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<p>Game Changers Technology Talk webinars are aimed at anyone who is interested in technical innovation in the nuclear industry, learning about cutting-edge research developments and understanding how the Game Changers programme helps solve challenges that can’t be met with off-the-shelf solutions.</p><p>The next Game Changers Technology Talks session will take place on <strong>Wednesday 22nd April 2026 at 12pm (GMT+1)</strong>. <a href="https://forms.fis360.com/fis360ltd/form/GameChangersLunchtimeTechnologyTalksApril2026/formperma/cwLuSSI9c1SVzn5WL_29DhszvyOgPXZRiqQSjccpwuA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Register here for free.</a></p><p>April's session will feature the following talk:</p><h2>Development and Deployment of Smart Sensor Technologies for Enhanced Monitoring within an SNM Facility</h2><p><em>Speaker:&nbsp;Edward MacNeil (Technical Advisor, Sellafield Ltd)</em></p><p>This Tech Talk features Edward MacNeil from Sellafield Ltd presenting the development and deployment of next-generation smart sensor technologies designed to enhance monitoring within Special Nuclear Material (SNM) storage environments. Designed by Sensor Driven in response to the Game Changers “<a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge/Condition_monitoring_and_inspection" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Condition monitoring and inspection</a>” challenge, the technology addresses the increasing demand for more autonomous, data-rich, and responsive monitoring solutions in high-hazard nuclear settings.</p><p>The session explores the technical and operational challenges associated with designing and integrating sensors capable of reliable performance in highly regulated environments.&nbsp;Particular focus&nbsp;is given to the transition from concept through prototyping to real-world deployment, including an active 18-month trial conducted between 2024 and 2025, where sensors were successfully installed in a live SNM store and transmitted data in situ.</p><p><span style="color: windowtext;">Developed by Sensor Driven&nbsp;through close&nbsp;collaboration with Sellafield Ltd&nbsp;and&nbsp;continuous&nbsp;evolution&nbsp;over 7 years</span>, the sensors offer long-life operation and remote monitoring capabilities, reducing the need for manual intervention while improving safeguards assurance, operational efficiency, and facility resilience. The talk highlights how these technologies support long-term monitoring strategies and discusses their potential scalability across the wider NDA estate and other high-hazard industries.</p><p><span style="color: windowtext;">Edward MacNeil also reflects on the broader implications of adopting smart sensing technologies, including the benefits of continuous data acquisition, improved decision-making, and the role of&nbsp;open innovation&nbsp;in a</span>ccelerating deployment within the nuclear sector. Bernard Stark and Lynne Stark from Sensor Driven also join the session to support the discussion and answer audience questions on the technology and its application.</p><p><a href="https://forms.fis360.com/fis360ltd/form/GameChangersLunchtimeTechnologyTalksApril2026/formperma/cwLuSSI9c1SVzn5WL_29DhszvyOgPXZRiqQSjccpwuA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Register now.</a></p>

<p>April's Tech Talk explores smart sensor technologies developed with Sensor Driven for SNM monitoring, covering design, deployment, live trials, and their impact on safety, efficiency, and long-term facility resilience.</p>

