Europe should prepare a roadmap for the deployment of the bloc’s first small modular reactors and establish a harmonised design and licensing programme which is also applicable to existing foreign technologies, Brussels-based industry group nucleareurope said.

In a position paper the group said the roadmap would contribute to the establishment of an integrated supply chain in Europe which would benefit the economies of several member states and the economy of the EU as a whole.

It would also support initiatives for new R&D collaborative projects and future education and training programmes needed for SMR deployment.