Hyundai Engineering Considers Support for Illinois KRONOS Reactor Project

NANO Nuclear Energy announced Oct. 27 that it had signed a nonexclusive memorandum of understanding with Hyundai Engineering Co., Ltd. to assess possible support for the proposed KRONOS MMR at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

Initial discussions cover delivery planning and site work, purchasing readiness, buildability, modular construction, logistics, supplier development and U.S. sourcing. The memorandum does not assign a specific work package or commit either company to funding or construction. Any compensated work would require a separate agreement.

Possible later roles include design and engineering, procurement, construction management, component production and support for future reactor deployments. Any expanded role would depend on additional review, available work, university and regulatory requirements, and new agreements.

“The next phase of advanced nuclear will be defined by execution,” NANO Nuclear CEO James Walker said.

The University of Illinois submitted a construction permit application for the proposed reactor on March 31, 2026. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) accepted it for docketing May 18 and is reviewing it. The proposal is for a non-power research reactor with a thermal capacity of 45 megawatts thermal (MWth).