IAEA SMR Programme: Globalizing Small Modular Reactor Deployment
Speaker: Aline Des Cloizeaux (Director, Nuclear Power Division, IAEA)
From Strategy to Reality: The IAEA’s Global Role in SMR Deployment
The opening keynote of Track 2 at binding.energy 2025 came from the very top of international nuclear diplomacy.
Aline Des Cloizeaux, Director at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), shared the agency’s evolving mission: to make SMRs deployable worldwide through harmonized regulation, technical assistance, and collaborative tools like ARIS and NHSI.
“We don’t build reactors – but we help the world build them better,” she emphasized.
The IAEA SMR Supporting Programme – Purpose and Impact
The IAEA SMR Supporting Programme was launched to coordinate the massive international momentum around small modular reactors (SMRs):
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80+ SMR designs tracked globally
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Dozens of countries interested in adopting SMRs
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Broad spectrum: electricity, heat, hydrogen, desalination
It offers a platform for:
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Regulators to align on pre-licensing
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Vendors to share technical data
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Newcomer countries to access best practices
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Global deployment strategies to be synchronized
Why SMRs? Technology Built for Modern Energy Needs
Small Modular Reactors are a response to energy market shifts:
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Lower upfront capital
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Smaller physical footprint
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Enhanced safety
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Modular, factory-built components
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Suited for distributed grids & process heat
Key Advantages of SMRs
| SMR Feature | Strategic Benefit |
|---|---|
| Modularity | Faster, parallel construction |
| Lower Power Output | Suitable for small grids and remote sites |
| Passive Safety | No active cooling or operator action needed |
| Non-electrical Applications | Hydrogen, heat, desalination, district heating |
Infobox: What Is the NHSI?
NHSI – Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative
The IAEA’s NHSI aligns regulators and industry around shared frameworks for:
- Multinational licensing pathways
- Common design reviews
- Safeguards-by-design
- Security and emergency planning approaches
Harmonized regulation = faster deployment, less duplication, more trust.
ARIS Database – One Catalogue to Rule Them All
The Advanced Reactors Information System (ARIS) is the IAEA’s curated design catalogue, covering:
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80+ SMR & advanced reactor designs
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Standardized datasheets
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Technical comparisons
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Vendor-submitted updates
Empowering Newcomers and Women in Nuclear
Beyond technology, the IAEA supports capacity building:
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The Milestones Approach for new nuclear countries
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Fellowships and training for regulators & engineers
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Over 820 applicants joined IAEA women-in-nuclear programmes in 2025
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Special focus: Africa, ASEAN, and Middle East
The Broader Significance of the IAEA SMR Programme
The IAEA SMR Programme goes far beyond catalogues and conferences. It represents a shift in how the international community views nuclear deployment in the 21st century. Small Modular Reactors are not only technical systems; they are political, social and financial projects that require trust between nations and institutions. Without harmonized rules and international cooperation, SMR deployment risks becoming fragmented, slow and duplicative.
NHSI – Building Shared Frameworks
The NHSI (Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative) is one of the most critical contributions of the IAEA. By creating shared frameworks for licensing and safeguards, it reduces regulatory barriers that have traditionally slowed nuclear projects. A reactor design reviewed once could be accepted by multiple countries under the same framework, saving time, resources and building confidence. For vendors, this means access to larger markets. For newcomer countries, it provides a clear pathway without reinventing the regulatory wheel.
ARIS – Transparency for Global Deployment
The ARIS database complements this by offering transparency. With more than 80 SMR designs catalogued, governments and investors can compare options on a level playing field. Transparency in design specifications builds trust, prevents overpromising and ensures that deployment strategies are based on verified technical data. ARIS is therefore not just an information tool, but a governance instrument.
Capacity Building and Skills Development
Capacity building is another cornerstone of the programme. The IAEA’s milestone approach has long provided guidance for newcomer countries. Today, it is adapted for SMRs, which appeal to smaller grids or nations with limited resources. Training programmes, fellowships and technical cooperation projects ensure that safety culture keeps pace with innovation. In 2025, more than 820 women applied for IAEA fellowships, highlighting both the programme’s reach and its role in workforce diversification.
SMRs in the Clean Energy Narrative
Strategically, the IAEA SMR Programme also positions nuclear as part of the broader clean energy transition. By emphasizing applications such as hydrogen production, desalination and industrial heat, the agency frames SMRs as versatile tools for climate and industrial goals. This expands nuclear’s constituency: from utilities and regulators to industries, water managers and climate policymakers.
Building Consensus for Global Deployment
As demand for secure, carbon-free energy accelerates, the role of the IAEA in coordinating this transition is decisive. The agency’s strength lies not in building reactors, but in building consensus. By bringing together regulators, vendors, newcomer states and civil society, it provides the glue that can hold a global SMR strategy together.
Final Thoughts
Aline Des Cloizeaux reminded the audience:
“The IAEA doesn’t compete – we convene.”
The IAEA’s SMR strategy is not about one design, one vendor, or one country. It’s about building global trust, unified rules, and pathways for everyone. From ARIS to NHSI, the agency is quietly laying the groundwork for the next nuclear wave.
