CONNECT-NM presents its core purpose and activities at the recent SMINS-7 workshop on nuclear materials innovation.
From 31 March to 3 April, the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) and Ciemat co-organised the Seventh International Workshop on Structural Materials for Innovative Nuclear Systems (SMINS-7), with key support from CONNECT-NM.
Undoubtedly, materials research is a field of growing relevance for a range of advanced nuclear systems. Moreover, for these different systems, structural materials must be selected or developed to address the specific challenges of their foreseen operational environments. This requires both cross-cutting research programmes and advanced experimental facilities to characterise and evaluate the performance of materials.
Against this backdrop, the central aim of SMINS-7 was to promote the exchange of information on current materials research programmes for different innovative nuclear systems, in order to identify and develop essential synergies.
Notably, the event provided CONNECT-NM Coordinator, Lorenzo Malerba, with the optimum opportunity to present the partnerships’ activities and efforts, showcasing in particular its key ambitions to advance research, development, and innovation in nuclear materials, the central theme guiding the discussions of the workshop.
Furthermore, the workshop ensured a collaborative platform for the CONNECT-NM community to network with fellow experts in nuclear materials research, further cultivating synergies in the field as the partnership advances on its work.