The European Commission (EC) has adopted the Work Programme for the 2026 and 2027 Euratom Research & Training Programme. By covering nuclear research and innovation, the Programme offers complementary funding to Horizon Europe.
According to the European Union (EU), the Work Programme aims to bolster energy independence, competitiveness and technological leadership in line with the priorities set in the Community Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC), the Net-Zero Industry Act, the Clean Industrial Deal and the Strategy on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), presented by President von der Leyen at the recent Nuclear Energy Summit. In addition, it will support the development of fusion-relevant technologies for the upcoming EU Fusion Strategy.
The 2026-2027 Work Programme will invest €222m ($255m) towards advancing fusion energy from laboratories to the power grid, by:
- Establishing a new European Public-Private Partnership (PPP) for fusion energy to help develop commercially viable fusion technologies and build a strong European supply chain.
- Supporting fusion-related challenges under the European Innovation Council’s instruments to help emerging fusion start-ups grow and mature their technologies in the EU, while attracting private investment.
- Prioritising fundamental fusion research and the development of fusion-skilled talents, alongside joint exploitation of research facilities.
With EU electricity demand expected to double by 2050, the 2026-2027 Work Programme “is designed to strengthen the EU’s ability to rely on research excellence, innovation, and talents to safely develop ‘made in Europe’ clean and low-carbon technologies”.
In nuclear fission (€108m), the collaborative research sponsored by the Programme will, among other things, focus on the safe management of radioactive waste, radiation protection, and innovation in nuclear materials. In addition, the Programme will address research encompassing the safety of long-term operation of current NPPs, SMRs, advanced reactors, and nuclear fuels. It will also concentrate on advancements in nuclear medicine, funding research to enhance the EU’s autonomy in supplying isotopes for novel nuclear medicine therapies.
Finally, the Programme will aim to attract nuclear talents both from within and beyond the European Union, for example, through the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grants. The Programme will also facilitate open access to over 230 nuclear research facilities across the EU, and encourage integration of Ukrainian nuclear researchers into the European Research Area.
The Euratom Research and Training Programme is the EU’s initiative dedicated to nuclear research and training, focusing on advancing fusion energy, improving nuclear safety and security, radiation protection and waste management. It operates alongside Horizon Europe, supporting its energy goals and EU policies on energy security and technology leadership.
In line with the Euratom Treaty, the Programme runs for five years. The current one ran from 2021 to 2025 and was extended by the Council in 2025 by two years, to be aligned with the EU’s long-term budget 2021-2027.
The 2026-2027 Work Programme aligns with the EU strategies for competitiveness and carbon neutrality, supporting clean technology development and key policies such as the Competitiveness Compass, the Clean Industrial Deal, the Net Zero Industry Act, the Nuclear Illustrative Programme (PINC), the SMRs Strategy and the European Industrial Alliance on SMRs.
Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Startups, Research & Innovation, noted: “The EU wants to lead the world in innovative nuclear technologies, which will be key to securing our energy independence, competitiveness and decarbonisation. That is why we are working closely together with researchers, industry, startups and regulators on SMRs safety and to accelerate fusion energy, with the ambition to be the first to take fusion from lab to grid. For that, we need to ensure that our excellent science transforms seamlessly into innovation and industrial deployment.”
