European Commissioner Hoekstra Launches Innovative Brabant Test Facility for Molten Salt Reactor
European Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra today launched an important milestone towards a new way of generating energy in Europe: the establishment of a test facility for a molten salt reactor.
Eindhoven, 1 June 2026 -The launch took place at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven. This compact and safe reactor technology can be built faster than traditional nuclear power plants and enables the reuse of nuclear waste.
One of the greatest challenges of our time
“The energy transition is one of the greatest challenges facing Europe and the world today,” said Hoekstra. “Nuclear energy must be part of the energy mix. Molten salt reactors are an important step towards stable, reliable and clean energy for Europe, helping to safeguard Europe’s energy independence. It is inspiring to see such innovation taking place in the Netherlands.”
The Commissioner visited the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven together with a delegation from the Dutch government, the Province of North Brabant and industry representatives. Together with Thorizon CEO Kiki Lauwers, he officially opened the facility by cutting the ribbon. The event was attended by State Secretary Jo-Annes de Bat (Climate Policy and Green Growth), Deputy Martijn van Gruijthuijsen and technology leader Peter Wennink.
Leading the way
“North Brabant thrives on collaboration,” said Martijn van Gruijthuijsen, Deputy for Economic Affairs. “Our smart manufacturing industry knows how to work together, and I am proud of that. With our strong high-tech sector and research institutions, we have everything we need to lead in this development. This technology offers us the opportunity to connect sustainable energy, industrial strength and international cooperation in a safe and meaningful way.”
Building a low carbon economy
Solar and wind energy are essential to the transition towards a sustainable energy system, but they depend on weather conditions and are therefore not always available.
Molten salt reactors can provide a solution. They are compact, safe and faster to build than conventional nuclear power plants, while also enabling the reuse of nuclear waste. In addition to electricity generation, they can provide industrial heat and hydrogen production, both of which are critical building blocks for a low carbon economy.
Delivering tangible results
The test facility is being developed through the PROMOSA project, in which Brabant based companies Thorizon, VDL Groep and DEMCON are working together with the Province of North Brabant to develop and test critical components for a molten salt reactor.
The project has a total budget of €8 million, of which the Province contributes half. This investment is delivering tangible results in the form of working prototypes and the Brabant test facility. All components will be tested in high temperature molten salt, without the use of nuclear fuel.
An important milestone
For Thorizon, the test facility represents a major milestone on the path towards building its first reactor, the Thorizon One, which has been designated by the European Commission as one of eight flagship projects for the accelerated development of small modular reactors.
“Thanks to the support of the Province and the collaboration with strong manufacturing partners such as VDL Groep and DEMCON, we can build, test and prepare our technology for serial production. Brabant has truly become an accelerator for our project in Europe,” said Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon.
The project forms part of the Nuclear Innovation Coalition, established by the Province of North Brabant in 2022 to strengthen collaboration between governments, companies and knowledge institutions and to build a leading position in safe, next generation nuclear energy.
About Thorizon
Thorizon, originally a spin-off from NRG, is an ambitious deep-tech scale-up with offices in Amsterdam and Lyon. The company develops small modular molten salt reactors designed to deliver clean, reliable energy at competitive cost. Its walk-away safe reactor operates at low pressure and uses long-lived nuclear waste as fuel, a step toward true circularity in nuclear energy. Thorizon collaborates with industry leaders such as Hyundai Engineering and Construction, Orano, VDL Groep, Tractebel, EPZ and NRG PALLAS. Its project has been selected by the European Commission and the French government under the France 2030 investment plan, and is recognized as a flagship project for Dutch competitiveness in the Wennink report. www.thorizon.com
About the Province of North Brabant
North Brabant is one of Europe’s leading regions for innovation and high-tech industry. The Province fosters collaboration between knowledge institutions, businesses and governments to develop solutions to societal challenges while strengthening economic growth. Home to more than 2.6 million people, North Brabant is a key driver of the Dutch economy and a region renowned for its strong manufacturing base, world class technology ecosystem and high quality of life. www.brabant.nl
About VDL Groep
Strength through cooperation. That is the foundation of VDL Groep, the international industrial family-owned company headquartered in the Brainport Eindhoven region. Founded in 1953, the company has been led by the third generation of the Van der Leegte family since 2017. VDL Groep operates in 21 countries and employs approximately 13,500 people worldwide.
The group consists of more than 100 operating companies, each with its own area of expertise, working closely together. Their activities are organized around VDL’s five worlds: high tech, mobility, energy, infratech and foodtech. In 2025, VDL Groep achieved a combined annual revenue of €4.064 billion. www.vdlgroep.com
About DEMCON
DEMCON develops, manufactures and supplies technology and innovative products. With more than 1,100 employees, the DEMCON Group operates from locations in Best, Delft, Enschede, Groningen, Leiden, Maastricht, Scheveningen, Münster (Germany), San Jose (United States), Singapore and Tokyo (Japan).
The company was founded on the passion of its founders to combine creativity and engineering expertise to solve complex technological and societal challenges. These challenges often have a direct or indirect impact on people and their daily lives. Whether through medical solutions, systems that enhance safety, or sustainable innovations in areas such as water and energy, DEMCON contributes to a better future for current and future generations.
In addition to developing technological solutions, DEMCON actively promotes entrepreneurship and invests in talent development and education.
www.demcon.com
For further information about this press release, the participating organizations or the developments behind this project, please contact Coco Polderman at info@thorizon.com or +31 (0)6 2139 0708.
Thorizon is supported by funding from the European Commission and the French State under the France 2030 program.
