MAIRE and NEXTCHEM signed MoU with EDF and NUWARD to cooperate for the deployment of NUWARD’s SMR reactor to serve its E-Factory applications for data centers and low-carbon chemistry
PRESS RELEASE• The MOU lays the foundation of an industrial partnership advancing the deployment of innovative nuclear technologies for a sustainable energy future
• The collaboration supports NEXTCHEM’s vision for the “E-Factory for Low-Carbon Chemistry and Data Centers aimed to integrate low-carbon energy sources into industrial processes and digital infrastructure, promoting electrification and decarbonization
Milan, 4 November 2025 – During the World Nuclear Exhibition in Paris, the leading global event for the civil nuclear energy sector, MAIRE and NEXTCHEM have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with EDF and NUWARD to jointly explore opportunities for cooperation in the development and deployment of the NUWARD Small Modular Reactor (SMR) Program.
This initiative aligns with MAIRE Group and NEXTCHEM’s strategic objective to collaborate with nuclear technology providers developing small and advanced modular nuclear technologies (SMR/AMR) by delivering affordable, reliable and sustainable energy. The collaboration supports NEXTCHEM’s vision for its “E-Factory for Low-Carbon Chemistry and Data Centers”, promoting the integration of low-carbon energy sources into industrial processes and digital infrastructure to enable electrification and decarbonization.
In line with this vision, NEXTCHEM recently launched NEXT-N, a joint venture dedicated to developing new intellectual property (IP) for the conventional island and providing highly qualified technical services for next-generation nuclear power plants. The initiative leverages MAIRE Group’s capabilities including those of its sister company TECNIMONT, known for its project delivery expertise and state-of-the-art modularization approach, which optimizes construction and planning, reducing both time and costs.
Fabio Fritelli, Managing Director of NEXTCHEM, said: “We are proud to partner with leading players to support the production of nuclear electrons through SMR to develop efficient energy for the downstream industrial and digital needs, in line with our vision of the E-Factory. Our goal is also to foster a highly qualified European supply chain which are essential to truly industrialize the new energy transition paradigm.”
