Nuclear and Industrial Engineering

What Nuclear and Industrial Engineering does

NINE (Nuclear and Industrial Engineering S.r.l.) is a privately held Italian nuclear engineering consultancy founded in 2011 in Lucca by a group of PhD engineers from the University of Pisa's GRNSPG research group. The company provides specialized safety analysis, licensing support, and computational engineering services to nuclear power plant operators, regulators, international research organizations (IAEA, OECD/NEA, ITER, JRC), and nuclear newcomer countries. Its technology stack spans system thermal-hydraulics (RELAP5, TRACE), reactor physics (PARCS, SERPENT, MCNP), fuel performance (TRANSURANUS), containment analysis (GOTHIC, MELCOR, MAAP, COCOSYS, ASTEC), CFD (ANSYS CFX/Fluent, OpenFOAM), severe accident codes, and in-house proprietary methodologies — notably CASUALIDAD (deterministic adjoint-sensitivity uncertainty analysis), SCCRED (standardized experimental database for V&V), Kv-Scaled Analysis, and NEMM (NINE Evaluation Model Methodology). The company also runs five annual training platforms (NRSHOT, MMARS, BES-VUEM, SUNBEAM, NuComBiP), organizes the biennial BEPU conference, and is developing the (FP)2 1 MWe transportable passive micro-reactor concept.

NINE monetizes exclusively through project-based professional services contracts — multi-year safety-analysis and licensing engagements with utilities, governments, and international bodies — priced per engagement and supplemented by per-participant training fees across its five MLTC platforms. Customer acquisition relies on direct enterprise field sales, public tenders, IAEA/OECD-NEA coordinated projects, MoU-based regional partnerships, and senior referral networks via the NSAG (NINE Senior Advisory Group). Key named clients include ITER, JRC Ispra, Nucleoeléctrica Argentina (NA-SA), CNNC/CNPE China, CTMSP Brazil, ANSTO Australia, PUSPATI Malaysia, Enel, and CEA France, with strong regulatory-side work supporting IAEA SAET programmes for newcomer countries (Poland, Vietnam, Malaysia, Jordan, Bangladesh, Turkey, UAE, Bulgaria, Romania) and US NRC-led inspector trainings at Zwentendorf since 2014.

The firm operates from its Lucca headquarters and a regional subsidiary in Slovakia (NINE Slovakia, decommissioning focus), supported by a US entity (NINE-LLC in North Carolina led by NC State's Prof. Kostadin Ivanov). Ownership is concentrated among the founding engineers; no parent company, institutional investor, or external funding rounds are disclosed. Credentials include ISO 9001:2015 certification (TUV Italia, 2016) and OECD/NEA DataBank membership, with the BEPU-2018 conference in Lucca attracting over 300 professionals, providing strong evidence of a specialized boutique positioned at the high end of the global nuclear safety services market.

Name

Nuclear and Industrial Engineering

Legal name

Nuclear and INdustrial Engineering S.r.l.

Website

https://nineeng.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NINE is a Lucca, Italy-based nuclear engineering consultancy (founded 2011) providing safety analysis, licensing support, and computational services to NPP operators, regulators, IAEA/OECD-NEA, and nuclear newcomer countries, monetized through multi-year consulting contracts and five annual training platforms.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Nuclear Engineering Consulting

NAICS

Engineering Services (541330), Testing Laboratories and Services (541380), Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services (5416)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety Case Development (PSAR/FSAR) & Safety Analysis (Deterministic/Probabilistic) (EUAKAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Nuclear Safety, Licensing & Regulatory Compliance (Plant Ops) (EUACADAN), Codes, Standards & Design Compliance (ASME, IEEE, IEC, RCC-M) (EUAKAEAF), Reactor Protection, Safety Systems & Engineered Safeguards (ECCS, Containment Isolation) (EUAKADAI)

Keywords

• Nuclear safety analysis
• Nuclear engineering consulting
• Licensing support services
• Thermal hydraulics analysis
• Nuclear training services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lucca

