April 1, 2026-- NUMARK and the International Science and Technology Center (ISTC) are supporting the U.S. State Department’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Technology (FIRST) program by developing and delivering training and technical assistance to selected nuclear power regulatory authorities across Europe and Eurasia. This training is a part of FIRST’s Nuclear Expediting the Energy Transition (NEXT) One Stop Shop for SMR Support Program, which provides training to eligible current nuclear energy countries and nuclear energy newcomer countries in Europe and Eurasia that are nearing an SMR deployment decision.
Under the NEXT subprogram, NUMARK is supporting nuclear energy regulators in the following areas:
· - fundamentals of boiling water reactors
· - overview of select SMR technology options and reactor design
· - plant safety analysis (design basis events)
· - organizational safety culture
· - graded approach to regulation
· - supply chain verification and vendor qualification
The FIRST program provides technical assistance to potential nuclear energy newcomer countries and current nuclear energy countries that are considering SMRs and other advanced reactor designs to meet their energy needs, consistent with the highest international standards of nuclear security, nonproliferation, and safety.
NUMARK, founded in 1991, has provided technical support services to nuclear regulatory authorities in the United States and abroad since 2007. NUMARK supports public and private sector clients in the United States and around the world in the areas of nuclear safety, international development, environmental protection, and sustainable energy strategies.
The ISTC is an intergovernmental organization connecting scientists from Kazakhstan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Georgia with their peers and research organizations in the EU, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway and the United States.
