McMaster celebrates Ontario’s $6.8M investment in nuclear reactor

Earlier this week, McMaster celebrated the Ontario government’s $6.8 million investment in the McMaster Nuclear Reactor (MNR) – Canada’s largest nuclear research reactor and a world-leading supplier of medical isotopes used to treat cancer.

The investment was announced in March as part of the 2023 Ontario Budget. Spread over three years, it will contribute to the University’s $25 million project to optimize operations of the nuclear reactor to 24 hours a day, five days per week, and increase the diversity and amount of isotopes produced.

McMaster welcomed Jill Dunlop, Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities and Todd Smith, Ontario Minister of Energy, to celebrate the investment and tour the nuclear reactor.

Dave Tucker, McMaster’s assistant vice-president, nuclear, says the investment will ensure Ontario’s position as a global leader in nuclear technologies and as a fertile training ground for the nuclear workforce.

“We were honoured to tour Minister Dunlop and Minister Smith through the McMaster Nuclear Reactor, allowing them to see, first-hand, how their partnership will help us advance healthcare for Ontarians, improve materials research, identify energy solutions, create high-skilled jobs and train the next generation of nuclear leaders for our Province,” says Tucker.

President of McMaster, David Farrar, thanks the province for the investment, which will have far-reaching health and economic benefits for Ontarians.

“Your support goes well beyond our campus and will help drive the Province’s economy and improve healthcare for Ontarians and citizens around the world. Thank you for your trust and confidence in our work and for your commitment to Ontario’s nuclear future,” he says.

MNR’s expanded capacity will ensure Ontarians have earlier access to advanced cancer therapies, enable research in clean energy and small modular reactors (SMRs) and increase access to scarce neutron beam time for Canada’s world-leading materials science programs.

“We are thrilled to celebrate our government’s $6.8 million investment over 3 years to support the expansion of the incredible McMaster Nuclear Reactor,” says Jill Dunlop, Ontario Minister of Colleges and Universities.

“The work you do here is not only beneficial to the economy, employment and research, but it’s also critical to the development and production of life-saving medical isotope technologies, which are an essential part of modern health care. With our government’s support, the McMaster Nuclear Reactor will continue to play an important role in our Province now and in the future.”

“This expansion is significant because it will enable McMaster University to maximize its production of life-saving medical nuclear isotopes,” says Todd Smith, Ontario Minister of Energy.

“One of the most important benefits of Ontario’s world-class nuclear sector is the opportunity to become a major global supplier of critical isotopes. Together with the McMaster Nuclear Reactor, we will be producing and supplying more new and existing isotopes than ever before, putting us at the forefront of isotope innovation and helping millions of people – both here at home and around the world – enjoy a healthier and safer quality of life.”