IAEA highlighted the future perspective of research reactors in its recent website feature story. In early March, IAEA released a top feature story as a staff report describing the future landscape of research reactors. 'We are at the point where the discoveries and innovations that can be made by most of today's research reactors have already been made. Therefore, new innovations and discoveries need newer tools and more powerful reactors with special attributes,' Mr Iain Ritchie, IAEA's Crosscutting Coordinator for Research Reactor said.

Mr Ritchie pointed out describing the landscape to come, 'The use and future of research reactors is radically changing in a more economically competitive, and safety-conscious, marketplace. He further added, 'The future is bright but in the next 15 years rather than having the 272 research reactors operational today, it will be more like 30-40.'

According to the report, during 1996-2000, a total of 12 new research reactors have been commissioned while 47 old research reactors have been shut down. In order to cope with the shortage of research reactors, regional 'centers of excellence' are highly recommended. IAEA has been encouraging facilities that have become, or are developing into, 'regional centers of excellence,' where a single reactor can service a number of neighboring countries.

For more story, please, visit to https://www.iaea.org/topics/research-reactors