The Nuclear Company forms partnership with University of South Carolina

August 25, 2025, 3:00PMNuclear News

The Nuclear Company, which in April opened its primary engineering and construction office in Columbia, S.C., announced a partnership with the University of South Carolina’s Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing, whereby the company will invest up to $5 million in the college over five years. USC is to match the private investment with funds from federal grants, industry partners, and other donors.

According to the Nuclear Company, which last year announced plans to deploy a series of nuclear reactors by the mid-2030s using a “design-once, build-many approach,” the organizations have agreed to collaborate on research, education, workforce development, and industry initiatives to accelerate the deployment of nuclear power, positioning the state as a national hub for advanced nuclear energy innovation.

Anticipated projects:

  • The establishment of a Joint Research Center for Nuclear Innovation focusing on digital twin modeling, advanced manufacturing, and materials research and development.
  • Creation of workforce development programs focused on internships and co-ops, as well as the start of a Summer Nuclear Science Institute for high school students.
  • Joint public education campaigns.

Quote: “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.”

Detail: Established in 1909, the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing has an enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and employs 180 tenure-, research-, and clinical-track faculty members. The college currently has seven departments, more than 40 academic programs, and more than $77 million of annual research awards.


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