Nuclear start-ups Deep Fission and Deep Isolation will collaborate on the management of spent nuclear fuel from Deep Fission’s advanced underground reactors under a memorandum of understanding signed by the companies.

The Department of Energy’s Gateway for Accelerated Innovation in Nuclear (GAIN) has awarded four fiscal year 2025 vouchers to support the development of advanced nuclear technologies. Each company will get access to specific capabilities and expertise in the DOE’s national laboratory complex—in this round of awards both Idaho National Laboratory and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are named—and will be responsible for a minimum 20 percent cost share, which can be an in-kind contribution.