IAEA's 15th Nuclear Safeguards Symposium Opens in Austria

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On November 9, the 15th International Nuclear Safeguards Symposium of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) opened at the Vienna International Centre in Austria, with approximately 1,000 delegates from more than 100 countries and 20 international organizations participating both in person and online. The conference runs until November 12 under the theme "Innovation and Resilience in a Changing World — Safeguards as a Shared Responsibility," focusing on exchanges regarding nuclear material verification technologies, the adaptability of the safeguards system, and international cooperation.

Massimo Aparo, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Safeguards, introduced the three main themes of this year's conference at the opening ceremony: technological innovation, system resilience, and shared responsibility. The opening plenary session featured keynote speeches by experts from the Stockholm School of Economics, the University of Bath, and Harvard University, as well as a panel discussion examining the challenges facing the safeguards system in responding to technological change and the expansion of nuclear activities.

This year's symposium features approximately 300 scientific papers for exchange. Technical topics include artificial intelligence, machine learning, advanced data analytics, nuclear material measurement and verification methods, as well as safeguards approaches for new nuclear technologies such as small modular reactors and commercial nuclear-powered ships. The conference also includes dedicated sessions on the growing workload of nuclear facility and nuclear material verification, regulatory adaptability, and organizational resilience, discussing adjustments to existing verification tools and implementation mechanisms.

At the opening session, the IAEA presented progress on the implementation of action recommendations from the previous symposium in 2022, including strengthening cooperation with the nuclear industry and regulatory bodies, integrating safeguards requirements into the nuclear technology design process, completing the first regular cycle of the comprehensive capacity-building initiative COMPASS, and continuing to develop equipment used by in-field verification staff.

For the first time, this year's conference added a "Training Day" event, scheduled from November 9 to 13, covering the nuclear safeguards legal framework, verification technologies, and practical operations. On November 11, a dedicated plenary session on nuclear safeguards talent will also be held, introducing professional work and career development pathways in relevant positions at international organizations, government agencies, enterprises, and non-governmental organizations.