NCBJ has signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science on support for the NOMATEN Centre of Excellence

In December 2023, the National Centre for Nuclear Research signed an agreement with the Ministry of Education and Science. It concerns support for the NOMATEN Centre of Excellence operating at the NCBJ, for years 2024 to 2026.

The agreement was made in view of the project announced by the Minister of Education and Science, entitled ’Support for the activities of Centres of Excellence established under Horizon 2020’, and defines the conditions for implementation, funding and settlement. Under the agreement, the National Centre for Nuclear Research will receive funding of EUR 5 143 237,70 for the implementation by the NOMATEN Centre of the tasks specified in the application, including the acquisition and modernisation of scientific and research apparatus, maintenance and development of staff potential, as well as promotion of the results of scientific activities. The tasks covered by the agreement will be carried out between January 1, 2024 and October 31, 2026. The agreement was signed by the Minister of Science and Higher Education. The total amount of funding for the project is EUR 29 971 365,00.

Additional information:

The NOMATEN Centre of Excellence is an independent scientific department within NCBJ. It was established through collaboration between NCBJ, CEA (France), and VTT (Finland), with the support of EU funds. Its objective is to conduct research and development on multifunctional materials for industrial and medical applications, which are of significant societal and economic importance. The Centre leverages the unique nuclear research infrastructure of its partners and draws on expertise from Poland and Europe. Its long-term strategy focuses on novel materials that are resistant to high-temperature, corrosion, and radiation, and can be used in industrial applications and novel radiopharmaceutical solutions. The work of CoE NOMATEN is carried out in five research groups:

The Functional Properties Group specializes in multiscale methods for measuring mechanical properties and their relationship to microstructure. They study materials like stainless steels, ODS and/or HEAs, and protective coatings based on Al₂O₃, zirconium, and nickel alloys. These materials are intended for use in next-generation nuclear power plants.

The Complexity in Functional Materials Group focuses on modeling materials for harsh environments. They study the physics of plasticity in complex alloys. Their research involves mechanical properties and the application of machine learning and data science to experimental and simulation-based data sets.

The Materials Characterization Group conducts advanced characterization of novel multifunctional materials at the atomic level using state-of-the-art equipment. Their focus is on studying the impact of high temperature, oxidizing atmospheres, and radiation on the structural properties of materials.

The Materials Informatics, Structure, and Function Group pursues four major research avenues: modeling nanoindentation using advanced strategies and machine learning, developing machine learning interatomic potentials for multiscale modeling applications, materials design using machine learning methods (especially for alloying applications), and web app and software development for materials informatics purposes, targeted at materials science experimentalists.

The Novel Radiopharmaceuticals for Medical Purposes Group investigates methods of manufacturing radioisotopes and their integration into new medicines for use in diagnostics and therapy. The team works closely with the NCBJ Radioisotope Centre POLATOM.

NOMATEN serves as a hub for collaboration among the research community, industry, and government. It provides an environment where a multinational, multidisciplinary, and versatile team of scientists can engage in advanced research, innovation, and academic freedom.