 Innovative types of nuclear reactors are expected to play a large role in decarbonizing our economies. How can we make sure that advancements in nuclear energy still meet the stringent safety standards applied across the industry? Advanced reactors such as small modular reactors and other innovative designs are attracting increasing interest worldwide in the fight against climate change. In addition to producing low-carbon energy like regular power plants, small modular reactors or SMRs offer greater affordability and flexibility. They are also particularly useful for non-electric applications such as hydrogen production and water desalination. Advanced reactors are designed to be safe and are expected to be so. As with all new nuclear technologies, significant work is needed to ensure their safety and security. These nuclear technologies can be very different from the current operating fleet. They can use different fuels or coolants and some will be built in a modular style in a factory instead of on site. These differences may mean that existing safety standards need refreshing. The International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards are the cornerstone of global nuclear safety. So the IAEA is undertaking a major project to check how well these existing standards apply to the innovative features that are being introduced and consider the need for any adjustments. This will ensure that countries continue to have clear guidance for effective safety measures, even with the newest designs. The agency is working closely with countries around the world to gather and share lessons learned from different reactor prototypes and experiments. The project will also develop a wide range of training materials to build the technical capacity of national regulators to evaluate these new designs. Nuclear technology and innovative reactors provide considerable benefits to society. The IAEA remains fully committed to enabling the effective deployment of safe and secure advanced nuclear reactors.