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks April 2026

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<h2>9–10 September 2026 |&nbsp;Energus, Workington&nbsp;</h2><p>2026 marks a major milestone for the&nbsp;<strong>Game Changers innovation programme</strong>, designed and delivered by FIS360, with delivery partners UKNNL,&nbsp;on&nbsp;behalf of&nbsp;Sellafield.&nbsp;</p><p>For a decade, Game Changers has connected complex operational challenges with innovative solutions from across&nbsp;sectors – helping accelerate hazard reduction, reduce&nbsp;costs&nbsp;and deliver safer nuclear decommissioning.&nbsp;</p><p>To mark this milestone year,&nbsp;<strong>Game Changers: A Decade of Nuclear Innovation</strong>&nbsp;will bring together the people, technologies and ideas that have shaped the programme’s success.&nbsp;</p><p>The 2-day event will&nbsp;showcase&nbsp;<strong>10 years of proven innovation and measurable impact</strong>, while exploring how open innovation will continue to shape the future of&nbsp;the civil nuclear sector in the UK and across&nbsp;the globe.</p><h3><strong>﻿More details on speakers, exhibitors and how to register will be shared soon.&nbsp;</strong></h3><p class="ql-align-center">&nbsp;</p><h2>Proven Innovation.&nbsp;Measurable Impact.&nbsp;</h2><p>Over the past decade, Game Changers has&nbsp;demonstrated&nbsp;that innovation in nuclear can be both ambitious and accountable.&nbsp;</p><p>The programme has delivered:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><strong>£1bn+&nbsp;predicted savings</strong>&nbsp;</li><li><strong>More than 1,000 applications from innovators worldwide</strong>&nbsp;</li><li>Technologies now&nbsp;<strong>embedded in operational environments</strong>&nbsp;</li></ul><p>Behind these results is a powerful collaboration between&nbsp;<strong>challenge owners across&nbsp;Sellafield&nbsp;and the wider NDA estate,&nbsp;cross-sector&nbsp;solution providers&nbsp;bringing&nbsp;new ideas&nbsp;and technologies</strong>, and&nbsp;<strong>innovation specialists managing projects and partnerships to deliver success</strong>.&nbsp;</p><p>Together, they have helped embed open innovation into how complex problems are solved – proving that innovation is not a “nice to have”,&nbsp;but a&nbsp;<strong>practical driver of safer,&nbsp;faster&nbsp;and more cost-effective decommissioning</strong>.&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-center">&nbsp;</p><h2>Event Highlights&nbsp;</h2><p>Across&nbsp;2 days, the event will&nbsp;showcase&nbsp;the technologies,&nbsp;partnerships&nbsp;and people behind a decade of game-changing innovation.&nbsp;</p><p>Highlights will include:&nbsp;</p><ul><li>Keynote speakers&nbsp;</li><li>Technology exhibition&nbsp;</li><li>Live technology demonstrations&nbsp;</li><li>Talks and interactive workshops&nbsp;</li><li>Networking opportunities&nbsp;</li></ul><p>More details on speakers, exhibitors and how to register will be shared soon.&nbsp;</p><p class="ql-align-center">&nbsp;</p><h2>Shaping the Future&nbsp;</h2><p>Ten years of proven impact provides&nbsp;a&nbsp;powerful&nbsp;foundation&nbsp;for what comes next.&nbsp;</p><p>Join us in 2026 to celebrate Game Changers and the community of innovators behind it – looking back at the ideas and collaborations that have made a difference so far, while exploring how open innovation will continue to shape the future of nuclear decommissioning.</p>

<p>Game Changers: A Decade of Nuclear Innovation (9–10 September 2026, Energus, Workington) will celebrate 10 years of the Game Changers programme, showcasing pioneering technologies, partnerships, and measurable impact in safer, faster, and cost-effective nuclear decommissioning.</p>

