IAEA Partners with Lombardy to Advance Nuclear Health, Energy, Environment

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is strengthening its collaboration with Italy's Lombardy region to advance nuclear science in health, energy, agriculture, and environmental protection, underscoring nuclear technology's expanding role in sustainable development. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized Lombardy's leadership potential during visits to key academic institutions and high-profile medical centers such as the National Cancer Institute of Milan and the National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO) in Pavia, which employs advanced nuclear techniques like hadrontherapy for treating difficult cancers. The IAEA is exploring enhanced partnerships under initiatives like Rays of Hope to improve global cancer care access. Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump issued an executive order to expedite nuclear reactor licensing to 18 months and mandated federal agencies to implement rigorous “gold standard science” principles, aiming to boost nuclear innovation and domestic uranium supply. Concurrently, researchers at the University of South China developed advanced algorithms to optimize radiation shielding for next-generation nuclear reactors, addressing complex design challenges for transportable and specialized reactors. Collectively, these developments reflect a global push to harness nuclear technology safely and innovatively across energy, medicine, and environmental sectors.