In Seibersdorf, Austria, the IAEA has inaugurated the Curie Meitner Centre, marking the completion of the ReNuAL2 project that modernized the agency’s nuclear applications facilities to support countries in applying nuclear science and technology for peaceful purposes.
The Curie Meitner Centre, named in honour of pioneers Marie Skłodowska-Curie and Lise Meitner, brings together three newly upgraded laboratories: the Terrestrial Environment and Radiochemistry Laboratory, the Plant Breeding and Genetics laboratory which forms part of the Joint FAO/IAEA Agriculture and Biotechnology Laboratories, and the Nuclear Science and Instrumentation laboratory. These facilities are designed to improve research, training and technical cooperation across multiple fields.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said the renewal of the laboratories represents a crucial investment in advancing nuclear applications. He was joined at the inauguration by FAO Director General Qu Dongyu, the co-chairs of the Friends of ReNuAL from Germany and South Africa, representatives from host country Austria and delegations from 33 other countries.
The ReNuAL2 project was completed through extrabudgetary contributions from 52 countries along with in-kind and institutional support from multiple governments and organisations, reflecting broad international commitment to peaceful nuclear science. The upgraded facilities under the Curie Meitner banner will expand capacity for environmental radiochemistry, crop improvement using nuclear techniques and precision instrumentation.
For Pakistan, the enhanced IAEA laboratories offer important opportunities for collaboration, training and access to cutting-edge methods in agriculture biotechnology, terrestrial environment monitoring and instrumentation. Pakistani researchers and institutions stand to benefit from joint programmes and technical cooperation that the Curie Meitner Centre will support.
The inauguration of the Curie Meitner Centre underscores a renewed international push to harness nuclear science for development, food security and environmental protection while strengthening partnerships between the IAEA, FAO and member states.
