University of South Carolina and The Nuclear Company Forge $5M Partnership to Drive Nuclear Innovation and Workforce Development

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The University of South Carolina (USC) and The Nuclear Company have announced a major partnership aimed at making South Carolina a national hub for nuclear innovation, workforce training, and advanced deployment of clean energy technologies.

The collaboration, centered on USC’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, will bring up to $5 million in investment from The Nuclear Company over five years, matched by the university through federal grants, industry support, and donor contributions.

The Nuclear Company, which opened its primary engineering and construction office in Columbia earlier this year, is leading large-scale deployment of nuclear power nationwide. By joining forces with USC’s nationally ranked nuclear engineering program, the partnership will combine academic excellence with industry leadership to accelerate innovation.

“South Carolina has long been an innovator in nuclear energy, and that’s what attracted The Nuclear Company to our state,” said Hossein Haj-Hariri, Dean of the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing. “By combining our academic leadership with the company’s plans to build fleet-scale nuclear across the country, we will drive innovation, prepare the next generation of nuclear workers, and strengthen our state’s role in working toward America’s energy independence.”

Key Initiatives Under the Agreement

Joint Research Center for Nuclear Innovation

‍A collaborative hub focused on advanced manufacturing, digital twin modeling, and new materials research.

Workforce Development

‍Expansion of internships, co-ops, and training programs, including a new Summer Nuclear Science Institute designed to spark interest among high school students.

Public Education Campaigns

‍Initiatives to raise awareness and understanding of nuclear power’s role in America’s clean energy transition.

According to Joe Klecha, Chief Nuclear Officer of The Nuclear Company, the partnership reflects both a local and national commitment to nuclear energy. “The University of South Carolina’s leadership in nuclear has created generations of head-of-household jobs in the state and a statewide economy powered by clean, baseload energy,” Klecha said. “We look forward to working with the university’s faculty and leaders as America invests in nuclear power at an unprecedented scale.”

Economic and Academic Impact

The collaboration is expected to boost South Carolina’s reputation as a hub for next-generation nuclear research and development while also supporting economic growth and job creation. The Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, one of the fastest-rising engineering schools in the country from 2023 to 2025, is well-positioned to lead such initiatives. With more than $77 million in annual research awards and nearly 4,000 students enrolled, the college already plays a central role in the state’s innovation ecosystem.

The Nuclear Company’s approach to modernizing nuclear construction includes AI-powered real-time construction monitoring and a design-once, build-many methodology, aimed at reducing project costs and accelerating delivery. This partnership provides a platform to test and refine such innovations in collaboration with USC researchers and students.

The initiative not only strengthens South Carolina’s leadership in clean energy but also represents a significant step toward expanding America’s nuclear capacity in the coming decades.

Originally reported by Business Wire.