RISE and Blykalla in strategic partnership to support development of SMRs in Sweden
20 August 2025, 07:12
Blykalla and the Research Institutes of Sweden (RISE) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for a long-term partnership to accelerate the development of advanced nuclear reactors in Sweden. Together, the parties will promote the technical development of Blykalla’s lead-cooled reactor concept through applied research, prototype testing, and joint business development.
“Nuclear power is part of Sweden’s work on climate transition, resilience, and competitiveness. Success in this field requires not only technological advances but also long-term investment in competence and innovation. Through our partnership with Blykalla, RISE contributes applied research, structured testing, system modeling, and industrial integration — key components that strengthen the foundation for the development and verification of advanced nuclear technology,” says Malin Frenning, CEO of RISE.
The partnership aims to raise the technology readiness levels (TRL) of key components, develop sector-specific solutions for energy-intensive industries, and optimize verification and validation strategies through digital modeling. The parties will also jointly identify real-world use cases, strengthen green value chains, and build a competitive ecosystem for SMR technology in Sweden and internationally. Through this, the partners aim to lay a stronger foundation for the deployment of lead-cooled reactors in both industrial and municipal applications.
“RISE’s capabilities in applied research, structured testing, and system modeling give us valuable tools to strengthen and validate SEALER’s design. This collaboration will help us refine key components, streamline verification, and keep our development on track toward commercial deployment in Sweden,” says Jacob Stedman, CEO of Blykalla.
By combining Blykalla’s expertise in advanced reactor technology with RISE’s capabilities in applied research, system modeling, and industrial integration, the partnership can jointly deliver the benefits required to advance SMR technology in Sweden. Ultimately, the collaboration aims to accelerate the transition from development to implementation — strengthening Sweden’s position as a global leader in next-generation nuclear technology.
About Blykalla
Blykalla is Sweden's only developer of advanced SMRs, commercializing lead-cooled fast reactors for industrial use. Based on 20+ years of research, their SEALER technology is a
compact 55 MWe unit designed to offer a safe, efficient, and scalable power solution. With a strong foundation within Sweden, Blykalla is well positioned to deliver Europe's first advanced SMR, providing reliable and sustainable baseload energy to power AI and clean industries.
For further information, please contact:
Alexandra Wyler, Communications Manager Blykalla
Phone: +46 768 61 73 73 Email: alexandra.wyler@blykalla.com
About RISE
RISE is Sweden’s research institute and innovation partner. Through our international collaboration programmes with industry, academia and the public sector, we ensure the competitiveness of the Swedish business community on an international level and contribute to a sustainable society. Our almost 3300 employees engage in and support all types of innovation processes. RISE is an independent, State-owned research institute, which offers unique expertise and over 130 testbeds and demonstration environments for future-proof technologies, products and services.
For further information, please contact:
Niklas Jälevik, Head of Press
Phone: +46 72 727 53 14 Email: niklas.jalevik@ri.se