We are the Nuclear Innovation and Research Office

The Nuclear Innovation and Research Office (NIRO) provides expert, independent, and technical advice to government on all matters concerning the nuclear fuel cycle and radionuclide applications, de-risking investment, informing policy and enabling maximum value for money to the UK taxpayer.

To help accurately inform and guide decision making, NIRO collaborates with colleagues across the nuclear sector including industry, academia, government departments and specialist organisations for specialised guidance and research.

NIRO was established as a result of the 2011 House of Lords Science and Technology Committee inquiry into the UK’s nuclear R&D capability coupled with Government publishing its 2013 Nuclear Industrial Strategy. Since our establishment in 2014, NIRO has worked on over 500 government projects, providing strategic, technical, economic and regulatory advice and more. The refresh of talent and skills in the team provides NIRO with a consistently updated perspective on the sector. The current NIRO team has members at all stages of their careers, accumulating to over 400 years of experience in the industry.

NIRO works closely with colleagues across the whole nuclear sector from industry, academia, government departments and specialist organisations to help inform and guide decision making.

NIRO also acts as an advisory board to various task forces and the Nuclear Innovation and Research Advisory Board (NIRAB), which provides an additional source of high-level expert advice to Government on research, innovation and cost reduction across the nuclear life cycle.

Some programmes NIRO has supported are:

• AMR Research Development and Demonstration
• Future Nuclear Enabling Fund
• GIF IV International Forum
• Jules Horowitz Reactor Project
• Low Cost Nuclear
• Medical Radioisotopes Innovation Programme

• NPS EN-7 Sitting
• Nuclear Capability Review
• Nuclear Fuel Fund
• Nuclear Skills Task force
• Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce
• OECD NEA Programmes