Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The international forum World Atomic Days 2026, organised by Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, opened in Antalya, Türkiye, with a youth programme attended by 250 representatives of the nuclear industry and young people from 35 countries.
The first event was the programme “Nuclear Energy for Talent: Leadership, Development, Inspiration”. Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev opened the programme.
In his speech, Likhachev said the event continued the international dialogue launched at the World Atomic Week forum in Moscow in 2025.
World Atomic Days is taking place in Antalya alongside the UN climate conference COP31. Likhachev said one of the event’s main objectives was to discuss the contribution of nuclear energy and modern technologies to building a low-carbon future.
He stressed that the further development of the nuclear industry depended directly on attracting young professionals capable of working with advanced technologies, proposing innovative solutions and collaborating across different professional fields.
He also highlighted the importance of creating opportunities for young people to develop their careers, learn about nuclear industry companies, exchange experience with mentors and take part in practical projects.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Russian Minister of Economic Development Maxim Reshetnikov, World Nuclear Association Director General Sama Bilbao y León, and BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform Chief Coordinator Elzy Pule.
Skilled workforce as a condition for technological development
The central event of the youth programme was a dialogue titled “Human Resources for a Technological Breakthrough in Response to Climate Change”.
Participants discussed the training of qualified specialists, international cooperation on workforce development and youth initiatives in high-tech industries.
The discussion brought together Reshetnikov, Bilbao y León, Rosatom Deputy Director General for Human Resources Tatyana Terentyeva, Liu Jianping, a member of the board and deputy secretary of the Communist Party group at the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), Pule, and Sithembile Mbuisa, Deputy Director General for Human Capital at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA).
The session was moderated by Nadira Sansabilla, an Indonesian representative of the Impact Team 2050 International Youth Advisory Council.
One of the main topics was growing demand for skilled professionals amid technological transformation and the global energy transition.
Participants stressed that developing low-carbon energy required not only substantial investment in production capacity and infrastructure, but also systematic training for specialists with expertise in modern technologies, digital solutions and complex engineering systems.
Reshetnikov said the availability of a skilled workforce had become one of the key factors in technological development and improving economic competitiveness.
He said investment in new technologies should be accompanied by higher labour productivity, modernisation of vocational education and the development of professional retraining programmes.
He also highlighted cooperation between government, educational institutions and employers as essential to aligning workforce training with the economy’s long-term needs.
International youth cooperation in the nuclear industry
Terentyeva presented Rosatom’s approaches to training and professional development in the nuclear industry, as well as its efforts to build an international youth community.
“Sustainable development is possible only on the basis of global cooperation, driven by an international youth team. It is a community of like-minded people united by responsibility for our shared future. Young people from dozens of countries are already working with Rosatom to shape what the world could look like by 2050 and what role peaceful nuclear energy will play in its development. Nuclear technologies make it possible to dream bigger and turn the boldest ideas into solutions that benefit people,” Terentyeva said.
Participants also focused on attracting young professionals to the nuclear industry. Despite the opportunities for career development and the sector’s considerable technological potential, nuclear energy is not always seen by young people as a priority career choice.
They therefore emphasised the need to strengthen cooperation between government bodies, businesses, educational institutions and youth professional organisations.
Such partnerships can help meet the industry’s current demand for skilled workers while developing the expertise needed to address long-term technological and climate challenges.
The World Atomic Days 2026 youth programme provided a platform for international exchange and discussions on career opportunities for the next generation of specialists.
Its agenda highlighted the growing importance of human capital, education and international cooperation for the further development of nuclear energy and the adoption of innovative technologies.
