In June 2016, Center for Autonomous Small Modular Reactor Research (CASMRR) led by Prof. Yonghee Kim at the Dept. of Nuclear and Quantum Engineering (NQE), KAIST was selected as the Engineering Research Center (ERC) by the National Research Foundation of Korea. CASMRR receives about 2 billion won of research funding from the government each year, the first stage being 4 years and the second stage 3 years, the goal is to derive a concept of the latest Small Modular Reactor (SMR) capable of autonomous operation and to develop its core technologies.

The ultra-safe autonomous SMR developed in CASMRR is called ‘ATOM (Autonomous, Transportable, On-demand reactor Module)’. For successful ATOM system development, CASMRR is aiming at creative innovation and fusion of next-generation nuclear technology such as ‘Highly intelligent autonomous operation’, ‘Boron-free core’, ‘Passive safety’, ‘Built-in control rod driving device’, ‘Long period operation’, ‘Supercritical CO₂ (S-CO₂) power conversion system’, ‘Accident-resistant nuclear fuel’.

The ATOM research center at KAIST collaborates with four of domestic universities (Hanyang University, Gachon University, Chosun University, and Ulsan Institute of Science and Technology), twelve professors lead the research as core researchers and more than 50 graduate students participate in various advanced researches. CASMRR is expected to present a new paradigm and direction for future SMR research and development through the development of innovative SMR technology and the cultivation of advanced research engineers.

Nowadays, concerns about global warming and climate change have become reality. Demand for SMR, which enables extreme safety while allowing various applications of environmentally friendly nuclear energy, is expected to increase significantly in the future. The ATOM research center of KAIST’s Dept. of NQE is expected to lead the development of SMR innovation technology needed by humankind and be a new national growth engine.