Established in 2001, the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) was created as a co-operative international endeavour seeking to develop the research necessary to test the feasibility and performance of fourth generation nuclear systems, and to make them available for industrial deployment by 2030.

The GIF brings together 13 countries (Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Japan, Korea, Russia, South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States), as well as Euratom – representing the 27 European Union members − to co-ordinate research and development on these systems.

The GIF has selected six reactor technologies for further research and development: the gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR), the lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR), the molten salt reactor (MSR), the sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR), the supercritical-water-cooled reactor (SCWR) and the very high-temperature reactor (VHTR).

The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) serves as technical secretariat to GIF.

This fourteenth edition of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) Annual Report highlights the main achievements of GIF in 2021. In 2021, GIF completed its second decade as the sole international organization dedicated to collaborative research and development (R&D) on Gen-IV systems. Since 2001, GIF has been promoting international R&D collaboration for six types of Gen-IV reactor systems using sodium, lead, gas, molten salt and supercritical water coolants.

During 2021, one of the significant activities and efforts that GIF addressed was substantive engagement with the private sector, as well efforts to deepen GIF’s role in climate change initiatives. GIF also made significant strides in advancing the safety framework of Gen-IV systems, including strengthened collaborations with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA). Going forward, GIF will further reinforce Gen-IV system features to combat climate change and enhance engagement with industry, while continuing to support the Gen-IV talent pipeline.

GIF 2021 Annual Report (Full version )

Foreword from the Chair 

A tribute 

Table of Contents 

Chapter 1. GIF membership, organization and R&D collaboration 

Chapter 2. GIF outlook and current initiatives 

Chapter 3. System summaries (Full version)

   - Gas-cooled fast reactor (GFR)

   - Lead-cooled fast reactor (LFR)

   - Molten salt reactor (MSR)

   - Supercritical water reactor (SCWR)

   - Sodium-cooled fast reactor (SFR)

   - Very-high-temperature reactor (VHTR)

Chapter 4. Working group reports (Full version) 

   - Economic Modelling Working Group (EMWG) 

   - Education & Training Working Group (ETWG)

   - Proliferation Resistance and Physical Protection assessment methodology Working Group (PRPPWG)

   - Risk and Safety Working Group (RSWG)

Chapter 5. Task force reports (Full version)

   - Advanced Manufacturing and Material Engineering Task Force (AMME TF)

   - Non-Electric Applications of Nuclear Heat Task Force (NEaNH TF)

Chapter 6. Market and industry perspectives and the GIF Senior Industry Advisory Panel report  

Appendix 1. Country reports 2021 

Appendix 2. List of abbreviations and acronyms 

Appendix 3. Selection of GIF publications (2021)