Swedish nuclear energy company Blykalla and the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) for a long-term partnership to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear reactors in Sweden. They will promote the technical development of Blykalla’s SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead Reactor) concept through applied research, prototype testing, and joint business development.
Blykalla founded in 2013, is a spin-off from the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm. Its SMR prototype SEALER (Swedish Advanced Lead-cooled Reactor) design is a fast compact reactor with passive safety. Each reactor will have a 55 MWe capacity, which can be increased by installing multiple units at the same location. The reactor is designed with the smallest possible core that can achieve criticality in a fast spectrum using 19.9% enriched nitride fuel. It broke ground in February for the construction of an electrical small modular reactor pilot facility near Oskarshamn to test proof of concept of its SEALER technology.
“RISE’s capabilities in applied research, structured testing, and system modelling give us valuable tools to strengthen and validate SEALER’s design,” said Blykalla CEO Jacob Stedman. “This collaboration will help us refine key components, streamline verification, and keep our development on track toward commercial deployment in Sweden.”
The partnership aims to raise the technology readiness levels (TRL) of key components, develop sector-specific solutions for energy-intensive industries, and optimise verification and validation strategies through digital modelling. The partners will also jointly identify real-world use cases, strengthen green value chains, and build a competitive ecosystem for small modular reactor (SMR) technology in Sweden and internationally. They also aim to lay a stronger foundation for the deployment of lead-cooled reactors in both industrial and municipal applications.
“Nuclear power is part of Sweden’s work on climate transition, resilience, and competitiveness,” said RISE CEO Malin Frenning. “Success in this field requires not only technological advances but also long-term investment in competence and innovation. Through our partnership with Blykalla, RISE contributes applied research, structured testing, system modelling, and industrial integration — key components that strengthen the foundation for the development and verification of advanced nuclear technology.”
By combining Blykalla’s expertise in advanced reactor technology with RISE’s capabilities in applied research, system modelling, and industrial integration, the partnership can jointly deliver the benefits required to advance SMR technology in Sweden. Ultimately, the collaboration aims to accelerate the transition from development to implementation – strengthening Sweden’s position as a global leader in next-generation nuclear technology.
In July, the Swedish Energy Agency awarded SEK37m ($3.8m) to Blykalla and five research partners from its newly launched BAMSE (Bränsletillverkning och Avancerade Material för Svensk Energiproduktion – Fuel production and Advanced Materials for Swedish Energy Production) initiative. In February, Blykalla was also selected for funding by the European Union’s European Innovation Council’s Accelerator Programme. Funding comprised a €2.5m ($2.6m) grant and €15m in equity investment.
In June, Blykalla and Norway’s Norsk Kjernekraft launched a joint project company to develop an SMR site in Norway on the Arctic island of Svalbard. In April, Blykalla and Norway’s Institute for Energy Technology (IFE) had agreed a strategic collaboration to accelerate the technical development of the SEALER.
The company plans to achieve criticality for its first SEALER reactor by 2030 and begin serial production in the 2030s. While its website has details of the overall design, fuel and the safety features, there are no details about the fast reactor technology. This is currently only operational in Russia, where the world’s first ever lead-cooled fast reactor is now nearing completion after decades of government supported research and development. Hitherto only sodium has been used as the liquid metal coolant in fast reactors.
