(IDAHO FALLS, Idaho) –– Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) located at Idaho National Laboratory announced 13 new projects were selected to participate in the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative.
“These selections show a strong and growing interest from developers ready to move their technologies forward,” said NRIC Director Brad Tomer. “Nuclear Energy Launch Pad gives these developers a prioritized pathway to the DOE authorization process, and access to subject matter experts, facilities, and regulatory support tailored to their needs. We’re helping bridge the gap between concept and commercialization — and these selections show that pipeline is only getting stronger.”
DOE and NRIC selected 12 developers and 13 projects based on a wide range of criteria published in the initiative’s Request for Applications. Projects selected include reactor development and nuclear fuel cycle advancements, including fabrication, enrichment and conversion technologies. The selected companies can begin working with NRIC to execute the enhanced technical, regulatory and deployment support available through the Launch Pad initiative.
Today’s selections include:
- Antares Nuclear
- Atlas Atomics
- Deployable Energy (2 projects)
- Forge Atomics
- Hexium Inc.
- Lightbridge Corporation
- Nusano, Inc.
- Oklo
- Raven-Flint Nuclear
- Scaled Atomics
- Sublime Nuclear
- Valar Atomics
NRIC will continue accepting Launch Pad applications, with additional selections made on a rolling basis as resources allow. Projects not chosen in this review cycle are welcome to revise their submissions and reapply in future rounds.
“A resilient nuclear fuel supply chain is essential to America’s energy future, and the projects selected today reflect real progress on fabrication, enrichment and conversion technologies,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Josh Jarrell. “DOE is committed to working alongside these companies to strengthen domestic fuel availability and reduce our reliance on foreign sources.”
“Building on the early momentum of DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program and Fuel Line Pilot Program, this round of selections proves those efforts weren’t a one-time success,” said Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Reactors Chimi Zacot. “The progress we’re seeing is the start of a lasting pipeline of advanced nuclear projects moving toward deployment.”
“One of Idaho National Laboratory’s greatest strengths is the combination of world-class infrastructure, technical expertise and decades of operational experience we’ve built to support the nation’s nuclear mission,” Idaho National Laboratory Director John Wagner said. “The Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative makes those capabilities available to developers, helping them move technologies from design to deployment safely and efficiently.”
About the Nuclear Energy Launch Pad
The Nuclear Energy Launch Pad initiative promotes the rapid development and implementation of advanced nuclear technologies by private industry. The initiative builds on the success of DOE’s Reactor Pilot Program established in June 2025 and the Fuel Line Pilot Program launched in August 2025. Launch Pad accelerates advanced nuclear technology deployment using flexible technical and regulatory frameworks on both federal and non-federal lands.
Launch Pad offers two pathways for nuclear developers: Launch Pad INL, located at INL, provides access to world-class nuclear research infrastructure, decades of operational expertise and streamlined regulatory support; and Launch Pad USA, which extends the program’s flexible framework to federal and non-federal sites across the country. These pathways meet developers where they are and help them move from concept to deployment at the speed America’s energy demand requires.
Launch Pad is managed by NRIC, which was established in 2019 to work with industry and the national laboratories to bridge the gap between concept, demonstration and commercialization of advanced nuclear technology.
NEWS MEDIA CONTACTS:
Joelyn Hansen, 208-201-7650, joelyn.hansen@inl.gov
Sarah Neumann, 208-520-1651, sarah.neumann@inl.gov
