On 25–26 September, the VII International Scientific and Technical Conference NUCNEXT-2025: “Prospects for the Implementation of Innovations in Nuclear Energy” was held in the Grand Conference Hall of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. The event gathered more than 200 participants, including representatives of specialised institutions, leading scientists, young professionals, and international partners.

The participants discussed Ukraine’s energy development strategy, global trends in the nuclear sector, wartime challenges for nuclear power plants, the implementation of small modular reactors, the lifetime extension of existing power units, as well as innovations in nuclear education and radiation protection.

The general partner of the conference was JSC “NNEGC Energoatom”, while the informational partner was the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN).

A special focus of the conference was placed on the panel session organised by the NURECAB project consortium, which addressed nuclear education and Ukraine’s integration into the European nuclear community in the areas of research, innovation, and training.

The panel was moderated by Sergii Pugach, PhD, MBA, Head of the Euratom National Contact Point in Ukraine, National Science Center “Kharkiv Institute of Physics and Technology” (NSC KIPT).

In the first part of the panel, “From Gap Analysis to Capacity Building: Actions Aimed at Strengthening Nuclear Education in Ukraine”, the results of the sector needs analysis and the development of new educational courses were presented:

  • Sergii Pugach spoke about the NURECAB project and introduced the members of the Consortium. In his presentation, he stressed the importance of engaging young people with universities and nuclear enterprises. He also shared the results of a survey conducted to identify gaps between the expectations of nuclear industry enterprises and existing educational programmes.
  • Volodymyr Kravchenko, DSc, Professor, Odesa Polytechnic National University, reported on the creation and development of new courses currently being designed by key Ukrainian universities with nuclear specialisations. In total, 6 standalone courses and 4 joint courses are planned. He also presented the outcomes of training sessions and seminars held within the project.
  • Pylyp Kuznetsov, PhD, V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, presented the results of Work Package 4 (WP4) of the NURECAB project, which focuses on engaging youth in the nuclear sector. This work package targets not only students but also schoolchildren and teachers, as essential competencies are formed at the school level. He reported on activities implemented across the Consortium’s member universities.

In the second part, “Establishing Collaboration: Integration into the European Nuclear Community”:

  • Kateryna Piliuhina, PhD, ENEN, introduced the European Nuclear Education Network (ENEN), shared details of past events, and announced upcoming activities. She also presented the Educational HUB project, a platform designed to unite nuclear organisations and disseminate information about educational opportunities.
  • Vitalii Zhurenko, PhD, NSC KIPT, presented the NURECAB Mobility Programme as a tool for integrating Ukrainian researchers into the European nuclear community. He outlined the programme’s objectives and conditions, explained the application process for support, and provided statistics on participants who have already received funding.

The lively discussions and Q&A sessions confirmed the strong interest of participants in developing nuclear education, international mobility programmes, and youth engagement in the sector.

The NUCNEXT-2025 conference reaffirmed the strategic importance of nuclear energy for Ukraine and underscored the need for international cooperation. The NURECAB session demonstrated significant achievements in modernising nuclear education, integrating Ukrainian universities into the European educational space, and fostering the next generation for the nuclear sector.

The NURECAB project (GA#101173510) is funded by the European Union under the Euratom Research and Training Programme (HORIZON EUROPE). The views and opinions expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Commission.