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European cooperation for tomorrow's skills
In a context of relaunching and expanding nuclear programs in Europe, mastering industrial systems and technical interfaces is a major strategic challenge. With this in mind, the FR-CZ-SK Winter School 2026 is held from February 23 to 27 in Pilsen, Czech Republic. It is organized by the University of West Bohemia in partnership with I2EN, and with the support of the French Embassy in the Czech Republic and the Institut français de Prague and Institut français de Slovaquie.
A technical theme at the heart of plant performance
This 11th edition is devoted to an essential but sometimes less visible area of nuclear power plants: the conventional island and its associated systems. This comprises the main equipment located outside the reactor building, including the steam turbine, alternator, main condenser, cooling systems, water supply system and auxiliary systems.
Although these components are not directly part of the nuclear core, their performance, reliability and specific interfaces with safety systems are crucial to the overall efficiency of the plant. Understanding the operational challenges specific to the conventional island in a nuclear environment is crucial, especially at a time when advanced technologies, integrated energy systems and heightened environmental constraints are imposing new technical requirements.
For countries developing or modernizing their nuclear programs, mastery of these systems represents a strategic challenge: it determines industrial performance, plant availability and investment optimization, while maintaining the highest safety standards.
Future-oriented Franco-Czech-Slovak cooperation
The event was opened by the Rector of the University of West Bohemia, Prof. Miroslav Lávička, by H.E. Stéphane Crouzat, French Ambassador to the Czech Republic, by Mr. Štěpán Kochánek, recently appointed President of the Czech Nuclear Safety Authority (State Office for Nuclear Safety – SÚJB), and by Assoc. Prof. Roman Pechánek, Vice-Dean of the host faculty.
This high-level institutional opening illustrates the importance attached to training nuclear skills and strengthening academic and industrial partnerships between France, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
Collaboration between the three countries is based on strong complementarity. France has recognized experience in the development, operation and export of nuclear technologies. The Czech Republic and Slovakia, committed to structuring projects and consolidating their industrial capacities, play a key role in the European energy dynamic.
Through this Winter School, these countries are reinforcing a technical and academic dialogue that is essential to building a shared vision of European nuclear power: demanding in terms of safety, industrially competitive and based on sustainable cooperation.
A formative experience for tomorrow's engineers
The Winter School 2026 brings together 19 students from the Czech Republic, Slovakia, France and Ukraine, illustrating the international dimension of contemporary nuclear issues. In addition to academic teaching, the program includes presentations by major industrial players such as CEZ, Framatome and EDF, as well as visits to reference industries such as Škoda JS. These exchanges enabled participants to gain a concrete understanding of the technical challenges associated with conventional systems in a nuclear environment.
For students, the benefits are twofold: to gain in-depth technical knowledge of conventional island systems, and to develop an understanding of industrial interfaces in an international context. In a sector where projects extend far beyond national borders, this culture of cooperation is a major asset. By training tomorrow’s engineers together around a strategic industrial theme, the FR-CZ-SK Winter School is helping to consolidate the technical and human foundations necessary for the success of future European nuclear programs.
