Each heavy component of French 58 reactors comes from Burgundy. This area is a one-stop shop for the design, manufacture and assembly of the primary loop components.

Since 2005, the French nuclear supply chain is pooled around a competitive cluster called the Burgundy Nuclear Partnership (PNB). PNB gathers about 150 businesses from Parent Body Organisations (PBOs) such as EDF or AREVA to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), public laboratories and postgraduate education centres.

Alongside the IAEA which already pointed out in 2004, worldwide nuclear industry faces three particular challenges:

• Retaining existing skills and competences

• Supporting a revival of nuclear power plants in countries wishing to do so with an ageing workforce

• Developing specific skills for people already involved in the manufacturing industry

Mid-2007,PNB identified a lack of high level training programs dedicated to decision-makers and project managers and initiated International Nuclear Academy.

Early 2009, Mr. Nobuo Tanaka, International Energy Agency Executive Director, came to Burgundy to mark the official launch of International Nuclear Academy. This enterprise was brought up at a perfect timing with the Nuclear Industry Renaissance.