The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission: DIET and the Regulatory Body

Abstract

The past few years have seen the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) place increasing emphasis on understanding the impacts the introduction of disruptive, innovative and emerging technologies (DIET) may have on the nuclear industry. Reviews of the CNSC;'s regulatory framework have established that it is largely technology neutral, meaning the CNSC is able to accept for evaluation licensee applications to utilize DIET in nuclear activities. The challenge now, for both the CNSC and the Canadian nuclear industry, is to better understand the implications of the potential wider deployment of DIET in the nuclear industry.

This paper will explore some of the steps the CNSC Innovation and Research Division (IRD) is taking to achieve that readiness through activities such as, but not limited to the following key areas:

• Readiness for Nuclear Fusion
• Exploring the Use of Drones and Robotics
• Artificial Intelligence (AI)
  • A Study for the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission on Artificial Intelligence Applications and Implications for the Nuclear Industry. CNSC's involvement with the IAEA’s IAEA Technical Group on Artificial Intelligence and its Existing and Near-term Deployment in Operating Nuclear Power Plants
• Keeping DIET Au Courant at the CNSC.

While this paper focuses on the efforts of one small part of the CNSC on innovation, it must be noted that as an organization, the CNSC is committed to enabling the safe implementation of DIET in regulated nuclear activities. It should be noted that while the paper focuses on DIET external to the CNSC, the CNSC is also exploring the utilization of DIET to assist its own internal processes and activities.