The new director of NCBJ has already started work. The Maria reactor is under special supervision.

• Jakub Kupecki announces the search for new directions of NCBJ development, especially in areas that respond to the current challenges of industry and the economy.
• NCBJ owns the only nuclear reactor in Poland - Maria, which was shut down from April 1 to early August 2025.
• The Maria reactor has for many years played a key role in the production of medical radioisotopes – including molybdenum-99, accounting for a significant global supply.

Professor Jakub Kupecki has previously served as director of the Institute of Power Engineering – National Research Institute. He is a recognized expert in modern energy technologies, including nuclear power.

As assured, the new director of NCBJ has been collaborating with industry for years, serving on expert teams and company boards, and has led numerous interdisciplinary research projects with a strong application and market focus.

Integrity and stability of NCBJ operations

"My mission will be to ensure the integrity and stability of the Center, which is the largest research institute in Poland and a strategic entity for many sectors of the economy. At the same time, in a spirit of partnership and dialogue, we will jointly explore new directions for NCBJ's development – ​​particularly in areas that address current industrial and economic challenges. We will also not forget about basic research, which is the foundation of our institution's identity and part of its DNA," emphasized Prof. Jakub Kupecki in a statement addressed to the Center's employees.

NCBJ employs nearly 1,200 people.

The competition for the position of NCBJ director was resolved in June 2025.

The previous director of the National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ), Prof. Krzysztof Kurek, PhD, DSc, Eng., was dismissed from his position by Minister of Industry Marzena Czarnecka on April 4, 2025. Minister Marzena Czarnecka justified her decision by citing the need to improve the facility's operations, and in particular, prioritize the operation of the Maria nuclear reactor.

As a reminder, the current permit issued by the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency (NAEA) to operate the Maria reactor expired on March 31, 2025, after 10 years. The permit was not extended, and the Maria reactor had to be shut down.

Consent to indefinite operation of the Maria reactor

On August 1, 2025, NCBJ received permission from the President of the National Atomic Energy Agency (NAEA) to operate the Maria research reactor. The permit was issued for an indefinite period and allows for the reactor's continued operation.

The decision of the President of the PAA concluded a multi-stage administrative procedure, under which NCBJ submitted complete documentation, including safety analyses, operational procedures, emergency plans, and detailed information on the physical and radiological protection of the facility.

The preparation process for issuing the permit was carried out in close cooperation with the National Atomic Energy Agency and in accordance with the highest standards of supervision over nuclear safety and radiological protection.

"The reactor plays a very important role, but nuclear safety requirements must always be met. Now that all the necessary analyses and procedures have been properly prepared and approved, Maria can return to operation, and the priority is to implement a modernization program that will allow it to operate for another 20 years," commented Miłosz Motyka, Minister of Energy.

The Maria reactor is the only operating nuclear facility of its kind in Poland, and is therefore of significant importance to the national and international scientific and medical sectors.

For many years, it has played a key role in the production of medical radioisotopes, including molybdenum-99, accounting for a portion of the global supply. Furthermore, it provides an important base for research in nuclear physics, materials science, nuclear energy, and for training personnel for the Polish Nuclear Energy Program.