Advanced nuclear developer NANO Nuclear Energy has partnered with South Korea’s Hyundai Engineering to plan the deployment and execution of a next-generation microreactor in the United States. Under a newly signed agreement, the two firms will work together to deploy the 15-MWe KRONOS MMR system at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

The move follows a critical regulatory milestone. Earlier this year, the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission accepted the project’s construction permit application for formal review. With federal oversight underway, the developers are now shifting their attention from conceptual design to real-world deployment.

Joint teams will handle civil engineering, construction scheduling, and heavy-haul logistics for moving large components. They also plan to map supply chains across the United States and South Korea to ensure essential parts are pre-qualified and delivered on time.

“Hyundai Engineering brings project-delivery capabilities that can become increasingly valuable as the KRONOS MMR system advances from design to regulatory licensing and into construction and ultimate commercialization,” said Jay Yu, Founder and Chairman of NANO Nuclear Energy.

If this early phase succeeds, Hyundai Engineering could take on a much wider role. Under future binding contracts, the industrial giant may oversee the entire engineering, procurement, and construction process. Its responsibilities could also expand to include manufacturing structural components and managing full site operations.

“By participating in demonstration and first-of-a-kind project opportunities, we aim to build valuable project experience, strengthen our capabilities across the advanced nuclear project lifecycle and continuously identify new business opportunities in the global market,” said Woo-Jeong Joo, Chief Executive Officer of Hyundai Engineering.

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