A Deeper Dive into the Memorandum of Understanding to Support Nuclear Research Collaboration

Agreement establishes framework for structured international knowledge exchange and capacity building.

On January 16, 2026, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC), the Saskatchewan Research Council (SRC), and the Global Institute for Energy, Minerals and Society Inc. (GIEMS) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a formal framework for collaboration in nuclear energy research, technology evaluation, and capacity building.

Structured as a three-year agreement, the MoU does not commit the organizations to specific projects or funding arrangements. Instead, it creates a formal structure for ongoing dialogue, joint technical assessment, and institutional learning.

The framework identifies several areas where the parties may explore collaboration, including Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and advanced reactor technologies, nuclear plant efficiency and operational reliability, radioactive waste management, workforce and skills development, technology transfer and innovation adoption, and the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics in nuclear technologies. 

International collaboration plays an important role in nuclear innovation. As Saskatchewan advances long-term sustainability objectives, research institutions and operators increasingly benefit from cross-border knowledge exchange. Nuclear technologies are developed, assessed, and refined within a global ecosystem, where operational experience and applied research inform one another. 

Through this MoU, SRC’s applied research expertise — including its experience conducting technical analysis in nuclear science and materials research — can engage in dialogue with ENEC’s more than two decades of nuclear development and operating experience. ENEC’s workforce of over 3,000 professionals representing more than fifty nations contributes an international operating perspective to these exchanges. The Government of Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Trade and Export Development supported the broader international engagement context in which the agreement was developed and signed.

Within this framework, GIEMS serves as convenor and coordinator. The agreement connects Saskatchewan’s post-secondary research and training institutions with ENEC’s nuclear innovation priorities. GIEMS facilitates structured engagement, supports knowledge transfer, and helps ensure alignment between provincial institutions and international partners. GIEMS does not implement projects under the MoU. Its role is to support coordinated engagement and institutional connection.

The MoU has broader relevance to Saskatchewan’s research ecosystem. Coordinated international collaboration can expand opportunities for students and researchers, strengthen institutional capacity in clean energy technologies, and enhance access to global technical knowledge. Framework agreements such as this provide structure for cooperation while allowing organizations to explore shared priorities in a measured and transparent manner.

The ENEC–SRC–GIEMS Memorandum of Understanding aligns with GIEMS’ broader mandate to advance research, innovation, and training in support of the energy transition in Saskatchewan and beyond. Founded with equal ownership by Saskatchewan Polytechnic, the University of Regina, and the University of Saskatchewan, GIEMS operates as a coordinating body that connects institutions, research clusters, and external partners. This agreement reflects that institutional bridge-building function, situating Saskatchewan’s research capacity within a structured international dialogue focused on responsible nuclear research and innovation.