TU Delft and Urenco invest together in nuclear talent
Uranium enricher Urenco and TU Delft are teaming up to develop new generations of nuclear scientists. Urenco is supporting the Delft Excellent Laboratory Facilities for Innovation and Nuclear Education (DELFINE) programme for three years to increase the pool of nuclear talent who can work to find solutions to the challenges society faces.
The collaboration between TU Delft and Urenco annually supports at least 60 students and researchers in their research work, both in the field of energy transition and medical isotopes. The programme also focuses on training capacity in the laboratory and the availability of essential lab equipment and its maintenance.
In the Netherlands, highly trained nuclear talent is needed to address current issues in the field of nuclear energy and nuclear medicine. The research reactor institute in Delft recently underwent an intensive modernisation that allows researchers and students to conduct faster and more advanced research into cancer treatment, energy transition and materials.
TU Delft is the leading university in the Netherlands for nuclear technology. Its TU Delft’s research and education covers the fields of nuclear fission energy, nuclear fuel cycle, nuclear metals research and nuclear medical technologies.
Urenco enriches uranium which nuclear power plants around the world use to generate CO2-free electricity. It also produces high-quality semi-products for nuclear medicine. The company wants to offer opportunities to graduates who want to work in the broad nuclear sector.
Jan Leen Kloosterman, TU Delft explains “The recent developments in nuclear energy and nuclear medicine in the Netherlands require a large number of people trained with state-of-the-art technology. TU Delft is committed to increasing the training capacity of engineers with a nuclear profile to enable these nuclear developments in the Netherlands.”
Ad Louter, general manager of Urenco Netherlands, said, “The role of nuclear energy in our future CO2-free energy mix means that the demand for nuclear knowledge and skills is growing. There are plenty of opportunities to get started and we are happy to take our responsibility to help increase the talent pool with financial support and career opportunities for students and graduates. DELFINE complements Urenco's similar ties with UK-based institutions Cambridge University and the University of Manchester.”
