From December 9 to 11, 2026, the University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA) and McMaster University (Canada), with the participation of the Laue-Langevin Institute (ILL), are holding an international workshop in Grenoble dedicated to nuclear sciences. This meeting brings together researchers and scientific partners from both institutions to strengthen their collaborations and explore the creation of a joint center focused on research, training, and innovation in nuclear energy.
A Canadian delegation of about fifteen representatives from McMaster University, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Queen's University, and Western University is being hosted in Grenoble for three days of exchanges with researchers and stakeholders from the local scientific ecosystem, including the UGA, the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Laboratory of Subatomic Physics and Cosmology (LPSC), and the Laue-Langevin Institute (ILL).
The scientific program will cover five major themes: radiopharmacy and radio-isotopes, beam sciences, next-generation nuclear reactors, materials for nuclear applications, and the environmental and societal challenges associated with this energy. These exchanges aim to compare the expertise of French and Canadian teams, identify complementarities, and foster new collaboration prospects aligned with industry and societal needs.
Beyond scientific presentations, the workshop pursues a strategic ambition: to study the possibility of creating a joint UGA–McMaster center in nuclear energy. This center would not necessarily be a new physical or legal structure but rather a flexible, identified, and visible cooperation framework to unite skills and develop long-term joint projects. Discussions will focus on identifying new joint research projects, developing researcher and student exchanges, and seeking funding to support these initiatives.
The final day, December 11, will take place at the Laue-Langevin Institute in Grenoble, a major European neutron research facility. This meeting could provide an opportunity to formalize the partnership announced between Canada, represented by McMaster University, and the ILL, granting Canadian scientists access to the institute's neutron research facilities and strengthening international collaborations in this field.
