‘Nuclear Fuel Cycle’ Science and Technology Establishment (NFC STE) was established by NSC KIPT Director General's Order 57 of April 18, 1994 pursuant to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine Resolution 386 of May 29, 1993 On the Establishment of Kharkiv STC at KhIPT and President of Ukraine Decree 64/94 of February 23, 1994 On the Establishment of NFC STE.

The main objective of establishing NFC STE was to have a specialized organization in Ukraine for coordination and performance of research, development, design, and engineering for nuclear fuel cycles of Ukraine's nuclear power industry. This determined the main NFC STE activity areas:

1. Development of concepts and programs for establishing a nuclear fuel cycle (NFC) of the nuclear power industry of Ukraine
2. Scientific support for Ukraine's nuclear fuel cycle:

• Provide expert reviews on nuclear fuel;
• Establish research, technological, and test frameworks for carrying out nuclear fuel cycle related activities;
• Participate in development of statements of work for reactor facilities;
• Develop materials for safety substantiation of reactor facilities;
• Develop new fuel, absorber, and structural materials for design of fuel and absorber elements of enhanced reliability, performance, and economic efficiency;
• Select and substantiate applicability of structural materials for new fuel and absorber elements, and fuel assemblies;
• Develop designs and manufacturing technologies for new fuel and absorber elements, to manufacture their pilot samples, and to arrange and conduct reactor tests to substantiate their performance;
• Conduct out-of-pile tests of materials, fuel and absorber element prototypes and to substantiate their performance, reliability, and safety at normal operating conditions, design-basis and beyond design-basis accidents;
• Arrange for radiation tests of new fuel and absorber elements;
• Conduct research in conjunction with the national and foreign stakeholders, including IAEA, to substantiate reliability, safety, and economic efficiency of various nuclear fuels and NPPs;
• Perform simulations and calculation analysis to substantiate performance of fuel and absorber elements, including:

- thermal physical and thermal hydraulic calculations;

- calculation analysis of fuel and absorber elements and fuel assembly mechanical stability;

• Perform nuclear facility core design, including:

- selection and substantiation of the nuclear fuel inventory for reloads

- WWER nuclear core design;

- safety substantiation of core reloads;

• Thermal hydraulic analysis of NPP steady-state operation and transients;
• Develop licensing documents (NPP safety analysis reports, etc.);
• Upgrade and develop computer codes;
• Support specialist training for organizations and enterprises, NPPs, and nuclear engineering colleges and universities (trainings, workshops, conferences).