presentation in the Elevator pitch format. The competition jury included leading specialists from partner companies, as well as the National University of Odessa Polytechnic, the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

To participate in the competition, 13 applications were received from specialists representing various organizations, enterprises and institutions of the nuclear and related industries, in particular nuclear research of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Institute for Safety Problems of Nuclear Power Plants of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the Institute of Geotechnical Mechanics named after. M.S. Polyakov, National Scientific Center “Kharkov Institute of Physics and Technology”, National University “Odessa Polytechnic”, Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute Igor Sikorsky, VNTU – Vinnitsa State Technical Institute.

Entries were submitted for participation in the competition in two categories:
– Scientific research.
– Applied development.
In particular, among the areas of research and development are such as cyber protection of information and control systems of nuclear power plants to ensure nuclear and radiation safety, innovative approaches to handling radioactive hazardous waste, providing heat supply to cities using SMR-160, developing a device for extracting foreign objects from hard-to-reach places in equipment nuclear power plant and others.

The second stage of the competition will take place on June 9, 2023 in an online format. As part of the second stage, the participants will personally present their works, and the jury of the competition will conduct a final evaluation of the projects and determine the winners.