From June 2 to 6, 2025, the European Nuclear Young Generation Forum (ENYGF 2025) took place in Zagreb, Croatia. This international event, held biennially under the auspices of the European Nuclear Society (ENS) and the ENS Young Generation Network (YGN), brought together more than 250 delegates from across Europe and beyond.

The forum gathered young engineers, researchers, students, NPP representatives, regulators, and experts in advanced nuclear technologies, including SMRs, MMRs, HTRs, digital solutions for the nuclear industry, as well as professionals in fusion energy, decommissioning, radioactive waste management (RAW), public communication, and education.

Key topics of ENYGF 2025 included:

  • Innovation for Nuclear (I4N)
  • Construction of new power units (including SMRs & AMRs)
  • Advanced nuclear fuels
  • Nuclear fusion
  • Digitalization and Industry 4.0
  • Decommissioning and RAW management
  • Women in nuclear
  • Public outreach and education
  • Leadership and management skills for young professionals

The forum program featured:

  • Panel discussions with leading experts
  • Technical sessions with presentations and posters
  • Interactive workshops in team format
  • Official meetings, technical tours, and networking events
  • The “Innovation for Nuclear Europe (I4N)” competition, in which — for the first time — a Ukrainian team officially participated as part of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society (UkrYaT) delegation, representing Rivne NPP.

Ukrainian Innovation Project at I4N

Young specialists from Rivne NPP, members of the Ukrainian Nuclear Society, proudly represented Ukraine in the finals of the prestigious international Innovation for Nuclear (I4N) competition held as part of ENYGF. The Ukrainian team included employees of SE “Rivne NPP” of NNEGC “Energoatom”, and UkrYaT members: Yuliia Verba, Eduard Omelchuk, Daria Papezhuk, and Roman Basiuk. Daria Papezhuk and Eduard Omelchuk joined the event thanks to support from the NURECAB mobility programme.

The team presented the project:
“Integration of Hydrogen Production at Nuclear Power Plants: A Techno-Economic Model and Scenario for Electrolysis Use to Create a Low-Carbon Hydrogen Hub at Rivne NPP.” The project focused on the development of a hydrogen production concept using surplus nuclear energy, exploring the flexibility of NPP units to operate in dual mode (electricity and hydrogen generation), and evaluating the prospects of integrating ammonia synthesis for industrial application and export.

Ukraine’s participation in the forum not only highlighted innovative approaches but also marked an important step toward integrating young Ukrainian professionals into the European nuclear community.

Another representative of Ukraine’s young nuclear generation, Vitalii Antonchenko, took part at the ENYGF 2025 at the support from the NURECAB mobility programme. Vitalii Antonchenko (PhD candidate at Ternopil National Technical University, Deputy Head of the Strength Analysis Department at IPP-CENTER LLC, Kyiv), delivered a scientific presentation:
“Polynomial Solution in Pressurized Thermal Shock Analysis for the Through Clad Defects in the Nozzle Zone of the Reactor Pressure Vessel.”

His presentation introduced a novel method for analyzing emergency scenarios using polynomial solutions for the reactor nozzle zone, validated the results, compared them to existing approaches, and discussed opportunities to expand the defect spectrum considered in analysis.

Participation in the forum also enabled exchange with international peers on nuclear safety challenges, professional development of young specialists, and IPP-CENTER’s experience in analytical, numerical, and experimental research.

The participation of Ukrainian delegates was made possible through mobility grants from the NURECAB programme, which continues to support the integration of Ukrainian experts into the European research community, promoting knowledge exchange and the formation of strategic partnerships for the development of the nuclear sector.

The NURECAB project (GA#101173510) is funded by the European Union under the Euratom Research and Training Programme of Horizon Europe. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the European Commission can be held responsible for them.