Could you briefly explain what Exosens does and how your technologies contribute to the nuclear sector and the broader energy transition?
Exosens is a global leader in amplification, detection, and imaging technologies, drawing on more than 85 years of expertise in electro-optics. The Nuclear Instrumentation and Radiation Detection division designs and produces advanced neutron and gamma detectors that are essential for reactor instrumentation and control. These systems provide accurate, real-time radiation monitoring, which is critical to the safe and stable operation of nuclear power plants, research reactors, and emerging Small Modular Reactors.
Our technologies are designed to operate in extreme environments, including temperatures up to 800 °C, enabling precise neutron flux measurement under demanding conditions. This capability directly supports the next generation of nuclear reactors, which play an important role in the energy transition by delivering reliable, carbon-free power for industrial decarbonation and distributed energy systems.
What motivates Exosens to support the NExSMR 2026 Conference and engage in discussions on SMRs and nuclear supply chains?
Exosens’ support of the NExSMR 2026 Conference reflects our long-term commitment to advancing nuclear instrumentation and helping shape the future of SMR technology. We see SMRs as a transformative segment of the nuclear market that strongly aligns with global decarbonization objectives and offers meaningful opportunities for innovation and growth.
Participating in NExSMR allows us to demonstrate our leadership in high-temperature detection, while also collaborating with reactor developers and supply-chain partners to address technical and regulatory challenges. It’s also an important opportunity to strengthen our presence in Europe and globally, and to reinforce our position as a trusted technology partner for SMR deployment.
From Exosens’ perspective, what opportunities do SMRs create for innovation in detection, imaging, and monitoring technologies within the European nuclear industry?
SMRs are designed to be more compact and often operate at higher temperatures and radiation levels than traditional reactors, which creates a strong need for next-generation detection and monitoring technologies. This includes advanced neutron detectors capable of wide-range flux monitoring in extreme thermal environments.
For Exosens, this represents an opportunity to expand and evolve our Ultimate Detection product portfolio and to co-develop tailored solutions with European partners. These collaborations help strengthen nuclear safety, improve operational performance, and reinforce Europe’s leadership in advanced nuclear technologies.
In your view, what is a key technical or supply-chain challenge in the SMR ecosystem—particularly regarding advanced detection or imaging systems—that deserves more attention?
A key technical challenge is scaling up manufacturing while providing a broader range of detectors suited to the dimensional and operational requirements of the SMR/AMR market. We have addressed similar issues through past customer collaborations.
One realistic challenge is the scaling effect: transitioning from larger detectors to smaller ones while maintaining approximately the same number of sensors to ensure safe operation. With more market players entering the space, Exosens must ensure the ability to ramp up annual sensor production—a topic we have anticipated for several years. Supply-chain resilience is another risk; however, Exosens has taken significant steps to secure critical components, which is essential to fulfilling sovereignty commitments.
Exosens works across various markets, including nuclear power generation. Is there a specific technology, product line, or recent initiative within Exosens that best aligns with the themes of innovation and safety in SMR deployment?
Yes. Our high-temperature fission chambers, proportional counters, and ionization chambers are particularly well aligned with the innovation and safety requirements of SMR deployment. These detectors are designed to operate reliably at temperatures of up to 800°C and are well suited for the demanding conditions of advanced reactor designs.
They provide wide-range neutron monitoring for both in-core and ex-core applications and are backed by decades of proven performance in fast reactors and research facilities, making them a strong foundation for safe, next-generation nuclear systems.