newcleo, a leading European company in Generation IV nuclear technology, announces the acquisition of a French site in Chusclan (Gard) to build FASTER, an R&D innovation and training centre supporting the development of its future fuel assembly manufacturing facility in France. This cutting-edge facility, which will not store nor handle any radioactive nuclear materials, will play a key role in newcleo’s strategy to close the nuclear fuel cycle while safely producing clean, affordable, and sustainable energy, essential for low-carbon economies.
The design of this innovation and training centrewill be developed in collaboration with Pininfarina, a globally recognised leader in industrial and architectural design. Through this partnership, the two leaders in innovative nuclear solutions and world-class design will demonstrate how advanced nuclear power can shape the future of forward-thinking societies. By combining technological innovation with an advanced aesthetic approach, the site will provide an optimised workspace that fosters learning and research in an immersive and functional environment—illustrating how nuclear energy can drive sustainability, support net-zero goals, and secure a safe, abundant, and virtually inexhaustible energy source.
The collaboration between the two companies builds on existing co-operation, as Pininfarina, newcleo and Fincantieri, one of the world’s leading groups in high-complexity shipbuilding, have been invited to the 19th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia curated by Carlo Ratti, to present a project addressing two of the most pressing challenges of our time: climate change and global decarbonisation.
FASTER will play a crucial role in newcleo’s R&D development and will host:
- Dedicated spaces for testing engineering solutions and maintenance, including office areas for teams (100 employees on-site).
- Advanced training facilities, featuring rooms equipped for virtual and augmented reality, simulators, and a training workshop with real production equipment.
- Development and qualification workshops designed to test and optimise manufacturing processes using cutting-edge technologies such as 3D printing, within a high-tech environment dedicated to innovation and precision engineering.
With this project, newcleo is establishing a leading ecosystem for training and innovation, designed to anticipate the future challenges of the nuclear industry. By enhancing team expertise and developing advanced solutions, the company is actively contributing to the energy transition and the closure of the nuclear fuel cycle.
Stefano Buono, founder and CEO of newcleo, commented:
“The acquisition of this site marks a key milestone in our strategic roadmap. This innovation and training centre, designed with Pininfarina’s renowned elegance and functionality in mind, will play a crucial role in preparing and anticipating the operations of our future pilot fuel manufacturing line. By blending cutting-edge design with practicality, the centre will bring together multiple functions—including training, pre-fabrication, and storage—creating an immersive “test and learn” environment. This will accelerate skill development for our teams and partners. As a first structuring step, it will also support the successful deployment of our pilot line at another site in France, seamlessly combining aesthetic excellence with technological innovation.”
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