Topic #: CW26-T12 · Branch: DOE · Status: Open
The primary mission for the Office of Nuclear Energy is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet key energy resilience and economic needs in the United States. Proposed projects must demonstrate a strong tie to at least one of NE's three major goals: keeping existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating, deploying new nuclear reactors, and securing and sustaining nuclear fuel cycles.
Posted: 10/30/2026 · Opens: 10/30/2026
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The primary mission for the Office of Nuclear Energy is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet key energy resilience and economic needs in the United States. Proposed projects must demonstrate a strong tie to at least one of NE's three major goals: keeping existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating, deploying new nuclear reactors, and securing and sustaining nuclear fuel cycles.
To address the challenges facing the deployment of nuclear energy systems, this topic area targets the development of enabling and crosscutting nuclear energy technologies. Applications are sought with special emphasis on bridging gaps between early-stage research and commercialization. By funding projects in the areas of interest below, NE aims to build a resilient, secure, highly automated, and economically competitive nuclear infrastructure for both the existing fleet and advanced reactors.
Areas of Interest • Demonstrating and deploying resilient and reliable advanced sensors, instrumentation, and control systems for existing and advanced reactors. (https://asi.inl.gov). Some of these sensors and instrumentation may leverage novel physical phenomenon including quantum effects. • Develop new, high-performance materials enabled by advanced manufacturing for nuclear energy applications. • Enhancing domestic supply chain capabilities for sensors and materials.
• Advancements that apply NE’s advanced modeling and simulation tools (https://neams.inl.gov/code-descriptions/) to industry problems or otherwise increase use of these tools by the nuclear industry. • Development of industry-relevant novel post-irradiation examination tools or methods applicable to radiological materials and environments (e.g., hot cells) that support accelerated advanced reactors material qualification efforts or materials degradation testing for the existing LWR fleet.
Not of Interest Molten salt spectroscopy applications and digital twins of full reactor systems should consider