Idaho State University has revealed the future site of an advanced research and test reactor in Idaho. The university will develop the project with Idaho-based NuCube Energy through a U.S. Department of Energy program, with the reactor planned as a hub for nuclear research, education and workforce training.
The project is part of the Department of Energy’s Nuclear Reactor Innovation Center Launch Pad USA program. In April, the department selected Idaho State University for the program, allowing the university to work with NuCube Energy on the planned Advanced Research and Test Reactor.
The reactor will be built at Idaho State University’s Business and Research Park. It is planned as a functional microreactor that students and researchers can use for hands-on learning, applied research and reactor operations.
The project also builds on Idaho State University’s long history with nuclear technology. The university has operated a research reactor on campus since 1965 and is one of only 24 universities in the United States with a nuclear reactor.
The existing reactor has helped train students and support workforce needs for decades. Idaho State University also has the only undergraduate nuclear engineering program in the state, giving the university an existing base for education and training in the field.
The new reactor is expected to provide another platform for students to gain practical experience. According to the university, students could train on the new reactor and earn operator licenses while working alongside researchers and industry professionals.
NuCube Energy is an advanced nuclear technology company based in Idaho Falls. The company develops factory-built microreactors designed to provide carbon-free electricity and high-temperature heat for industrial applications.
The partnership will also connect university education with industry work. NuCube already employs Idaho State University students, allowing them to use skills from their university studies in real engineering projects.
The new reactor is still a development project, so it is not an operating commercial power plant. Its planned role is focused on research, testing, education and workforce development. The project will also need to move through the required design, construction, safety and regulatory steps before operations can begin.
Idaho National Laboratory is also involved in the broader project effort. INL Deputy Director Todd Combs said Idaho State University’s long experience with research reactors was an important part of its selection for the partnership.
The project could give Idaho State University a larger role in advanced nuclear research and training. It also aims to create a closer connection between students, researchers and companies developing new reactor technologies.
The announcement comes as interest in advanced nuclear systems grows in the United States. Microreactors are being studied for applications that could require reliable electricity or high-temperature industrial heat, but their wider use depends on technology development, safety reviews, licensing and commercial readiness.
For Idaho State University, the project is also about developing the people needed to work with future nuclear systems. The university says the partnership will support education, applied research and workforce development while building on more than six decades of experience with nuclear reactor education.
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