University of South Carolina and The Nuclear Company announce $5M nuclear energy partnership
A five-year agreement between the University of South Carolina and The Nuclear Company aims to advance nuclear deployment, research, and workforce development in South Carolina.
The University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing has entered into a partnership with The Nuclear Company, a U.S.-based developer working on large-scale deployment of nuclear energy.
The agreement aims to strengthen South Carolina’s position as a hub for nuclear research, workforce development, and innovation.
Investment and research focus
The Nuclear Company, which opened its primary engineering and construction office in Columbia earlier this year, will invest up to $5 million over five years. The university will match the funding through grants, industry partners, and other sources.
Planned projects include a Joint Research Center for Nuclear Innovation focused on digital twin modeling, advanced manufacturing, and new materials. The partnership will also establish workforce development programs, including internships, co-ops, and a Summer Nuclear Science Institute for high school students.
Hossein Haj-Hariri, Dean of the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, says: “South Carolina has long been an innovator in nuclear energy, and that’s what attracted The Nuclear Company to our state. By combining our academic leadership with the company’s plans to build fleet-scale nuclear across the country, we will drive innovation, prepare the next generation of nuclear workers, and strengthen our state’s role in working toward America’s energy independence.”
The Nuclear Company specializes in integrating proven reactor technologies with digital construction monitoring and project management. Its model emphasizes standardization and cost efficiency, with the aim of delivering large-scale nuclear power across the U.S.
Joe Klecha, Chief Nuclear Officer of The Nuclear Company, comments: “The University of South Carolina’s leadership in nuclear has created generations of head-of-household jobs in the state and a statewide economy powered by clean, baseload energy. We look forward to working with the university’s faculty and leaders as America invests in nuclear power at an unprecedented scale.”
