Testing has begun on VVER-type fuel elements with uranium-plutonium mixed-oxide fuel in the MIR research reactor. Based on the results of irradiation and tests, scientists "intend to substantiate the efficiency and safety of MOX fuel operation in VVER reactors".

Steady Energy aims to build the world's first district heating plant featuring its LDR-50 small modular reactor by 2030. The company - which has been spun out from the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland - has raised EUR2 million (USD2.2 million) in seed funding led by VTT, Yes VC and Lifeline Ventures.

Stratek Global hopes to produce a pilot plant of the High Temperature Modular Reactor (HTMR-100), which is derived from the South African Pebble Bed Modular Reactor programme.

Kepco Nuclear Fuel and GS Engineering & Construction, together with Denmark's Seaborg Technologies, are to investigate the feasibility of developing a low-enriched uranium fuel salt production facility in South Korea. Seaborg is developing compact molten salt reactor technology.

Belgian engineering firm Tractebel has signed a framework cooperation agreement to strengthen and extend its collaboration with France's Nuward and EDF in the development of the Nuward small modular reactor technology.

Ultra Safe Nuclear Corporation has delivered uranium nitride coated uranium oxycarbide tristructural isotropic fuel to NASA's Space Nuclear Power and Propulsion programme. The company says this demonstrates the "flexibility, precision and value" of its Pilot Fuel Manufacturing Facility.

UK clean space propulsion systems and services company Pulsar Fusion has formed a partnership with USA-based Princeton Satellite Systems to use artificial intelligence to design a hyper-fast space rocket capable of reaching Mars in only 30 days.

A second research area has been identified by Germany's Federal Company for Radioactive Waste Disposal for investigating terrestrial and airborne geophysical exploration methods that can provide reliable information for identifying a suitable site for hosting a high-level radioactive waste repository. 

The Deep Borehole Demonstration Center has signed a memorandum of understanding with Norsk Kjernekraft to collaborate on demonstration of deep borehole disposal in Norway. The centre - launched earlier this year - has already begun demonstration work at a site in Cameron, Texas.

Westinghouse Electric Company and lunar landers and rovers developer Astrobotic have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore collaboration on space technology programmes for NASA and the US Department of Defense.

The Department of Energy is sharing USD46 million funding from the Milestone-based Fusion Development Program among eight companies, with the aim that "within five to 10 years" they "will resolve scientific and technological challenges to create designs for a fusion pilot plant".

General Atomics of the USA and Tokamak Energy of the UK have agreed to collaborate in the area of high temperature superconducting technology for fusion energy and other industry applications. Meanwhile, Germany's Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics will work with Proxima Fusion to further develop the stellarator concept.