The Research Centre Řež s.r.o. has become part of the prestigious CONNECT-NM consortium (Coordination of the European Research Community on Nuclear Materials for Energy Innovation). This partnership aims to advance the development and qualification of advanced nuclear materials, which are essential for safe and sustainable nuclear energy.
New European Partnership CONNECT-NM (Coordination of the European Research Community on Nuclear Materials for Energy Innovation), of which CVŘ is a member, accelerates innovation in nuclear materials
A consortium of European institutions has officially launched the CONNECT-NM partnership, which will focus on research and innovation in the field of nuclear materials. This partnership is co-funded by the European Commission and coordinated by CIEMAT. The inaugural meeting took place from October 2nd to 4th in Madrid, where the strategy and goals of the initiative were presented.
The Importance of Nuclear Materials for Clean Energy
Nuclear energy plays a crucial role in Europe’s transition to clean energy, being the second largest global source of low-carbon energy. The safety, efficiency, and sustainability of nuclear power depend on high-quality nuclear materials. Therefore, CONNECT-NM aims to accelerate the development, production, and qualification of innovative nuclear materials for all generations of reactors.
Pan-European Cooperation as the Key to Success
CONNECT-NM brings together leading research centers from EU member states and associated countries, working collaboratively to achieve defined goals. All activities will be aligned with European and national initiatives in the field of nuclear materials, ensuring more efficient research and development while avoiding unnecessary fragmentation and duplication. The objective is to place Europe at the forefront of global innovation in this field.
Five Main Research Areas
At the inaugural meeting, the key research areas that will drive the partnership’s activities were introduced. These include:
These areas will form the foundation of future project calls that CONNECT-NM will launch.
Collaboration, Education, and the Next Generation of Experts
The inaugural meeting also provided an opportunity for discussions on collaboration with European and international partners and on educational opportunities. One of the main topics was training the next generation of nuclear materials experts and coordinating access to shared research infrastructures. CONNECT-NM aims to ensure that project outcomes are practical and widely applicable through the involvement of industry, technical safety organizations, and regulatory authorities.
Moving Towards an Energy Transition
“The launch of CONNECT-NM represents an important step forward in coordinating nuclear materials research across Europe,” said project coordinator Lorenzo Malerba. “By bringing together key institutions and aligning our efforts with national and European priorities, we aim to accelerate innovation in nuclear materials and respond to the challenges and opportunities of the energy transition.”
The CONNECT-NM partnership confirms its commitment to supporting research, development, and innovation necessary for achieving Europe’s clean energy and climate neutrality goals. With an ambitious program and broad engagement of key players, it is ready to significantly contribute to the future of nuclear energy.
Involvement of Centrum výzkumu Řež s.r.o.
The CONNECT-NM partnership is driven by the active participation of key European and international institutions, each playing a vital role in the project's success. Centrum výzkumu Řež s.r.o. will be involved in: