The National Centre for Nuclear Research has received funding to conduct materials research for the nuclear technology sector as part of the CONNECT-NM programme. Scientists from the NCBJ are participating in four of the 17 projects selected for implementation.

The CONNECT-NM programme is a new mechanism for financing research projects within the European Union.  This mechanism involves the creation of an administrative structure to manage a package of research projects and the direct funding of selected scientific projects related to materials research for the nuclear technology sector. The programme has been coordinated by the Spanish organisation CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas) since 2024. Last year, the first call for research projects was announced. Out of 51 proposals submitted, 17 projects were selected. Scientists from the National Centre for Nuclear Research are involved in four of the selected projects, and the NCBJ acts as coordinator in two of them.

NEUTION – Understanding transferability issues between ion- and neutron-irradiated model materials – paving the way to a new generation of radiation resistant alloys

The aim of the NEUTION project is to streamline and accelerate the process of evaluating construction materials intended for use in modern nuclear reactors. The main objective is to bridge the gap between ion and neutron irradiation and to increase the reliability of the accelerated testing method based on the use of ion irradiation. The project will develop an innovative method of neutron irradiation using miniaturised samples in the MARIA research reactor. This will allow structural testing after irradiation without the need for hot cells. This will enable direct, systematic comparison of changes caused by neutron and ion radiation in the same materials and under similar conditions. The method will also allow the assessment of the impact of sample size and geometry on defect evolution. NEUTION will combine experiments using neutron and ion radiation with advanced molecular modelling, which will allow for a better understanding of the microstructural changes caused by radiation. The project is coordinated by the National Centre for Nuclear Research under the leadership of Prof. Iwona Jóźwik, in collaboration with the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf in Germany and the Irène Joliot-Curie Laboratory, a joint unit of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and the University of Paris-Saclay in France.

ASSIST – Advanced platform for Stainless Steel aging and cracking aSsessmenT

The ASSIST project aims to investigate the complex synergy of non-linear phenomena in standard steels used in PWR reactors. The work will focus in particular on the phenomenon of corrosion caused by static and dynamic loads, as well as transient chemical changes in the operating environment. Scientists will focus on understanding the interaction and coupling of these effects, especially with regard to stress corrosion cracking and corrosion fatigue. The project will also allow for the development of guidelines for small-scale mechanical testing (so-called miniaturised samples), which will accelerate the qualification process for new materials intended for nuclear applications. These activities will help to ensure the long-term and safe operation of nuclear power plants. The ASSIST project is led by a team of scientists from the National Centre for Nuclear Research, headed by dr hab. inż. Łukasz Kurpaska, and the research group includes experts from France, Finland, Switzerland, Spain and the Netherlands. In addition, Framatome and the French nuclear regulator ASNR - L'Autorité de Sûreté Nucléaire et de Radioprotection are involved in the project.

ANIMATE – Additive maNufacturing Innovative MATerials for Energy applications

The ANIMATE project will develop a new generation of high-entropy alloys reinforced with L12 nanoparticles produced using 3D printing for applications in nuclear energy. The development of a structural material capable of operating at high temperatures under neutron flux will help solve the problem of high-temperature corrosion and radiation-induced degradation in lead-cooled fast reactors (LFR). The project will involve the selection and evaluation of a wide range of powder compositions from the CrFeMnNi+ TiAl family and the selection of materials with the most promising functional properties. High-resolution characterisation techniques will be used for the research, which, in combination with radiation defecting experiments, will allow for the analysis of the microstructural stability of the materials produced. The project also involves advanced numerical simulations, which, combined with experimental observations, will help to understand the effect of segregation of specific elements caused by temperature and radiation. The project is coordinated by a team from Spain and involves scientists from Poland, Germany, Finland, Italy and Ukraine. The National Centre for Nuclear Research is represented in the project by dr hab. inż. Łukasz Kurpaska from the NOMATEN Centre of Excellence.

NEO4MAT – Nuclear Energy Ontology for MATerials

The main task of the NEO4MAT project is to support the overall objectives of the CONNECT-NM platform by creating a multidisciplinary consortium. Its activities will include the creation of special packages for the nuclear materials under investigation, including their virtualisation and the development of dedicated application ontologies based on the EMMO ontology, with an emphasis on reusable methodologies. These packages will be used by other CONNECT-NM platform working groups. The project is led by a team from the University of Bologna, in collaboration with specialists from Italy, the Czech Republic, Germany and Norway, as well as entities involved in the development and implementation of Generation IV reactor technologies. At the National Centre for Nuclear Research, the project involves dr Michał Pecelerowicz from the NOMATEN Centre of Excellence.

The total value of EU funding for the entire CONNECT-NM project is EUR 20 million, with another EUR 20 million coming from national funds. Recently, the partnership's funding was increased by an additional EUR 15 million, which creates the possibility of announcing another call for research projects, planned for the turn of 2026 and 2027.