The office of nuclear energy (NE) mission is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet the united states (U.S.) energy, environmental, and economic needs

The Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy awarded Massachusetts Institute of Technology $500,000 on August 1, 2026, under the Nuclear Energy Research, Development and Demonstration program (CFDA 81.121).

This Project Grant funds a Phase II continuation project through the Nuclear Energy University Program (NEUP), which supports university-based research and development in areas relevant to the Office of Nuclear Energy's mission. The award is classified as assistance funding and represents a competitive selection from teams that performed high-quality work in prior NEUP phases.

Performance occurs in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with a period of performance through July 31, 2028. The Office of Nuclear Energy's stated mission encompasses keeping existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating, deploying new nuclear reactors, securing and sustaining the nuclear fuel cycle, and expanding international nuclear energy cooperation. This award supports research and development that advances innovative technologies aligned with these priorities.

NE has identified the following goals to address challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, and leverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation: • keep existing U.S. Nuclear reactors operating, • deploy new nuclear reactors, • secure and sustain our nuclear fuel cycle, and • expand international nuclear energy cooperation. NE conducts crosscutting nuclear energy research and development (R & D) and associated infrastructure support activities to develop innovative technologies that offer the promise of dramatically improved performance for its mission needs as stated above, while maximizing the impact of NE resources. This phase II continuation cinr FOA provides opportunities for teams that have performed high quality work through the nuclear energy university program (NEUP) to propose new projects that complement and enhance ongoing NEUP research through a competitive application and review process. This phase II continuation cinr process is executed through NEUP. NEUP supports university-based infrastructure and R & D (including integrated research projects (IRP)) in areas relevant to the NE mission.