Game Changers: A Decade of Nuclear Innovation

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<p>Game Changers Technology Talk webinars are aimed at anyone who is interested in technical innovation in the nuclear industry, learning about cutting-edge research developments and understanding how the Game Changers programme helps solve challenges that can’t be met with off-the-shelf solutions.</p><p>March's session features the following talk:</p><h2><span style="color: black;">Concrete Decontamination – A New Approach</span></h2><p><em style="color: black;">Speakers:&nbsp;George Sewell (Barrnon Ltd) and Gordon Tait (NRS Dounreay)</em></p><p><span style="color: black;">March's Game Changers Tech Talk features Appleby-based engineering company Barrnon Ltd, alongside challenge owners from Nuclear Restoration Services (NRS) Dounreay, presenting Scabbler – an innovative, remotely operated technology developed to address the complex </span><a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge/Removal_of_contaminated_concrete_from_ponds" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: black;">challenge</a><span style="color: black;"> of safely removing contaminated concrete from nuclear facilities.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">The session explores the significant technical and operational challenges associated with decommissioning large concrete structures, particularly in highly contaminated environments such as legacy ponds and restricted areas where traditional removal methods have struggled to manage dust, debris, and operator safety. Built on Barrnon’s proprietary Rotocutter technology and adapted for the nuclear industry through the Game Changers innovation programme, Scabbler combines hydraulic power, remote operation, and an integrated vacuum collection system to suppress and capture hazardous material directly at source.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">Speakers discuss the collaborative development journey, from early feasibility work and proof-of-concept activities through to successful </span><a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/news/Scabbler_technology_moves_beyond_Game_Changers_to_huge_success_in_the_nuclear_industry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: black;">demonstrations and deployment on nuclear sites</a><span style="color: black;">. The talk demonstrates the device’s design, minimal operator intervention, and capability to remove significant depths of contaminated concrete in a single pass without material escape, helping to reduce downtime, containment requirements, and overall decommissioning costs.</span></p><p><span style="color: black;">Challenge owners from NRS Dounreay outline the operational need, the drivers behind adopting new approaches to contaminated concrete removal, and the wider benefits the technology brings to safety, efficiency, and long-term decommissioning strategy across the nuclear estate.</span></p><h2>Watch the Recording</h2><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1177066450/"></iframe><p><br></p>

<p>March’s Tech Talk features George Sewell (Barrnon Ltd) and Gordon Tait (NRS Dounreay) discussing Scabbler, a remotely operated system designed to safely remove contaminated concrete from challenging nuclear environments.</p>

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks March 2026

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<p>Game Changers Technology Talk webinars are aimed at anyone who is interested in technical innovation in the nuclear industry, learning about cutting-edge research developments and understanding how the Game Changers programme helps solve challenges that can’t be met with off-the-shelf solutions.</p><p>February's session features the following talk:</p><h2>Camdroid</h2><p><em>Speakers: Matthew Nancekievill (Ice Nine Ltd), Bartosz Dworzanski (Design Driven Solutions Ltd), and David Hargreaves and Deborah Reekie (Sellafield Ltd)</em></p><p>February's Game Changers Tech Talk features Ice Nine Ltd and Design Driven Solutions Ltd (DDS), alongside challenge owners from Sellafield Ltd, presenting Camdroid – a pioneering inspection technology developed to address Sellafield’s challenge of inspecting nuclear infrastructure in highly constrained, shielded environments.</p><p>The talk explores how existing inspection tools, such as borescopes, have struggled to provide reliable, high-quality visual data when deployed through narrow 19 mm access ports, limiting understanding of asset condition and increasing uncertainty in asset management. Through the Game Changers innovation programme, Ice Nine and DDS combined their complementary expertise to develop Camdroid, a compact, articulated inspection camera based on modern smartphone imaging technology.</p><p>Speakers discuss the collaborative development journey, from feasibility studies through to a successful proof-of-concept project and multiple demonstrations. Challenge owners from Sellafield also outline the original inspection challenge, the operational drivers behind it, and the potential benefits Camdroid offers in terms of improved inspection coverage, data quality, asset confidence, and longer-term plant longevity.</p><p>The session highlights how Camdroid is already enhancing inspection capability at Sellafield and opening up new opportunities across the wider NDA estate.</p><h2>Watch the Recording</h2><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1164411425/"></iframe><p><br></p>

<p>February’s Tech Talk features Ice Nine Ltd and Design Driven Solutions Ltd, alongside Sellafield challenge owners, discussing Camdroid – a breakthrough inspection camera addressing the challenge of inspecting inaccessible nuclear assets through ultra-narrow access ports.</p>

