Dozens of researchers, experts and other specialists came together for the Building the ATHENA Framework Workshop in Paris, France on 10 and 11 September 2026. ATHENA stands for Advanced Thermal Hydraulic Experiments for Nuclear Analysis and Safety Application and serves as a proposed framework to better co-ordinate related thermal hydraulic research. Determining the flexibility, limitations and benefits of the framework requires co-ordination among relevant stakeholders to ensure needs are met. The workshop provided a forum for discussion among participants to find a pathway forward.
The workshop is the latest in a lead-up of background work that has been conducted following the closure of nuclear research facilities and related infrastructure as well as recent analysis, led by the NEA Committee on Nuclear Safety Installation (CNSI) and its related body, the NEA Working Group on the Analysis and Management of Accidents (WGAMA). Two NEA publications, Strategic Roadmap for Nuclear Reactor Safety Research and the NEA Working Paper, NEA Advanced Thermal-Hydraulic Experiment for Nuclear Analysis and Safety (NEA/ATHENA) Framework: Strategic Plan, provide a strong background of the challenges, risks and opportunities for nuclear safety.
In the sessions, the various activities, including the possible baseline and context of the framework, were outlined with lively discussion by participants which helped identify stakeholder priorities.
Proposed discussions aim to not only better co-ordinate relevant activities of NEA joint projects, but also intend to offer participating members increased flexibility. Beyond the structure that better serves members, the framework aims to foster collaboration by connecting experimental facilities, pooling resources and aligning initiatives in a way that meets stakeholder priorities. This co-operative approach intends to ensure the efficiency, long-term continuity and advancement of capabilities that is difficult to achieve with individual projects, especially in a rapidly evolving field.
While ATHENA, like all NEA joint projects, is proposed to operate independently from the CSNI Programme of Work, it will remain aligned to CSNI-led initiatives to ensure that experimental outcomes support safety analysis and code validation efforts. To this end, ATHENA aims to actively pursue opportunities for establishing centralised data repositories, organising international standard problems (ISPs) and conducting benchmarking exercises. These initiatives will be carried out in close collaboration with the CSNI Working Group on the Analysis and Management of Accidents (WGAMA), ensuring a seamless integration of research activities and the maximisation of their impact on nuclear safety advancements.
