The European Commission has adopted its 2026–2027 Work Programme for the Euratom Research and Training Programme, committing €330 million to accelerate fusion energy development and advance nuclear technologies, safety, and skills across the EU, as outlined in an official statement published by the Commission. The programme arrives in the wake of the Nuclear Energy Summit in Paris on March 10, where President von der Leyen unveiled the EU’s Strategy on Small Modular Reactors, and forms part of a broader push to secure Europe’s energy independence and hit carbon neutrality by 2050. Fusion and fission research each get dedicated funding streams — with fusion receiving the lion’s share.
The EU’s long-term ambition is to connect the first commercial fusion power plant to the grid, delivering clean and affordable energy at scale. To get there, €222 million will go toward fusion research and development — funding a new European Public-Private Partnership to build commercially viable fusion technologies and a competitive supply chain, supporting fusion start-ups through the European Innovation Council, and investing in the specialized talent the sector will need.
The remaining €108 million targets nuclear fission, covering research into radioactive waste management, radiation protection, advanced reactor safety, small modular reactors, and nuclear fuels. The programme also funds nuclear medicine research, with a focus on strengthening Europe’s autonomy in producing isotopes for next-generation cancer therapies.
Talent development runs through the entire programme. Marie Skłodowska-Curie grants will be used to attract nuclear researchers from inside and outside the EU, and over 230 nuclear research facilities across Europe will be opened for broader access. Ukrainian nuclear researchers will also be further integrated into the European Research Area.
With EU electricity demand expected to double by 2050, the stakes behind this investment are straightforward — Europe either builds the scientific and industrial capacity to lead on clean nuclear energy, or it cedes that ground to others.
