The foundation

29/04/2025

The nuclear research centre SCK CEN has commissioned a second PWC facility. With that facility, it has now doubled its capacity to put newly developed fissile material rods to the test. “In technical terms, this type of test is known as a transient test. It involves simulating a sudden power increase of a reactor so that we can identify what increase causes the cladding – the first physical barrier containing the uranium fissile material – to fail,” explained project leader Brian Boer. In the reactor cycle that has now been completed, that doubled capacity was immediately put to use. “We carried out two transient tests, one after the other,” he said.

19/11/2025

At SCK CEN, innovation never stands still. One of more exciting developments is currently taking place in the SMELD project, where we are rapidly extending our scientific knowledge in the domain of radioactive applications of metallurgy. The laboratory furnaces for non-radioactive and radioactive metal melting research have now been delivered. The non-radioactive furnace has been tested and certified, and its counterpart for radioactive tests has been approved for use. The team will be busy in the coming months, as the trials with radioactive samples will be time-consuming.

08/04/2025

The LINAC@LNK project has reached an important milestone with its installation of a linear accelerator (LINAC) in the LNK building on the site of SCK CEN, the Belgian nuclear research centre. This marks the start of a new phase in research into both advanced waste characterisation and better calibrations for cancer treatment.

1/10/2025

Today, the SCK CEN nuclear research centre will officially inaugurate its brand new main entrance. “This is a momentous day in our history,” said Peter Baeten, Director-General of SCK CEN. After more than 70 years, SCK CEN is leaving Boeretang 200 and is relocating to number 190. “This new entrance is more than just a new front door – it's our gateway to enhanced security, state-of-the-art infrastructure and operations that are fit for the future.”

25/09/2025

The development of EAGLES-300 requires materials that will continue to be reliable under the challenging conditions imposed by liquid lead as a coolant. Only by testing potentially suitable materials (on a long-term basis) in this demanding environment can we chart how they will behave. This is the reason why the SMR-LFR team commissioned ‘Limets 6’.

29/10/2025

Last year, we requested an environmental permit for the second building phase of MINERVA. A public investigation was therefore conducted in November 2025. MINERVA is the starting point in MYRRHA’s particle accelerator. With the MINERVA project, the nuclear research centre SCK CEN aims to tackle a series of social challenges.