EU strategy for E&T in nuclear

The European nuclear sector is entering a decisive phase. Ambitious plans for new nuclear construction, long-term operation, decommissioning, and rapidly expanding non-power applications will drive a significant increase in demand for highly skilled professionals in the coming decades. This demand cannot be met without a coherent and future-oriented European framework for education, training, and knowledge management. Globally, momentum for nuclear energy is accelerating. At COP28 in 2023, twenty-two countries pledged to triple nuclear capacity by 2050, which will require millions of new professionals worldwide. In Europe, several Member States are planning major new nuclear programmes, while others must address large-scale decommissioning projects. Beyond energy, nuclear competencies are equally critical in medicine, industry, and space applications, further broadening the skills demand Yet Europe faces several challenges. Even under the current conditions, when few new nuclear projects are being built across the continent, the sector is already experiencing a shortage of qualified personnel. This situation may become critical once large-scale construction, and new deployments start in multiple countries. Loss of workforce may appear by migration of specialists outside the Europe towards regions with a strong deployment of new nuclear projects. In recent years the aging trend seems to start being reversed but many sites are still in the process of recruitment. On the other, the attractiveness of nuclear careers for young people has declined after decades of political uncertainty, limited investment, the growing appeal of other technological fields (such as artificial intelligence, advanced robotics, big data, etc.), combined with a preference for more flexible and less demanding jobs, and negative public perceptions following events such as Fukushima. Without decisive actions, Europe risks losing critical know-how, facing shortages of qualified staff, and weakening its competitiveness in the global race for nuclear expertise. While important initiatives exist – including the SET-Plan E&T Roadmap, the EHRO-N workforce observatory, ENEN-led mobility projects, and various Euratom funding instruments – they remain fragmented, project-based, and insufficient to meet future needs. Crucially, the European Union (EU) has not yet adopted a dedicated and comprehensive strategy for nuclear education and training; existing frameworks are embedded within broader energy or research agendas and lack a nuclear-specific, longterm vision. A new, integrated strategy is therefore required to secure Europe’s nuclear knowledge base, align education with industry and societal needs, and provide long-term stability for training pathways. This strategy puts forward a clear vision: to position Europe as a global leader in nuclear education, training, and innovation. Its priorities include: • safeguarding the European knowledge base and ensuring effective transfer between generations, • attracting, developing, and retaining new talents through mobility, scholarships, and outreach, • strengthening collaboration between national governments and agencies, academia, VET training centres, R&D organisations, TSO, industry, regulators, and hospitals, • securing stable, long-term financing that goes beyond project cycles, and embedding innovation (SMRs, Gen IV, digitalisation, AI) into education and training. By acting now, Europe can inspire the next generation of nuclear professionals, ensure that nuclear competencies remain a cornerstone of its clean energy transition, and maintain leadership in advanced technologies and non-power applications. Failure to act risks fragmentation, shortages, and the erosion of Europe’s competitive edge at a moment when global demand for nuclear expertise has never been higher.