21:07 3 October 2025
Nuclear research in Poland accelerating, requiring more personnel and resources
Polish nuclear research is gaining importance with preparations for the first nuclear power plant and the launch of the NUKLEOSTRATEG program. Experts note, however, that progress is limited by underfunding and a shrinking pool of scientists. Poland’s nuclear tradition spans 70 years, with the MARIA research reactor in Świerk still operational. The new program aims to accelerate research in energy, medicine, and environmental protection, but staffing remains a key barrier—institutes that once employed thousands now have only a few hundred specialists.
Plans also include small modular reactors (SMRs), though globally they are still at an early stage. Long-term prospects point to developing safer Gen III+ reactors and future Gen IV breeder technologies.
