The Accelerating SMRs Initiative is a Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) platform that brings together governments, industry, researchers, and experts to support the responsible and timely deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). 

Launched at COP28, the initiative responds to growing international interest in SMRs as a cornerstone technology for the energy transition. By fostering collaboration across public and private sectors, it provides decision-makers with data, analysis, and policy insights to overcome barriers to deployment and unlock the full potential of SMRs for electricity generation, industrial applications, and energy security. 

The role of SMRs in the energy transition 

Momentum for SMR development and deployment continues to build, with over 60 designs under active development in North America, Europe, and Asia. Beyond electricity generation, SMRs offer industries new options to secure their energy supply, from petrochemicals and mining to shipping and information technology. Their scalability and versatility make them well-suited for both on-grid and off-grid applications, contributing to energy resilience, industrial decarbonisation, and climate goals. 

To meet this growing demand, governments and industry must work together to establish the enabling conditions for SMR deployment. NEA is uniquely positioned to support this process by providing authoritative analysis and fostering public-private collaboration to accelerate innovation and commercialisation. 

Programme of work

At the core of the initiative is the NEA Small Modular Reactor Dashboard, a flagship publication tracking progress towards SMR commercialisation across key enabling conditions: licensing readiness, siting, financing, supply chain, engagement, and fuel. The NEA also launched the NEA SMR Digital Dashboard as an interactive platform in July 2025, providing users with regularly updated data and visualisations on the global development of small modular reactors. 

Complementary activities include economic analyses, industrial case studies, and workshops on financing, workforce development, and waste management, ensuring a holistic approach to deployment challenges. 

The programme of work focuses on: 

• Tracking progress – through the NEA SMR Dashboard  

• Economics and finance – provide system costs analysis, assessing cost drivers, and exploring financing models. 

• Fuel and Supply chains – analysing readiness, resilience, and sustainability. 

• Workforce development – equipping the next generation with skills and opportunities to meet future demand. 

• Legal and regulatory aspects – examining frameworks to support deployment of innovative reactor designs. 

• Markets and applications – conducting industrial case studies to identify emerging opportunities in sectors such as industry, shipping, remote communities, and data centres. 

Global dialogue and strategic cooperation 

The initiative also anchors international dialogue through the Annual Accelerating SMRs Summit, where governments and industry CEOs exchange insights on deployment pathways, costs, and enabling conditions. Closely linked to the Roadmaps to New Nuclear ministerial process, the summit strengthens policy readiness and fosters the strategic cooperation required to scale SMRs as part of global net-zero strategies. 

Invitation to partners 

The NEA invites countries, industries, and civil society partners to join and support the Accelerating SMRs Initiative. The NEA’s goal is to apply increased funding for work across the full range of NEA activities in order to increase the ambition of key decision-makers from the government, industry and the financial sector to accelerate SMR deployment. 

For additional information or to join the Accelerating SMRs Initiative please contact us at SMR4NZ@oecd-nea.org