Purdue, BWXT forge strategic collaboration to advance nuclear innovation

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University and BWX Technologies Inc. (NYSE: BWXT), a leading manufacturer and supplier of nuclear components and services for the commercial and government sectors, have signed a memorandum of understanding to forge a groundbreaking research relationship focused on next-generation nuclear manufacturing, including small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors.

Through collaborative research and innovation, this agreement advances technical abilities and knowledge regarding nuclear energy that is essential to addressing growing energy demand, the economic resilience of the country, national defense and global security.

Purdue President Mung Chiang and Suzy Sterner, BWXT senior vice president and chief corporate affairs officer, signed the agreement Oct. 23 in Washington, D.C.

“This partnership marks a transformative moment for Purdue and the future of nuclear energy innovation,” Chiang said. “By aligning our nationally recognized engineering programs with cutting-edge nuclear technologies, like small modular reactors, we’re not only advancing research — we’re also preparing the next generation of scientists, engineers and policy leaders to meet the energy and workforce demands of tomorrow.”

Designed to be smaller and scalable with simplified operations and more efficient construction schedules, SMRs and microreactors are attracting growing interest for their ability to provide reliable, flexible power generation that can be deployed more quickly with lower overall capital costs than conventional, large nuclear facilities.

The Purdue-BWXT agreement is part of a broader commitment by both institutions to deepen collaboration in support of their shared missions to advance nuclear energy, innovate civil infrastructure, integrate autonomous control systems and bolster cybersecurity to support next-generation nuclear technologies.

The agreement outlines academic opportunities to advance career development for Purdue students and the broader nuclear workforce through:

• Research and development collaborations
• Continuing education opportunities and workforce development
• Shared expertise and infrastructure
• Support for the state of Indiana to deploy nuclear energy and nuclear manufacturing

“This agreement includes the key areas that will help the state of Indiana and the U.S. secure and grow our nuclear energy resources,” Sterner said. “Many Purdue alumni have found a home at BWXT, where they are making real contributions in support of national security and domestic energy missions. We are excited to see this collaboration expand.”

The signing of this agreement comes as Purdue hosts the Global Nuclear Energy Economic Summit on Nov. 5-6, which brings together national and industry leaders to discuss the future of advanced nuclear manufacturing, SMRs and the growing role of artificial intelligence in industry. BWXT President and CEO Rex Geveden, who played a key role in the new agreement, delivered the keynote address.

“Our agreement with BWXT holds great value for the state of Indiana and the nation, as well as the nuclear energy industry and students,” said Arvind Raman, the John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering at Purdue. “We are thrilled to be partnering with an industry leader to address critical energy needs by developing advanced technologies and training top-notch engineers to propel them to reality.”

Paramount to the collaboration is Purdue University Reactor Number One (PUR-1), the only nuclear reactor in the state of Indiana and the first in the nation to be controlled and operated digitally.

As the first and only all-digital reactor that has been licensed by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, PUR-1 presents unique opportunities for innovative research and industry collaboration toward the development of advanced reactors (ARs), such as SMRs and microreactors.

“This unique asset makes Purdue a national leader in nuclear engineering education, energy innovation and the empowerment of AI computing, while providing real-world experience to drive student success, helping fulfill demand in the nuclear workforce pipeline and bolstering economic development,” said Seungjin Kim, the Capt. James F. McCarthy, Jr. and Cheryl E. McCarthy Head of Nuclear Engineering at Purdue and facility director of PUR-1.

Purdue has taken a leadership role in advancing the nuclear science and civil engineering research infrastructure needed to develop nuclear technologies and provide hands-on training.

• Purdue was awarded a $6 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy in June 2024 to lead a consortium that will revitalize nuclear research facilities and expand university-led research for SMR and AR technologies.
• In May 2024, Purdue was selected by the state of Indiana to assess the feasibility of deploying SMRs in Indiana. Results of the study were announced in February 2025.

“This agreement between Purdue and BWXT further strengthens our state’s position as a leader in energy innovation and technology-driven economic growth,” said Jon Ford, executive director of the Indiana Office of Energy Development. “With the growing footprint of a digital economy drawing upon the electric grid, partnerships like this are essential to ensuring we have the skilled workforce and advanced energy systems to support them.”

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 106,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 57,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/president/strategic-initiatives.