Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) is taking a historic step in global nuclear innovation. The institute’s SMART100 small modular reactor (SMR) design is set to become the world’s first SMR to formally submit a Safeguards Technical Report (STR) to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

This milestone represents a major advance in ensuring that future SMRs incorporate international nuclear safeguards from the earliest stages of design, in line with the IAEA’s Safeguards by Design (SBD) concept. By preparing the STR, KAERI supports global efforts to integrate safeguards alongside safety and security in next-generation reactor development. The achievement highlights Korea’s commitment to transparency and non-proliferation, strengthening international confidence in advanced nuclear technologies.

The First SMR in Safeguards Design

The SMART100 initiative reflects a new stage in integrating safeguards into reactor design. Working with the IAEA and several Member States through the Member State Support Programme (MSSP), KAERI has helped advance the SBD approach, which brings safeguards into balance with safety, security, and economic factors.

To develop innovative and effective safeguards concepts for emerging SMR types, the MSSP task on safeguards by design for SMRs was launched in 2018. Among the 24 Member States providing extrabudgetary contributions to the IAEA through the MSSP, 10 are supporting the Agency in addressing various SMR designs — including land-based and marine-based integral pressurised water reactors, molten salt reactors, high-temperature gas-cooled reactors, lead-cooled fast reactors, and microreactors — within this framework.

Through the SMART100 project, KAERI is at the forefront of this global effort. Following standard design approval in 2024 for its advanced safety design and improved economics, SMART100 is now also leading in safeguards. The STR submission scheduled for later this year is expected to be the first known such case among SMRs currently under development worldwide.

Excellence in Safety and Performance

SMART100 is a next-generation version of the proven SMART design — the world’s first SMR to receive standard design approval in mid-2012 — offering improved performance and safety.

Along with these safety enhancements, the upgraded system increases thermal output from 330 MWt to 365 MWt and electrical output from 100 MWe to 110 MWe, significantly improving efficiency while maintaining a compact design. Its fully passive safety system enables reactor cooling without external power, using natural forces such as gravity and fluid density differences to ensure safe shutdown and stable cooling during emergencies.

SMART100 is designed for a 60-year lifetime and a three-year refuelling cycle, ensuring long-term operational efficiency. In addition to electricity generation, it can also be used for thermal applications such as seawater desalination, providing a flexible, low-carbon energy solution for diverse environments.

These advancements demonstrate KAERI’s leadership in aligning enhanced safety, economic performance, and environmental sustainability with international standards in SMR technology.

Global Leadership and Expanding Trust

SMART100 demonstrates the feasibility of aligning advanced nuclear design with international standards for safety, security, and non-proliferation — key elements for the global expansion of SMR deployment. As the first SMR expected to achieve both safety and safeguards recognition at the international level, SMART100 is regarded as a reference model for future SMR projects worldwide.

The IAEA has begun its internal process to review the STR submitted by the Republic of Korea, marking the first task output of its kind under the SBD for SMRs initiative. This review will ensure that the SMART100 design can be efficiently safeguarded once deployed, including provisions for nuclear material accountancy, inspection access, and design information verification.

This proactive approach is expected to reduce regulatory uncertainty and streamline deployment timelines for SMART100, while strengthening global confidence in non-proliferation. Following its 2024 standard design approval, SMART100 is now under active consideration for international deployment, particularly in countries seeking low-carbon, flexible, and off-grid energy solutions.

Through these achievements, KAERI demonstrates its commitment to responsible nuclear development and to advancing safe, transparent, and sustainable nuclear technology worldwide.