Deep-tech startup Thorizon has raised €20 million in funding to advance its pioneering molten salt reactor technology. This includes €16 million from the first tranche of its Series A round, led by Invest-NL with backing from the European Commission’s InvestEU program, alongside strong commitments from Positron Ventures, PDENH, and Impuls Zeeland.
Additionally, Thorizon secured a €4 million grant from the Dutch Province of Noord-Brabant in partnership with VDL Groep and Demcon. These investments follow a €10 million grant from France’s 2030 Innovative Reactor Program in 2024, bringing Thorizon’s total funding to €42.5 million.
The financing will support the development and demonstration of Thorizon One, an advanced small modular reactor designed to safely and cost-effectively generate power while recycling nuclear waste. The funds will be used to finalize the reactor’s basic design, advance licensing, and prototype key components, with construction targeted for 2030.
“With strong support from our investors and government partners, we are in a solid position to advance the development of Thorizon One,”
said Kiki Lauwers, CEO of Thorizon.
“Our mission is to drive nuclear innovation in Europe—enhancing energy security while reducing carbon emissions and burning long-lived nuclear waste.”
Invest-NL, which led the funding round, reaffirmed its confidence in Thorizon’s progress.
“Since our initial investment in 2022, the team has grown, strengthened its expertise, and made significant technological strides,”
said Reda Atibi, Senior Investment Manager at Invest-NL.
“This investment supports a scalable, zero-carbon energy solution essential for Europe’s energy independence.”
Thorizon One features an innovative cartridge-based fuel system, enabling safer and more efficient energy production. Its modular design facilitates faster deployment compared to conventional nuclear plants, offering a practical solution to Europe’s clean energy transition.
The company has formed key partnerships with Orano for fuel development, Tractebel for engineering, and VDL Groep for prototyping, while collaborating with EDF and EPZ on research and operational planning.
Dutch and French regulators have begun a joint preparatory review of Thorizon One’s design, with feasibility studies underway at three nuclear-designated sites in France and the Benelux region.
With a goal of raising the remaining funds for its Series A round, Thorizon is actively engaging with European investors to further strengthen the region’s energy security and nuclear innovation leadership. Backed by strategic partnerships and funding from the France 2030 program and the EU Industrial Alliance on small modular reactors, Thorizon is positioned as a frontrunner in Europe’s next-generation nuclear technology.
