Opportunities and challenges of regulating nuclear innovations in non-nuclear countries. An agile toolkit for embarking ecosystems. The case of Greece.

As the world accelerates towards ambitious net-zero carbon targets, nuclear innovation—particularly the development and deployment of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)—is gaining unprecedented attention among both nuclear and non-nuclear countries. While SMRs offer unique opportunities for reliable, low-carbon, and application-flexible energy generation, their regulation and integration into non-nuclear ecosystems present significant challenges. This paper examines key issues in the licensing, regulatory adaptation, and stakeholder engagement processes critical for SMR deployment outside established nuclear jurisdictions. Using Greece as an instructive case study within the broader European and global landscape, the analysis highlights the necessity of an agile, technology-inclusive, and risk-informed regulatory approach, as well as proactive stakeholder engagement and capacity building. The paper concludes by proposing a practical three-dimensional toolkit consisting of: (i) institutional preparedness (existing legislation, regulatory capacity, and technical expertise), (ii) procedural agility (flexibility of licensing pathways, pre-licensing interactions, regulatory experimentation and sandboxing, and iterative risk assessment), and (iii) addressing contextual constraints (political acceptability, socio-technical culture, and sector-specific industrial needs) for non-nuclear countries poised to embark on the SMR pathway, stressing that regulatory agility and social legitimacy are as vital as technological readiness for future success.