Kindly hosted by Technical University – Sofia, on June 27 2024 the first edition of forum “Platform of Sustainable Nuclear Innovations” was held in National Center for Mechatronics and Clean Technologies, organized by the Center of Nuclear Competencies Kozloduy and the Bulgarian Nuclear Society in partnership with National Committee Bulgaria World Energy Council, Kozloduy NPP Plc. and Bulgarian Nuclear Regulatory Agency. The purpose of the discussion platform is to provide an opportunity to stakeholders from the Bulgarian and European nuclear sector to exchange experience and expertise, with a focus on policies and tools for the development of nuclear research and innovation.

The forum started with welcoming speech from prof. Ivan Kralov – rector of the Technical University – Sofia, Mr. Georgi Samandov – deputy minister of energy, Mr. Petyo Ivanov – CEO of “Kozloduy NPP – New Builds”, Mr. Tsanko Bachiyski – chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NRA), and assoc. prof Mladen Mitev – Chairman of Bulgarian Nuclear Society. The EU Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth Iliana Ivanova and the Director General of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency William Magwood IV took part of the opening of the forum with special video addresses.

In the panel discussions representatives of ministries, educational and scientific institutions, the Bulgarian nuclear sector, private companies, non-governmental and international organizations shared their point of view for nuclear innovations future development and implementation.

The 3rd edition of the Innovation for Nuclear (I4N) Europe Contest of ENS-YGN was held within the forum as a partner event. The finalists of the national stage of the competition (I4N) from Bulgaria, Poland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France and Ukraine took part in the European final. Participants presented innovative solutions for the diverse applications of nuclear energy, as well as the implementation of new technologies in the nuclear sector, demonstrating the importance of nuclear engineering in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The winner of the competition is the team of Germany, which presented the project “Ducat – depleted uranium for green chemistry”, in second and third place are the teams of Spain and France.