Director General in Lombardy to Advance Nuclear Science and Technology

At the start of his trip, Rafael Mariano Grossi and regional president Attilio Fontana signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate on advancing and applying nuclear science for sustainable development across the northern Italian region. 

Starting my visit to @RegLombardia with a warm welcome from President Attilio Fontana @FontanaPres in Milan. This visit marks the launch of an ambitious @IAEAorg - Lombardy partnership to apply nuclear technology for energy, cancer care, agricultural & environmental solutions. pic.twitter.com/yloPUDrYSC

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) May 21, 2025

“The Lombardy region is uniquely positioned to lead — with top scientific expertise and world-class institutions in nuclear science and technology,” said Mr Grossi during a speech at the Nuclear Technology and Applications for a Sustainable Future event in Milan. 

“Lombardy’s strong track record across sectors — from nuclear medicine to agriculture and environmental applications — also offers great potential for innovation and impact and the IAEA stands ready to support this,” he added. 

The Director General visited a number of academic institutions to launch or strengthen joint research projects with the IAEA. He delivered the Lectio Magistralis at the University of Pavia, one of Italy's top academic institutions and a long-standing partner of the IAEA through its Applied Nuclear Energy Lab, home to a TRIGA Mark II research reactor. He also met with Marie Sklodowska-Curie Scholarship fellows from the Politecnico di Milano and spoke with more young people at Bocconi University.  

My sincere thanks to @SDABocconi and #EMMIO for the opportunity to engage with their brilliant students and faculty on @IAEAorg’s work and share views on current global challenges and the management of international organizations. Inspiring to hear from the next generation. pic.twitter.com/EwD8X5DHxf

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) May 22, 2025

At Bocconi University, the Director General also agreed to cooperate with its renowned management school, SDA Bocconi, on joint research and technical assistance in energy, sustainability, global management and innovation. 

“I am delighted to have met Dean Stefano Caselli and have talked to his fascinating students and I’m excited by the potential of bringing IAEA scientists together with their brilliant faculty to address global issues,” said Mr Grossi. 

Health was a major topic of the visit, and the Director General visited the National Cancer Institute of Milan, Italy’s first ever cancer research and treatment institute, which Mr Grossi called “a beacon of quality in the field”. The IAEA is exploring ways to increase its collaboration with the institute, including under its Rays of Hope initiative, to improve access to cancer care for those who need it most. 

Mr Grossi also toured the high-end National Center for Oncological Hadrontherapy (CNAO) in Pavia, alongside May Abdel-Wahab, Director of the Human Health Division of the IAEA. CNAO is one of only a handful of institutes in the world that is treating radio-resistant or inoperable tumours using hadrontherapy, an advanced nuclear technique that uses charged particles for radiotherapy, while reducing damage to surrounding tissues. 

In a press release about the visit, CNAO’s President Gianluca Vago said: “It is important to foster a positive culture of nuclear energy use. What CNAO has been doing for over twenty years is a demonstration of this. CNAO has long been engaged in promoting educational and training activities to make people understand that atomic particles are an important resource to be used for clinical purposes and is ready to start new collaborations within the international network promoted by IAEA.” 

Impressed by @Fond_CNAO in Pavia — a leading centre for particle therapy & excellence in treating challenging tumors with advanced nuclear techniques like hadrontherapy. Looking forward to expanding our partnership via @IAEAorg’s #RaysOfHope & broaden access to life-saving care. pic.twitter.com/hxD5PeYDYM

— Rafael Mariano Grossi (@rafaelmgrossi) May 21, 2025