Modular reactor design
Prototype validatedReactor cores and plant layouts are being designed around repeatable modules.
Design work is shifting from bespoke plants toward standardized reference systems.
Industry detail
Small Modular Reactors
Progress depends on licensing, passive safety cases, factory fabrication, and credible owner/operator adoption.
Pilot deployments
Industry system
Connected view
Dependencies, demand, capabilities, companies, milestones, and evidence in one workspace.
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Stage
Pilot deployments
Companies
10
Milestones
4
Enabling stack
Global axes
Demand and adjacent markets
Core capabilities
Full records
Detailed records behind the map
Capabilities, milestones, participants, evidence, and live source checks remain available after the connected view.
Capability map
What has to work
The main technical capabilities that define progress in this industry.
Passive safety systems
Prototype validatedNatural circulation and passive cooling shape the safety case for many SMR designs.
Regulators are testing how existing safety rules apply to smaller reactor architectures.
Factory fabrication
Pilot deploymentsRepeatable module manufacturing is central to the SMR cost and schedule thesis.
Commercial proof depends on serial production, not one-off demonstration builds.
Licensing standardization
Pilot deploymentsReusable regulatory reviews determine whether SMRs can scale across markets.
Multinational regulator reviews are emerging around concrete projects.
Free API layer
Live source checks
Public APIs expand the research graph while preserving neutral analytical framing.
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Recent milestones
How far it has progressed
Observable events tied to capabilities, companies, and sources.
DOE expands Gen III+ SMR deployment support
Funding rounds are shifting the SMR conversation from concept screens toward licensing, supply chain, and site-preparation bottlenecks.
Evidence
Modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor begins commercial operation
Commercial operation broadens the SMR map beyond light-water reactor designs.
Evidence
NuScale design becomes first SMR certified by the U.S. NRC
Design certification creates a regulatory reference point for U.S. light-water SMRs.
Evidence
Floating SMR enters commercial operation
Early operation shows one path for modular reactors serving remote or constrained grids.
| Date | Milestone | Capability | Related | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 14, 2026 | DOE expands Gen III+ SMR deployment supportFunding rounds are shifting the SMR conversation from concept screens toward licensing, supply chain, and site-preparation bottlenecks. Small Modular Reactors | Licensing standardization | ||
| Dec 6, 2023 | Modular high-temperature gas-cooled reactor begins commercial operationCommercial operation broadens the SMR map beyond light-water reactor designs. Small Modular Reactors | Modular reactor design | ||
| Jan 19, 2023 | NuScale design becomes first SMR certified by the U.S. NRCDesign certification creates a regulatory reference point for U.S. light-water SMRs. Small Modular Reactors | Licensing standardization | ||
| May 22, 2020 | Floating SMR enters commercial operationEarly operation shows one path for modular reactors serving remote or constrained grids. Small Modular Reactors | Modular reactor design |
Related participants
Company and institution map
Public companies, smaller public companies, private/startup participants, and research institutions.
Core builders / suppliers
Companies directly tied to the sector's capabilities, products, or supply stack.
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
BWRX-300 developer
PrivateUnited Statesdirect2 capabilities1 milestones2 relation
NuScale Power
SMRSMR reactor developer
Small-cap publicUnited Statesdirect2 capabilities1 milestones2 relation
Framatome
Nuclear equipment supplier
PrivateFrancedirect2 capabilities1 milestones1 relation
NUWARD
SMR program developer
PrivateFrancedirect3 capabilities1 relation
BWX Technologies
BWXTNuclear component supplier
PublicUnited Statesdirect2 capabilities1 milestones
Rolls-Royce SMR
SMR developer
PrivateUnited Kingdomdirect2 capabilities1 relation
TechnicAtome
Compact reactor engineering
PrivateFrancedirect2 capabilities1 relation
Rosatom
Floating SMR operator
PrivateRussiadirect1 capabilities1 milestones
Research and public programs
Institutions and programs that support the technology path.
Adjacent industry links
Companies entering through connected sectors, not the core field itself.
Related public companies
1Related public companiesRoleGeographyMarket
Related small-cap companies
1Related small-cap companiesRoleGeographyMarket
Related private and startup companies
6Private
NUWARD
SMR program developer
SMR program developerFrance
Private
Framatome
Nuclear equipment supplier
Nuclear equipment supplierFrance
Private
TechnicAtome
Compact reactor engineering
Compact reactor engineeringFrance
Private
GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy
BWRX-300 developer
BWRX-300 developerUnited States
Private
Rolls-Royce SMR
SMR developer
SMR developerUnited Kingdom
Private
Rosatom
Floating SMR operator
Floating SMR operatorRussia
Related private and startup companiesRoleGeographyMarket
NUWARDNot applicableSMR program developerFranceScaleFramatomeNot applicableNuclear equipment supplierFranceScaleTechnicAtomeNot applicableCompact reactor engineeringFranceScaleGE Hitachi Nuclear EnergyNot applicableBWRX-300 developerUnited StatesScaleRolls-Royce SMRNot applicableSMR developerUnited KingdomScaleRosatomNot applicableFloating SMR operatorRussiaScale
Research institutions
2Research
CEA
Nuclear research institution
Nuclear research institutionFrance
Research
IAEA
International nuclear agency
International nuclear agencyAustria
Research institutionsRoleGeographyMarket
Evidence
Source list
Signals and milestones remain traceable as provider data expands the research graph.
Government program - May 14, 2026DOE Gen III+ SMR Tier 2 deployment awardsU.S. Department of EnergyIndustry report - Sep 13, 2023IAEA explainer on small modular reactorsInternational Atomic Energy AgencyRegulatory filing - Nov 14, 2023ASN report on the Nuward SMR projectFrench Nuclear Safety AuthorityGovernment program - Jan 20, 2023NRC certifies first U.S. SMR designU.S. Department of EnergyResearch paper - Dec 6, 2023HTR-PM modular reactor enters commercial operationTsinghua UniversityIndustry report - Jan 1, 2024IAEA country profile for France nuclear powerInternational Atomic Energy Agency