Czech-French academy to help build a new generation of workers for Czechia's nuclear ambitions

The French Embassy in the Czech Republic, in cooperation with EDF, announces the establishment of the Czech-French Nuclear Academy, a new initiative aimed at accelerating the training of highly qualified workers for the construction and operation of new nuclear power plants planned in Czechia.

"The Czech Republic and France are already strong partners in nuclear research, for example through the ITER project and the Jules Horowitz reactor, as well as through cooperation between ÚJV Řež and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), universities and research agencies. The French Embassy has long awarded scientific prizes to Czech researchers in this field, supporting their mobility and the expansion of the skills needed to support the current nuclear renaissance in Europe," said H.E. Alexis Dutertre, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic.

This initiative will play a key role not only in further strengthening ties between Czechia and France, but will also help deliver specific Czech-French activities in education, training, research and development for the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

"Czechia and France are pillars of the European Nuclear Alliance, which now brings together 14 EU member states and aims to recognise the contribution of nuclear energy to meeting climate targets, as well as to our energy sovereignty, security of supply and industrial competitiveness.  In order to make this bilateral cooperation more effective, I am proud to announce the establishment of the Czech-French Nuclear Academy, which will play a key role in developing human capacities for our future European new nuclear power plant projects," said H.E. Alexis Dutertre, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic.

Cooperation between France and Czechia in nuclear education and research already has a rich history. The Czech-French Nuclear Academy will build on this experience by significantly expanding the scope and ambition of this cooperation and preparing new programmes designed to meet the urgent needs of Czech industry.

“The Czech-French Nuclear Academy is a great opportunity for EDF and our European industrial partners to maximise the exchange of experience with Czech colleagues in the construction of large power plants. Building one reactor requires thousands of highly qualified technicians and engineers. To achieve such numbers, EDF will provide access to its own training resources for vocational education. We have already begun adapting and developing our training programmes with several Czech companies and are ready to accelerate this process if EDF is selected for the Dukovany 5 project,” said Roman Zdebor, Director of EDF Nuclear Czechia.

The Czech-French Nuclear Academy is a comprehensive educational platform that will create joint Czech-French educational programmes at universities, secondary schools and research institutions. French organisations such as the International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN) are already actively cooperating with Czech partners to prepare new educational courses and internship programmes for Czech and French students, as well as advanced university-level courses.

“A successful human capacity-building programme means having the right resources in the right place at the right time. I2EN will provide its support and experience to help the Czech-French Nuclear Academy enable both countries to successfully achieve their goals. This new initiative will bring the necessary structure to our joint efforts,” added Karen Daifuku, Executive Director of the International Institute of Nuclear Energy (I2EN).

The academy will focus in particular on vocational education and qualifications. This part of the new initiative is already taking tangible shape, as EDF is already sponsoring and organising courses for supplier companies, both large and small Czech firms interested in building and supplying equipment and services for the new Dukovany 5 nuclear project.

“In this context, I also confirm the full support of the French government for EDF's bid in the Dukovany 5 tender,” concluded H.E. Alexis Dutertre, Ambassador of France to the Czech Republic.

Some recent and upcoming milestones of the Czech-French Nuclear Academy:

• On 14 September, EDF and the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen signed an agreement on cooperation in developing education and research in nuclear energy.
• In September, CEA Cadarache and the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen signed a memorandum of understanding facilitating student mobility, joint research programmes and the exchange of academic resources.
• On 24 October, an event aimed at attracting students to the nuclear industry will be held by the French Institute in Prague and I2EN.
• On 8 and 9 November, EDF will hold another Supplier Academy in Prague, a course that helps Czech companies become qualified suppliers for EDF's EPR reactors.