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Nuclear Safety Analysis and Licensing Consulting: Professional consulting services for nuclear power plant safety analysis, licensing support, deterministic and probabilistic safety assessments, containment analysis, severe accident analysis, CFD analyses, structural mechanics analyses, PSA development and review, and regulatory compliance support. These are long-cycle, high-value engagements with utilities, regulatory bodies, and nuclear operators.
2. Training and Competence Building Services: Multi-Level Training Courses (MLTC) offered through five platforms: NRSHOT (Nuclear Reactor Safety Hands-On Training), MMARS (Models and Methods for Advanced Reactor Safety Analysis), BES-VUEM (Thermal-hydraulics Experiments, Scaling, V&V, BEPU, Multi-Physics), SUNBEAM (BEPU Methodologies for Safety Analysis), and NuComBiP (Nuclear Competences Building Programme). Training is delivered as week-long or multi-week course events, priced per participant or course enrollment.
3. Experimental Design and Test Conduction Services: Design and conduction of thermal fluid dynamic experiments including design of test facilities, data acquisition systems, experimental test matrix definition, procurement of experimental facilities, experiment execution, and experimental data analysis.
4. International Cooperation and R&D Project Participation: Participation in OECD/NEA and IAEA coordinated research projects, benchmarks, and international technical cooperation. These are typically funded through institutional arrangements and contribute to revenue through project grants and contracts.
5. Nuclear Decommissioning Advisory Services: Advisory and consultancy services for nuclear facility decommissioning planning, licensing, safety analysis, radiological characterization, dismantling plans, and waste management. Provided through both headquarters in Lucca and NINE Slovakia branch.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NINE provides specialized nuclear safety analysis, licensing support, and engineering consultancy services for nuclear power plants, SMR/advanced reactor designs, research reactors, and nuclear facilities undergoing decommissioning. The company delivers deterministic and probabilistic safety assessments, BEPU licensing, thermal-hydraulics, fuel behavior, containment, severe accident, CFD and structural mechanics analyses using industry-standard computational codes, alongside multi-level training courses and proprietary uncertainty quantification methodologies.

Product overview

NINE (Nuclear and Industrial Engineering) is a nuclear safety engineering services company founded in 2011, offering a portfolio of specialized consulting and training services rather than a unified software product. The core offerings include nuclear safety analysis services (deterministic and probabilistic), licensing and regulatory support, and nuclear decommissioning advisory. The company operates four specialized training platforms: NRSHOT (hands-on reactor safety training for early-career code users), MMARS (advanced methods for experienced analysts), SUNBEAM (BEPU methodologies for senior professionals), and BES-VUEM (validation and uncertainty methods). NuComBiP provides customized competence building programs for countries embarking on nuclear power. Supporting these services, NINE has developed proprietary methodologies including the CASUALIDAD uncertainty evaluation method and SCCRED experimental database framework. The company also conducts R&D on innovative technologies including the (FP)2 micro-reactor design concept. Services are delivered using industry-standard codes (RELAP5, TRACE, MELCOR, PARCS, GOTHIC, TRANSURANUS) as well as commercial CFD tools.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NRSHOT: Nuclear Reactor Safety Hand-On Training courses platform providing code user training at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels.
• MMARS
• BES-VUEM
• SUNBEAM
• NuComBiP
• (FP)2 Micro-Reactor
• NSAG

