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While last year's event was dominated by the tender for the completion of the Dukovany nuclear power plant, this year's Nuclear Days 2025 will also focus on power outages and the question of whether Europe can keep pace without nuclear power. The 15th edition, which begins on September 10, will therefore focus not only on the new units at Dukovany and the involvement of Czech industry, but also on the broader European context – from the blackout on the Iberian Peninsula to Germany's return to the nuclear debate.

The month-long event will kick off with the international conference Nuclear Energy and Energy Security in Europe, which will take place on September 10 and 11 at the Faculty of Applied Sciences. For the first time, traditional lectures will be replaced by live panel discussions. Representatives of companies and experts in advanced technologies, legislation, and small modular solutions will gather in Pilsen. An eight-member delegation from South Korea's KINGS University, which is affiliated with KHNP—the company selected to complete the Dukovany nuclear power plant—has also confirmed its participation.

"Public debate on energy is often based on stereotypes. We offer a space where arguments can be heard objectively, with perspective and across disciplines," explained Jan Zdebor, chief organizer and guarantor of Nuclear Days at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Bohemia, explaining the change in format. According to him, it is necessary for not only experts but also the younger generation to participate in the discussion. "Dukovany is not just about turbines, but also about people. And we will need thousands of them. That is why we are pleased with the interest of students in participating in the conference poster competition. This year, 38 students from a number of universities in 11 countries around the world have registered," he added.

Nuclear Days also means a series of accompanying events for schools, such as Company Day—a practically oriented program that introduces nuclear energy and broader technical fields in an experiential way. Škoda JS, Doosan Škoda Power, and ČEZ will participate, preparing demonstrations of design using digital twins, simulators, virtual welding, and non-destructive testing.

"For some time now, we have been sending a clear signal to the labor market that we are interested in university graduates – especially mechanical and electrical engineers – as well as high school graduates and apprentices in these fields. Hundreds of them will certainly find employment in our region. If ŠKODA JS is successful in securing the anticipated scope of supplies for the new units at Dukovany, it would hire up to 250 new employees," said František Krček, CEO of ŠKODA JS a.s. The company also recently signed a memorandum of cooperation with the British company Rolls Royce SMR concerning small modular reactors.

The Nuclear Days event was held under the auspices of Minister of Industry Lukáš Vlček, President of the Czech Academy of Engineering Vojtěch Petráček, Governor of the Plzeň Region Kamal Farhan, and Rector of the University of West Bohemia Miroslav Lávička, who believes that the university has a duty to actively participate in public debates on technology: "Energy is no longer just a technical discipline—its impacts extend to the economy, security, and climate. At the University of West Bohemia, we want to play a significant role in its current development and prepare experts who are essential to the entire sector. As a multidisciplinary university, we have an unquestionable tradition, history, and experience in this field," concluded the rector.

The complete program for Nuclear Days is available here.