The new Curie Meitner centre at the IAEA laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria has been inaugurated following completion of the ReNuAL2 renovation project, a major upgrade of the agency’s nuclear applications facilities to better support countries using nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes.
Named for pioneers Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Lise Meitner, the Curie Meitner centre brings together three upgraded laboratories: the Terrestrial Environment and Radiochemistry Laboratory, the Plant Breeding and Genetics laboratory within the Joint FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories, and the Nuclear Science and Instrumentation laboratory.
At the inauguration IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi described the renewal as a crucial investment in advancing nuclear applications. He was joined by FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, the co-chairs of the Friends of ReNuAL initiative from Germany and South Africa, representatives of the Austrian host government and delegations from 33 other countries.
The ReNuAL2 project was delivered through extrabudgetary contributions from 52 countries together with in-kind and institutional support from governments and organisations, enabling modern instruments and facilities to be installed at Seibersdorf.
By modernizing these laboratories the IAEA aims to strengthen technical capacity worldwide, allowing Member States to apply nuclear techniques in areas such as environmental monitoring, plant breeding and instrumentation. The Curie Meitner centre will serve as a hub for collaborative research, training and peaceful applications of nuclear science.
