Politecnico di Milano designated as IAEA Collaborating Centre
The IAEA has designated the Politecnico di Milano as a Collaborating Centre to support IAEA activities on advanced nuclear technology with the objective to build capacity and share expertise for education, training and research in the area of Nuclear Engineering.
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,” said Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy. “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.
Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy
The core of the agreement will revolve around support of education, training and research in numerous areas of Nuclear Engineering, through the organization of training courses, masters and summer schools and the proposal of Coordinated Research Projects, technical meetings, local research networks and other relevant Agency’s activities. As a further major aim, the collaboration will support IAEA with initiatives aimed at reducing gender gap in the nuclear sectors, within the IAEA Marie Skłodowska Curie fellowship Programme, providing extra budget, in-kind support and host institutions for the students’ internships.
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. Within the frame of nuclear science and technologies, at 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 on Nuclear Engineering in Europe.
Universities, as centers of knowledge and research, must strengthen ties with institutions to apply academic discoveries and drive technological development for a sustainable future. 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.
Isabella Nova, Executive Vice Rector
Since 2011, Politecnico di Milano has regularly contributed to IAEA technical meetings, and staff have been actively involved in the development of several IAEA publications on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).
The agreement was signed in Vienna by 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.
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.