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks February 2026

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<p>Game Changers Technology Talk webinars are aimed at anyone who is interested in technical innovation in the nuclear industry, learning about cutting-edge research developments and understanding how the Game Changers programme helps solve challenges that can’t be met with off-the-shelf solutions.</p><p>December's session featured the following talk:</p><h2>ABACUS: Advanced In-Ground Characterisation Technology&nbsp;</h2><p><em>Speakers: Malcolm Joyce (Hybrid Instruments Ltd), and Heather Chouman and John Heneghan (Sellafield Ltd)&nbsp;</em></p><p>This Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talk explored ABACUS (Advanced Blind-tube Apparatus for Characterisation of Underground Sources) – a new in-ground measurement technology designed to improve the ability to assess land quality problems associated with non-naturally occuring radioactivity, in-situ, where significant interventions are not possible. Malcolm Joyce – Technical Director of Hybrid Instruments and Pro Vice Chancellor at Lancaster University – outlined the scientific principles behind ABACUS, its development towards in-field testing at TRL 7, and its future potential. Heather Chouman – Senior Technical Advisor, Sellafield Ltd – discussed Sellafield’s ‘Characterisation and Monitoring Using In-Ground Assets’ challenge and the benefits the technology could bring.</p><p>The talk highlighted how ABACUS aligns with Sellafield’s ambition to enhance understanding of groundwater behaviour, improve surface and subsurface contamination monitoring, and generate richer, more actionable data without extensive groundworks. Attendees gained insight into how this technology could contribute to building a 3D picture of sub-surface heterogeneity across the Magnox Swarf Storage Silo (MSSS) and the wider Sellafield site.</p><h2>Watch the Recording</h2><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1142421857/"></iframe><p>Or view on Vimeo <a href="https://vimeo.com/1142421857?share=copy&amp;fl=sv&amp;fe=ci" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<p>December's session featured Malcolm Joyce from Hybrid Instruments Ltd, and Heather Chouman and John Heneghan from Sellafield Ltd, discussing ABACUS, an innovative in-ground characterisation technology designed to assess subsurface radioactivity in challenging environments.</p>

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks December 2025

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<p>Game Changers Technology Talk webinars are aimed at anyone who is interested in technical innovation in the nuclear industry, learning about cutting-edge research developments and understanding how the Game Changers programme helps solve challenges that can’t be met with off-the-shelf solutions.</p><p>July's session featured the following talk:</p><h2>Micro UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle)</h2><p>Matthew Nancekievill (Co-founder &amp; CEO of Ice Nine Ltd) presented the development and progress of Ice Nine Ltd’s cutting-edge Micro UAV: a compact, robust aerial system engineered for use in highly confined and hazardous environments. Originally conceived as part of the Game Changers <a href="https://www.gamechangers.technology/challenge/Unmanned_Aerial_Vehicles_in_confined_spaces" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">challenge</a> in collaboration with Sellafield stakeholders, this innovative drone is designed to operate through a 6-inch diameter access port, making it ideal for visual inspections in areas inaccessible or unsafe for human entry.</p><p>Key features of the Micro UAV include:</p><ul><li>Brightness-controllable LED lighting for operation in total darkness</li><li>A tilting gimbal with +/-90° imaging capability</li><li>Click-in batteries designed for ease of handling when wearing PPE</li><li>Resilience to minor collisions, enhancing performance in complex environments</li></ul><p>This session explored how the Micro UAV could transform inspection processes in nuclear and industrial settings. Amanda Smith (UAV Equipment Engineer Programme Lead) and Luke Henley (UAV Pilot) from Sellafield also shared insights on the original challenge, how Ice Nine’s solution addresses key operational risks, and the broader impact of the technology. The talk concluded with an interactive Q&amp;A session, offering attendees a chance to engage directly with the speakers.</p><h2>Watch the Recording</h2><iframe class="ql-video" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/1102280062/"></iframe><p>Or view on Vimeo <a href="https://vimeo.com/1102280062?share=copy" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>

<p>July's session featured Matthew Nancekievill, Co-founder &amp; CEO of Ice Nine Ltd, and Sellafield challenge owners, Amanda Smith and Luke Henley, presenting the development and progress of a cutting-edge Micro UAV.</p>

Events

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks April 2026

Game Changers: A Decade of Nuclear Innovation

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks March 2026

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks February 2026

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks December 2025

Game Changers Lunchtime Technology Talks July 2025