Belgium has approved nearly €11m (€12.5m) in funding for eight nuclear energy research projects as the federal government pushes ahead with plans restore this technology to its “rightful place” in the country’s energy mix.

The government said 41 project proposals were submitted in 2025 by Belgian universities, research centres and companies. Following a “rigorous evaluation” by the Directorate General for Energy, eight projects have been to receive f €10.79m between them.

The projects were chosen for their scientific quality, their relevance to Belgium’s energy priorities, and their impact on innovation, security of supply, and decarbonisation, a government statement said.