Indianapolis-based reactor development start-up First American Nuclear (FANCO) announced on May 13 that it has entered into a strategic alliance with Montreal-based nuclear engineering company AtkinsRéalis.

Together, the companies now plan to jointly develop, test, and license FANCO’s EAGL-1 reactor design. For FANCO, the agreement comes as a chance to bring in a partner with decades of experience in nuclear project development. For AtkinsRéalis, the partnership provides the opportunity to establish a presence in Indiana.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun has signed a nonbinding letter of intent that will see the state’s Office of Energy Development (OED) and Indiana-based pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly collaborate to explore potential nuclear projects.

The focus of these projects—perhaps surprisingly—is not connected to medical radioisotope production. Rather, it will focus on “small modular reactors and other advanced nuclear technologies” that could provide “baseload power for industrial, research, and community uses,” according to the LOI.

Newcomer reactor start-up First American Nuclear (FANCO) has partnered with the state of Indiana to develop three projects: its company headquarters, new manufacturing facilities, and a nuclear energy park.