Quantifiable outcome

• Atucha-II NPP (Argentina) licensed on May 29, 2014 using BEPU approach supported by NINE
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• CAENSYSminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCAENSYS is listed as an intensive services cooperation partner of NINE. Nature of cooperation appears to involve complementary service delivery in nuclear engineering.
• NNEES (Nuclear NEE Services)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNNEES, based in Slovakia, is listed as an intensive services cooperation partner of NINE. Cooperation may relate to Central/Eastern European nuclear market coverage.
• SILENCE NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSILENCE (Significant Light & Heavy Water Reactor Thermal-Hydraulic Experiments Network for Consistent Exploitation of Data) is an international association co-founded by NINE. NINE's Fabio Moretti serves as Scientific Secretary. The network focuses on advancing thermal-hydraulic experiments and code validation methodologies. SWINTH workshops are jointly organized with SILENCE.
• NC State University (Department of Nuclear Engineering)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNCSU's Department of Nuclear Engineering, headed by Prof. Kostadin Ivanov (also NINE President), cooperates on R&D and educational activities. NINE participates in international benchmarks coordinated through NCSU and contributes to fast reactor analysis CRP projects under IAEA framework.
• University of PisacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDeep historical and ongoing cooperation with the Nuclear Research Group of San Piero a Grado (GRNSPG) at University of Pisa. Many NINE founders and staff came from GRNSPG. Cooperation covers joint research, code validation, international benchmarks, training, and publications. GRNSPG-NINE collaboration on RELAP5 has spanned over 30 years.
• McMaster UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as R&D educational cooperation partner. Nature of cooperation involves joint research and knowledge exchange in nuclear engineering.
• Softec-impiantiminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoU signed partner for potential joint go-to-market activities in the nuclear engineering services sector.
• FPOLI SolutionsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoU signed partner, listed as R&D educational cooperation. May involve joint training or consulting activities.
• Enconet ConsultingminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoU signed partner, providing nuclear engineering and consulting services cooperation.
• SIET (Società Italiana Esperienze Termoidrauliche)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed partner, cooperating on thermal-hydraulic experiment activities and validation.
• KIND ConsultancyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoU signed partner for nuclear consultancy cooperation.
• IZIIS (Institute for Earthquake Engineering and Engineering Seismology, Macedonia)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerMoU signed partner for nuclear engineering cooperation in the Balkans and Eastern Europe.
• OECD/NEA DataBankcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNINE is a member of the OECD/NEA DataBank, enabling participation in international research programmes, benchmarks, expert groups (EGMPEBV, WGFS, WGAMA), and access to experimental databases such as TIETHYS. This membership is a cornerstone of NINE's international collaboration strategy.
• IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNINE staff have worked directly for IAEA as Senior Consultants, contributed to IAEA Safety Standards development (SSG-3, SSG-4), participated in SAET programmes for embarking countries, supported coordinated research projects on fast reactors and fuel behavior, and organized IAEA-supported events including BEPU conferences. This is a deeply embedded strategic relationship.
• EURATOMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNINE participates in EURATOM research projects including R2CA (Project on Optimization of Accident Management Measures). Funding support through EURATOM enables participation in advanced nuclear safety research.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Holtec International: US-headquartered nuclear engineering firm active in spent fuel storage, decommissioning, and reactor technology. Comparable to NINE on safety analysis and decommissioning advisory, with broader scope into engineering products and nuclear fuel storage systems.
• Tractebel (ENGIE): Tractebel is the engineering consultancy arm of ENGIE and one of the largest nuclear safety, licensing and design consultancies in Europe. Like NINE, it provides deterministic and probabilistic safety analyses, licensing support, and PSA services to utilities and regulators, but operates at substantially greater scale across energy and infrastructure.
• Jensen Hughes: Large international engineering and risk-management consultancy with a dedicated nuclear safety practice covering deterministic and probabilistic safety assessments, licensing support, fire protection and PSA. Comparable buyer segment (utilities, regulators) and overlapping PSA / safety-case service lines.
• Wood (Nuclear business, formerly Amec Foster Wheeler): Global engineering and consulting firm with a substantial nuclear services practice covering safety analysis, decommissioning, licensing support and new-build advisory. Comparable to NINE as a multi-disciplinary nuclear consultancy serving utilities, regulators, and government agencies internationally.

Direct peers

• Kinectrics: Canadian nuclear services company providing safety analyses, licensing support, fuel-channel integrity, and PSA services for CANDU and other reactors. Direct peer to NINE on consulting-led nuclear safety work, particularly for utilities and regulators in international markets.
• Studsvik: Swedish-headquartered nuclear services firm offering safety analysis, fuel performance, decommissioning and waste management consulting. Highly comparable to NINE in its mix of licensing support, fuel/thermal-hydraulics analysis, and specialised engineering services to nuclear operators globally.
• Enercon Services: US-based nuclear engineering consultancy providing safety analyses, licensing support, fuel performance, code qualification and regulatory services to commercial and government nuclear clients. Closely comparable to NINE in nuclear-safety and licensing services with BEPU-style competencies.

Regional players

• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland: Finnish state research organisation operating a Nuclear Energy research unit that performs safety analyses, code development and licensing support for utilities and regulators. Comparable to NINE on the research-led side of nuclear safety and reactor analysis work in Northern Europe.
• NRG (Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group): Dutch nuclear research and consultancy organisation active in reactor safety, fuel performance, decommissioning and radiation protection. Comparable to NINE in providing safety analysis and licensing consulting to operators, governments, and the European Commission.
• ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development): Italian government research body with extensive nuclear safety, reactor physics and licensing expertise. Comparable to NINE's home-market footprint and overlapping competencies in safety analysis, code qualification, and regulatory support for the Italian and broader European nuclear sector.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubenineeng.com/courses

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nuclear and Industrial Engineering