March 30 – April 1, 2026, Paris, France

The European project EASI-SMR, in collaboration with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), invites participants to the International Workshop on Passive Systems Performance and Reliability of Nuclear Installations. The event will take place from March 30 to April 1, 2026, in Paris, at the Paris Japan Cultural Center.

The workshop is organized under the auspices of the NEA Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) by the Working Group on Risk Assessment (WGRISK) and the Working Group on Analysis and Management of Accidents (WGAMA), in collaboration with the EASI-SMR project, co-funded by the Euratom Research and Training Programme (grant agreement No. 101164810).

Passive safety systems are a key element of modern and advanced nuclear reactor designs, including large nuclear power plants, research reactors, and Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). However, there is currently no broadly accepted approach to their modelling, acceptance criteria, and reliability assessment.

The workshop will serve as a platform for sharing experience in modelling and analysis of passive systems, discussing uncertainties in their reliability, examining experimental data and identifying knowledge gaps. Participants will also address acceptance criteria for passive systems in deterministic and probabilistic analyses, and work towards a common vision for integrating research findings into regulatory approaches.

Main Topics of Discussion

  • Modelling and analysis of passive systems.
  • Methods for addressing uncertainties in their reliability.
  • Experimental data and identification of knowledge gaps.
  • Use of passive systems in deterministic and probabilistic safety analyses (PSA).
  • Acceptance criteria and reviews of models and codes.
  • Best practices in analysing passive system performance and reliability.

The workshop will feature plenary sessions, technical presentations, panel discussions, and interactive breakout groups.

  • Day 1 – Industry and Regulatory Perspectives (SMR vendors and national regulators).
  • Day 2 – Research Integration (thermal-hydraulics, reliability, licensing).
  • Day 3 – Wrap-up, gap analysis, and roadmap for future research.

Following the event, a joint WGRISK–WGAMA report will be prepared, and the proceedings will also be published by the EASI-SMR project.

Key Dates

  • 3 November 2025 – Abstract submission deadline
  • 26 November 2025 – Notification of acceptance
  • 30 January 2026 – Registration deadline
  • 7 March 2026 – Presentation submission deadline
  • 30 March – 1 April 2026 – Workshop

The workshop welcomes representatives from industry, regulatory bodies, research institutes, Technical Support Organizations (TSOs), consultants, and nuclear safety experts.

Participation is free of charge. The workshop language is English, the event will be held in-person only. Registration and abstract submission are available via the event page.

📌 More details: https://www.oecd-nea.org/jcms/pl_109806/passive-systems-performance-and-reliability-workshop