Keynote: OECD/NEA Nuclear research and innovation successes and accomplishments, looking to the future

In his keynote Mr. Magwood highlighted the following points: With some 70 projects around the world seeking the early deployment of SMRs and Generation IV systems, we are in a new era of nuclear technology innovation. SMRs can fit in a wide range of applications and provide many services that are not possible for conventional reactors. The NEA launched a multinational framework for in-pile fuels and material testing: The Framework for Irradiation Experiments (FIDES). The main objective of FIDES is to strengthen our collective nuclear fuel and material experimental expertise and capabilities. Beyond the R and D of new technologies and systems, it is clear that the complexities of development, financing, licensing, and deployment of many diverse designs will present us with tremendous challenges. The public and private sectors will need to come together in a practical and focused manner to achieve success. - For this reason, the NEA is launching its SMR Strategy, to coordinated the actions underway and identify the gaps related to the successful deployment of SMRs. With this strategy and the engagement of the thousands of member countries experts with who we work, we will set a path to assure that as many of these new technologies as possible are ready to help us meet the net zero challenge