Skip to content 
On the occasion of the 70th IAEA General Conference, held in Vienna from September 21 to 25, 2026, France organized a side event dedicated to a key aspect of the current resurgence in the nuclear sector: the women and men who are making it possible.
To kick off the event, a video featured several key players in France’s nuclear ecosystem and highlighted the projects, professions, and competences that are driving the revival of nuclear power in France today. Through testimonials and on-site footage, this video highlights a simple reality: building new reactors, developing new technologies, or advancing the fuel cycle does not rely solely on infrastructure and investments. Above all, it requires skills, experience, knowledge transfer, and the men and women capable of sustaining these projects over the long term. It was around this conviction that the side event was organized, bringing together leading figures from various sectors of the French nuclear industry.
Different goals, the same challenge: competences
The testimonials provided concrete examples of the diversity of competences and responsibilities that contribute to a nuclear program.
- Laurent Kurkowski, Integration Director within EDF’s New Nuclear Project Management Division, kicked off the discussion on the EPR2 program and the governance and integration challenges involved in carrying out new nuclear projects.
- Corinne Olivier, Vice President Construction Business Line at Framatome, shared her experience in the construction and industrial implementation of major nuclear projects, as well as the challenges related to preparing and training the teams that will carry them out in the future.
- On the subject of the fuel cycle, Arnaud Capdepon, Plant Manager of the Orano Melox, shared his nearly three decades of experience in the fuel cycle and the operational management of industrial sites, particularly in the manufacture of recycled MOX fuel.
- Long-term management was represented by Lydie Evrard, CEO of Andra, who shared her experience in the fields of nuclear safety and radioactive waste management, both in France and internationally.
- Research, innovation, and international cooperation were represented by Marion Tiphine, International Affairs Officer within the CEA’s Energy Directorate. Her career path—from research in reactor physics and the fuel cycle to representing France at the IAEA—illustrates the role of scientific and institutional cooperation in the development of nuclear expertise.
- Pierre Bois, Deputy Director General of the ASNR, presented the safety authority’s perspective on issues related to the regulation of facilities involved in the fuel cycle, waste management, decommissioning, research reactors, and the transport of radioactive materials.
- Finally, Pierre Funk, Project Manager for International Relations, Education, and Knowledge Management at the DEND, addressed issues related to nuclear safeguards and safety, as well as knowledge transfer and skills development in these areas.
A French experience built over time
Through these seven testimonials, the event explored a wide range of aspects of the revival currently underway in France’s nuclear sector: construction and new projects, industry, the fuel cycle, waste management, research, safety, security, and safeguards.
Despite this diversity, a common message emerged: no nuclear program can move forward without the men and women who bring their expertise to it.
The discussions underscored that expertise is not built in just a few years. It is based on experience gained through various projects, on knowledge passed down from one generation to the next, on training, and on the ability of different stakeholders to work together.
The testimonials also showed that France’s experience is the result of several decades of development in the nuclear sector, with its successes, challenges, changes, and the lessons learned along the way.
Share our experiences and build together
However, the event was not intended to present a single model. Countries that are developing or expanding their nuclear programs face different contexts, needs, and trajectories.
France nevertheless wishes to contribute its experience to these exchanges by sharing its practices and expertise, but also by learning from its partners’ experiences and working with them to develop solutions tailored to their needs.
This approach is directly aligned with the mission of I2EN, which coordinates France’s international nuclear training programs and contributes to the development of cooperation in the areas of skills and training.
While many countries are now interested in developing or expanding nuclear energy, the discussions held in Vienna served as a reminder that the success of this global trend will depend as much on human capabilities as on technology and infrastructure.
Building the nuclear energy of tomorrow means, above all, developing the competences, sharing the knowledge, and forging the partnerships that will ensure its long-term viability.