Nuclear innovation is taking off as The Texas A&M University System has secured a new contract to progress development of an upcoming small modular reactor.
The latest announcement established ground lease and research agreements with a nuclear energy innovation company, providing 77 acres for site characterization, environmental evaluations, testing and research activity. These processes are linked to the company’s Integral Molten Salt Reactor (IMSR) and provide critical support to deploy advanced reactor technologies at the A&M-RELLIS campus in Bryan.
A&M-RELLIS has led the state’s charge in nuclear innovation in recent years, finalizing multiple collaborations with private companies to spearhead research and development (R&D). In late 2025, the university system announced a partnership with an energy startup to build a five-megawatt (mW) microreactor pilot at the Bryan campus. The reactor is a scaled model of the 20mW facility, demonstrating the applicability of low-power criticality and energy generation.
Like the 2025 reactor project, the latest agreement aligns with the university system’s goals to advance nuclear reactor development as part of the RELLIS Energy Proving Ground initiative. The program offers advanced energy companies the space and resources needed for planning demonstrations, research expertise, testing and partnerships for commercial deployment.
The agreement also falls in place with federal efforts to scale these innovations at the national level. The company was selected as one of 11 finalists in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Nuclear Reactor Pilot Program in August 2025. These initiatives will advance the DOE’s goal to deploy advanced reactor technologies and position America as a leader in global energy markets.
Increased energy usage has pushed Texas to branch out into groundbreaking energy markets to keep up with demand. Booming population growth – in conjunction with Texas being a hotbed for advanced manufacturing, data centers, AI and other energy-intensive industries – has necessitated innovation to provide enough power for all sectors.
A&M-RELLIS’ reactor agreements lay the foundation for the university system to stand out in the nuclear energy generation. Should they be successful, the projects may serve as models for energy generation under a consistent federal push for better energy development and production solutions.
Photo by Markus Distelrath from Pixabay
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