228 research reactors operating across 54 countries, with another 23 under construction or in planning. These are the figures released by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), painting a clear picture of a vital sector that rarely gets the attention it deserves in public discussions about nuclear energy.
Unlike commercial reactors that generate electricity, research reactors produce neutrons used across industry, medicine, agriculture, geology, and forensic analysis. Their contribution is tangible and measurable. Research reactors supply the radioisotopes used in 85% of nuclear medicine procedures worldwide, including diagnostic imaging and cancer treatment. Without them, hospitals and care centers around the globe would face critical shortages of essential materials.
Training the next generation of specialists is another key function. Educating nuclear physicists, engineers, and technicians requires hands-on access to real facilities — simulations simply do not suffice. Research reactors have fulfilled this role for decades, ensuring the continuity of national nuclear expertise. The IAEA actively supports this global network, assisting countries with the construction, operation, and modernization of their facilities. In Jordan, for instance, the Agency provided technical support, safety reviews, and training during the commissioning of the country’s first multipurpose reactor, which now serves elemental analysis, radioisotope production, and university-level education.
Many of these facilities have been running for decades. Aging gracefully in the nuclear sector means upgrading systems, components, and safety procedures without interrupting the delivery of services. The IAEA coordinates modernization programs worldwide precisely to preserve this infrastructure. Belgium’s BR2 reactor, in operation since 1963, is a prime example: it accounts for roughly a quarter of the global supply of radioisotopes for medical and industrial use, and continues to operate thanks to periodic safety reviews. Cases like this demonstrate that longevity and reliability can go hand in hand.
On the technical side, research reactors generate neutrons used for elemental analysis, advanced materials development, structural analysis, and high-resolution imaging. They also serve as test beds for fuels and materials destined for next-generation power plants, including fast reactors and molten salt designs. Every breakthrough achieved in the lab eventually translates into more efficient solutions for commercial-scale energy production.
The overall picture points to a clear trajectory. Those 23 new facilities under construction or in planning are not a minor footnote — they signal that demand for nuclear scientific capacity is growing, driven by the expansion of national energy programs and the need to train new generations of experts. Countries that were merely observers just a few years ago are now building their own infrastructure. The global network of research reactors is expanding, and with it the technical foundation on which the nuclear energy landscape of the coming decade will be built.
