The IAEA has designated the Politecnico di Milano as a Collaborating Centre to support IAEA activities on advanced nuclear technologies, with the objective of building capacity and sharing expertise for education, training and research in nuclear engineering.
The collaboration will also support IAEA initiatives aimed at reducing the gender gap in the nuclear sector such as the IAEA Marie Skłodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme, providing extrabudgetary, in-kind support and host institutions for student internships. The agreement was signed in Vienna by Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy Mikhail Chudakov on 18 September in the presence of Isabella Nova, Executive Vice-Rector at Politecnico di Milano, where she is also Full Professor of Industrial and Technological Chemistry at the Department of Energy.
“Politecnico di Milano is a hub of cutting-edge research and education. Its mission to guide research and technological innovation toward improving human life in a sustainable and responsible way aligns well with the IAEA’s goals,” Chudakov said. “Through this partnership, we will expand our capacity to assist Member States in critical areas such as nuclear power, radiation safety, and medical applications of radiation.”
“Universities, as centers of knowledge and research, must strengthen ties with institutions to apply academic discoveries and drive technological development for a sustainable future,” stated Vice-Rector Nova. “This agreement will help train professionals and teachers to promote understanding of nuclear science, technology, and energy among younger students. Special emphasis will be placed on attracting women to nuclear engineering through dedicated scholarships.”
Politecnico di Milano is a leader in education, research, and technological advancement in engineering. With more than 280 research facilities and 7 campuses across Italy, the university is ranked as one of the leading technical universities in Europe. In its Department of Energy, the university’s research spans numerous fields, including nuclear power plants, plasma physics, nuclear fusion energy, and medical applications of radiation. Politecnico di Milano also hosts one of the largest MSc programs in nuclear engineering in Europe, and the university has regularly contributed to IAEA technical meetings, with staff involved in the development of several IAEA publications on small modular reactors.
IAEA Collaborating Centres
To promote the practical use of nuclear technologies, the IAEA consistently cooperates with designated institutions around the world. Through the Collaborating Centres network, these organizations in Member States can provide the IAEA with the necessary help by undertaking original research and development and training relating to nuclear science, technologies and their safe and secure applications. With this designation, Politecnico di Milano becomes the newest member of the extensive group of Collaborating Centres worldwide.
