Newcleo, the startup founded byTurin-based physicist and former CERN researcher Stefano Buono, has launched a major investment of 28 million euros for the development of new research laboratories in Turin, within the Environment Park. This step is part of a broader strategy to promote fourth-generation nuclear technologies and sustainable energy solutions.
The EnviPark, located in the Spina 3 district, is a hub dedicated to environmental innovation and sustainability, supported by entities such as Finpiemonte, the Municipality of Turin and the Polytechnic. During an institutional visit to the site, the Minister of the Environment Gilberto Pichetto Fratin highlighted the need to explore alternatives to electric, underlining the potential of hydrogen as an energy carrier, given the experimentation underway at EnviPark in collaboration with the Polytechnic. The president of EnviPark, Giacomo Portas, reiterated the central role of the park as an innovation ecosystem capable of attracting and supporting companies committed to the ecological transition.
The Turin project represents one of the pieces of Newcleo’s broader European development plan, which has raised over 537 million euros in private funding since 2021. The company stands out for its ambitious mission to develop lead-cooled nuclear reactors capable of using fuel obtained from the reprocessing of nuclear waste, contributing to a more circular and safe supply chain.
The broader strategy for the coming years sees the company engaged in the construction of a demonstration reactor in Italy and an industrial plant in France, for a total investment of 3 billion euros by 2030. In France, Newcleo plans to build a plant for the production of MOX fuel and a prototype reactor by 2031, while in Italy a first non-nuclear reactor is planned to test components and technologies.
The Italian government has also expressed interest in supporting the startup’s path, evaluating a possible public investment of up to 200 million euros, with a view to gradually reintroducing nuclear energy into the national energy mix after almost four decades of absence.
With a turnover of €50 million recorded in 2024, Newcleo confirms itself as one of the most promising players in energy innovation at European level. The investment in Turin represents a further step in the company’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Italy and concretely contribute to the transition to a safer, cleaner and more efficient energy system.
