Interested contributors have until 1 September 2025 to submit abstracts for an IAEA conference on effective nuclear and radiation regulatory systems.
This conference, the seventh in a series of IAEA conferences on effective nuclear and radiation regulatory systems, will be held from 27- 30 April 2026 at the agency's headquarters in Vienna, Austria.
The event's full title is the IAEA's International Conference on Effective Nuclear and Radiation Regulatory Systems: Strengthening Competence, Agility and Connection in the Modern Era - or RegCon2026.
RegCon2026
The conference aims to enhance nuclear and radiation safety and security globally by addressing developments in regulatory systems.
"RegCon2026 will bring together regulators and key stakeholders to foster competence, agility and connection, address challenges and drive innovation in the regulatory landscape," said Katherine Asfaw, Head of the IAEA's Programme and Strategy Coordination Section, and Scientific Secretary of the conference. "As complexities such as energy crises, climate change and rapid technological advancements pose challenges to regulatory systems, it is more important than ever to discuss how regulators are forging strong and credible pathways for effective nuclear and radiation regulation."
RegCon2026 will be led by conference president Annemiek van Bolhuis, Chair of the Board of the Authority for Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection in the Netherlands; alongside conference vice president Luis Huerta Torchio, Director of the Chilean Nuclear Energy Commission.
Call for Abstracts
Contributors interested in submitting abstracts for the conference should choose from one of the following topics:
-Regulatory competence: the essential qualities regulators need to work effectively, with emphasis on regulatory culture and workforce development.
-Agility in regulation: strategies and approaches for regulators to enhance agility and effectively respond to and anticipate changes driven by innovation and new technologies.
-Strengthening connections: the role of regulators in strengthening connections within their 'ecosystem' to be part of an enabling environment and support the sustainable use of nuclear and radiation technologies.
"Contributions will be essential in driving discussions among nuclear and radiation safety and security regulators to review, identify and propose paths forward for the issues that are crucial in the regulatory field," said Fuming Jiang, Director of the IAEA's Office of Safety and Security Coordination, adding that "contributors will have the chance to engage directly with the global regulatory community."
Abstracts up to 600 words, should be submitted electronically through the IAEA web-based submission system (IAEA-INDICO). Guidelines for abstracts submission are available on the conference website.
Sharing Best Practices for Effective Regulatory Systems
The conference will build upon the previous editions in the seriesheld in 2023 in Abu Dhabi, UAE; 2019 in The Hague, Netherlands; 2016 in Vienna, Austria; 2013 in Ottawa, Canada; 2009 in Cape Town, South Africa and in 2006 in Moscow, the Russian Federation.
One aim of the 2026 RegCon is to share experiences from the Call for Action from the 2023 Regulatory Effectiveness Conference. "In the past three years we have gathered inspiring responses to the Call for Action launched in Abu Dhabi" said Christopher Hanson former Chair of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and President of the 2023 RegCon. "By sharing our national initiatives and experiences, we not only contribute to global regulatory excellence, but also strengthen our own systems through learning from one another," said Christer Viktorsson, Director General of the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation and Vice President of the 2023 RegCon.
To participate, please complete this Call for Action Response Form by 1 September 2025. Selected contributors will be highlighted at the RegCon2026.
