ICONS 2024

Themes and Topics

Consistent with the objectives set out above, the overall themes for the conference will include:

Policy and Regulations for nuclear security

• International framework for nuclear security, including legally binding and non-binding instruments
• Regulation development and implementation
  • Support for embarking countries
  • Approaches to regulation (prescriptive, performance-based, technology neutral)
  • Challenges in meeting changing demands due to emerging technologies and emerging threats
  • Tools and approaches for regulators for evaluation of policy and regulations

Technology and infrastructure for nuclear security prevention, detection and response

• Current and existing technologies including issues related to aging facilities and lifecycle management, research reactors, decommissioned facilities and facilities being decommissioned, and other facilities using and/or manufacturing nuclear or other radioactive material

• Emerging nuclear technologies including small modular reactors, micro reactors, other novel reactor designs, spent fuel storage and disposal, and evaluation of such technologies in relation to nuclear security
• Emerging non-nuclear technologies including artificial intelligence, uncrewed systems, etc. (both as potential tools for nuclear security and as potential risks) and evaluation of such technologies as related to nuclear security
• Approaches to nuclear security including graded approach, defence in depth, and risk-informed
• Existing and emerging threats, prevention, protection and assessment including design basis threat, insider threat and evaluation and assessment of protection systems
• Supply chain security
• Nuclear forensics
• Materials security, including transportation of nuclear and other radioactive material, material accounting and control, national accounting and control measures, and preventing illicit trafficking
• Building and maintenance of nuclear security detection architecture
• Coordinated response to nuclear security events

Capacity Building for nuclear security

• Workforce development
  • Skills for nuclear security
  • Cross and inter-disciplinary concepts
• Workforce management
  • Attracting the next generation
  • Retention and knowledge management
  • Creating and maintaining workforce diversity

Cross-cutting nuclear security topics

• Information exchange and regional and international cooperation
• Information and computer security considerations for nuclear security
• Interfaces between nuclear security and safety
• Interfaces between nuclear security and State systems of accounting and control
• IAEA assistance programmes and advisory services
• Communication on nuclear security
• Nuclear security culture
• Contribution of industry to nuclear security