The Swedish delegation led by Ms. Anna Maja Lundbäck, State Secretary for the Ministry of Climate and Enterprise, visited KAERI on January 20, 2026 to explore opportunities for enhanced bilateral cooperation in the field of nuclear technology. 

During the visit, KAERI presented its on-going R&D activities, with a special focus on various advanced reactor technologies such as SMART-100, i-SMR, HECTAR, SALUS and MARINA which drew strong interest from the Swedish delegation. Following the meeting, the Swedish delegation conducted a technical tour of HANARO research reactor and the STELLA-2 facility. 

The two sides exchanged views on current status of nuclear technological developments. The discussion highlighted shared interest in advanced reactor technologies, including Gen-IV reactors and small modular reactor(SMR) as well as high-level radioactive waste disposal. 

In introducing the on-going cooperation between KAERI and Sweden’s SKB(Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co.) in the area of spent fuel disposal, the KAERI President, Dr. Han Gyu Joo, highly commended Sweden’s exemplary management of radioactive waste and spent fuel. The Swedish delegation noted that Sweden has a very long history of nuclear energy utilization, including the world’s first reactor designed for both electricity and district heating, and emphasized that nuclear energy remains key option for baseload power in Sweden. The Swedish State Secretary also underscored that deep geological disposal of spent fuel is a globally recognized standard. 

Both sides expressed their strong commitment to continuing close cooperation to advance nuclear technology in support of carbon neutrality. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to explore complementary cooperation in the nuclear field based on their respective strengths.