A delegation from the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research took part in the 70th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held on 14–18 September 2026 in Vienna, Austria. At the event, the JINR representatives joined in discussions in thematic sessions and held a series of working meetings aimed at strengthening scientific, technological, and educational cooperation.
JINR Vice-Director Latchesar Kostov, Director of the Laboratory of Neutron Physics Egor Lychagin, JINR Deputy Chief Scientific Secretary Alexey Zhemchugov, Deputy Director of the Laboratory of Radiation Biology Iván Padrón Díaz, and Deputy Head of the International Cooperation Department Irek Suleymanov represented the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research.
On the first day, the delegation participated in several thematic events: the session titled “Atoms for sustainable development goals: global sharing of nuclear research infrastructure” and the round table “Shaping the future of innovative nuclear power systems: the power of joint research infrastructure”.
Later, the Institute’s delegation focused on working meetings with representatives of international organizations and government agencies of the Partner Countries.
A discussion with Director General of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) Salem Hamdi was dedicated to the practical implementation of signed agreements, with an emphasis on education. The parties agreed to develop a special lecture course by JINR scientists for students and young researchers from the AAEA Member States.
Issues of personnel training were raised during a meeting with Cuba‘s Minister of Science, Technology and Environment Armando Rodríguez. The Joint Institute confirmed its readiness to provide Cuban specialists with opportunities to work in relevant fields in Dubna, contributing to the preservation of the Republic’s national human resources.
During negotiations with the delegation of the Republic of Serbia, State Secretary of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation Marija Gnjatović noted that the country’s government plans to actively advance partnership with JINR in fundamental and applied studies.
Special attention was paid to JINR’s interaction with the Republic of South Africa. South Africa requires qualified personnel training to implement its ambitious programme for the development of nuclear power and research infrastructure. The parties’ substantive discussion of new joint initiatives will continue in the near future.
During the meeting with a delegation of Mongolia, the Institute’s representatives noted with satisfaction the long-standing partnership and agreed on details for preparing the upcoming session of the JINR Committee of Plenipotentiaries, which will take place in Ulaanbaatar in November 2026.
Cooperation development with Brazilian universities and scientific communities was the key topic of discussions with representatives of the National Nuclear Energy Commission of Brazil (CNEN). JINR is ready to offer Brazilian students studying in Russia the opportunity to use the Institute’s research infrastructure for internships and diploma preparation.
A conversation with Indian colleagues focused on the issues of formalising multi-level cooperation at the intergovernmental level. The Indian specialists expressed great interest in the activities of the Laboratory of Radiation Biology at JINR, particularly in space radiobiology projects as well as studies into condensed matter physics and materials science.
The meetings confirmed the high interest of the international community in JINR’s research infrastructure and educational programmes as well as the Joint Institute’s readiness to serve as a reliable platform for global scientific and technological collaboration.
