IAEA Takes Centre-Stage at World Nuclear Exhibition 2025

From clean and reliable energy to food security to healthcare, the IAEA is putting nuclear technology and science in the spotlight this week at the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris.

Taking place on 4 to 6 November, the exhibition attracts professionals from across the civil nuclear sector, covering the entire value chain and nuclear fuel cycle — from mining and fuel fabrication to reactor design, waste management and decommissioning as well as non-electric applications such as water desalination, medicine, agriculture, and space.

At the opening ceremony, Roland Lescure, France’s Minister for the Economy, Finance, Industrial, Energy and Digital Sovereignty, underscored the central role of innovation in shaping the future of nuclear energy. “Innovation is at the heart of what you will see in the next three days — and what we will achieve in the next three decades,” he said. “We must innovate together — in how we finance, govern, build supply chains and public-private partnerships, and in how we attract diverse new talent to shape the future of energy.”

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi echoed this call for forward-looking collaboration.

“Two years after COP28’s historic recognition of nuclear’s indispensable role and the pledge to triple global capacity by 2050, we are seeing clear advancements.” 

He added. “From promise to progress, the sector is experiencing a return to realism, as countries expand existing programmes, launch new ones and update regulations to meet future energy needs. The IAEA is proud to take part in this year’s exhibition with its own booth showing how nuclear science supports progress not only in energy but also in health, food, water and more.”

IAEA engagement at WNE comes as global momentum continues to build behind nuclear energy, amid an international consensus to accelerate its deployment, forged in 2023 at COP28 in Dubai. In September, the IAEA revised up its outlook for the future of nuclear power for the fifth year in a row, projecting that global nuclear power capacity could more than double by 2050. 

The IAEA’s pavilion, which will run throughout the event, showcases how nuclear technologies contribute to achieving climate and development priorities. The pavilion features interactive exhibits on the IAEA’s work to leverage nuclear technology and science to support countries in areas such as energy, food security, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. It also serves as a hub for dialogue and partnerships with industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers.

In collaboration with WNE and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the IAEA is participating in the “Beyond Electricity” Expo, held alongside the main exhibition. 

Inaugurated by the IAEA Director General along with partners, the expo will cast a spotlight on how the nuclear applications extend beyond power generation — transforming sectors from food safety to agriculture to healthcare. IAEA’s exhibits demonstrate how nuclear techniques can improve laboratory precision, detect contaminants like lead in fruit juice or mycotoxins in maize, uncover food fraud through bench-top X ray fluorescence and identify food contamination through portable near-infrared devices.

 Visitors can also learn how mutation breeding — which uses radiation to induce beneficial genetic diversity — is accelerating the development of climate-resilient and nutrient rich crops. 

In health, the IAEA is showcasing virtual reality radiotherapy training models that immerse students in realistic treatment settings, helping them build technical skills and improve patient safety. 

These innovative exhibits highlight how nuclear science and technology support practical, people-centred solutions to global challenges.

During the three-day event, the IAEA will sign a partnership agreement with AtkinsRealis — a global engineering firm providing sustainable solutions in energy, infrastructure, and water, and the International Centre based on Research Reactors (ICERR). Under the new partnership, AtkinsRealis will contribute financially to the IAEA’s Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) and provide bursaries to MSCFP fellows in the 2026/2027 academic year, strengthening support for women pursuing careers in nuclear science and technology. 

Through the ICERR initiative, the two Centres: Belgian Nuclear Research Centre and National Centre for Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (CNESTEN), will sign a collaboration agreement. The IAEA supports member countries to access advanced research reactor facilities worldwide, enhancing education, training, and research and development capacities in nuclear science and technology.

The IAEA and WNE organizer GIFEN are co-organizing a panel discussion on inclusive and transparent stakeholder engagement in nuclear energy projects. Scheduled for 6 November, the session will feature global nuclear leaders sharing insights from major initiatives and projects. The discussion will explore how strategic engagement – on policy, communities, workforce, and innovation – can drive timely and sustainable nuclear development and deployment.

WNE promotes innovation and supports the participation of new companies and start-ups in the nuclear sector — through programmes such as the Startup Programme and sector-specific activities such as Connect to Nuclear. This year, the event features over 850 exhibitors from 88 countries and is expected to attract over 25 000 participants. 

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