IIT Hyderabad Launches CODENE: India’s First Nuclear Design Hub

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad is set to establish ‘CODENE’ (Centre of Design Excellence in Nuclear Engineering), the first facility of its kind in India dedicated to advancing nuclear engineering design, education, and research.

The initiative was formalized through a tripartite memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between IIT Hyderabad, CEEPL India, and Dassault Systèmes during Bharat Innovates 2026 held in Nice, France.

According to IIT Hyderabad, the centre is aligned with India’s long-term vision for expanding its civil nuclear energy sector and strengthening domestic capabilities in advanced nuclear technologies. The institute noted that recent policy reforms, including the Shanti Act, have opened the civil nuclear sector to greater private-sector participation, creating new opportunities for innovation and industry collaboration.

India has set an ambitious target of achieving 100 GW of nuclear power generation capacity by 2047 as part of its long-term energy security and clean energy objectives. IIT Hyderabad stated that realizing this goal will require the development of highly skilled engineering talent, advanced design expertise, and a robust ecosystem for nuclear technology innovation.

The proposed Centre of Design Excellence in Nuclear Engineering is expected to play a pivotal role in building these capabilities by fostering research, industry-academia collaboration, and specialized training programs. The centre will focus on strengthening India's expertise in nuclear engineering design while supporting the development of a future-ready workforce for the country’s expanding nuclear energy programme.

The initiative marks an important step toward enhancing India's technological self-reliance in the nuclear sector and supporting the nation’s long-term energy transition strategy.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.