In brief
IAEA Deputy Director General Massimo Aparo welcomed delegates at the Vienna symposium, highlighting rapid technological advances and the agency's efforts to integrate safeguards into nuclear technology design. The event showcased achievements such as the first full cycle of the COMPASS capacity‑building initiative and thousands of in‑field verifications. Participants from industry, regulators, civil society, and governments underscored the need for a resilient, collaborative safeguards system amid geopolitical shifts.
In Vienna on Monday, November 10, 2026, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) opened its 15th Symposium on International Safeguards, convening roughly 1,000 participants from more than 100 countries and 20 international organizations. The opening session focused on the need for innovation, resilience and shared responsibility in an era of accelerating technological change and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
In his remarks, IAEA Deputy Director General and head of the Department of Safeguards, Massimo Aparo, described the present operating environment as “undergoing significant changes that are testing our resilience and challenging us to be more innovative.” He urged policymakers, industry, civil society and safeguards professionals alike to collaborate in strengthening the safeguards system.
"Our operating environment is undergoing significant changes that are testing our resilience and challenging us to be more innovative," said Massimo Aparo.
Mr. Aparo cited several milestones highlighted during the opening video presentation. In 2025 the IAEA carried out almost 3,000 in‑field verifications in 191 states, gathered nearly 1,000 samples, monitored about 1,400 surveillance cameras, acquired more than 2,800 commercial satellite images and verified more than 24,000 seals. These activities underscored the agency’s expanded capacity to monitor nuclear material and activities worldwide.
He also drew attention to the first regular cycle of the Comprehensive Capacity‑Building Initiative (COMPASS). The program—designed to strengthen national safeguards capacities—has now been completed, according to the IAEA, and serves as a model for future training and capacity‑building efforts.
During the symposium, speaker panels highlighted the increasingly close cooperation between the IAEA and the nuclear industry. Industry representatives noted efforts to embed safeguards considerations into the design of nuclear technologies from the outset, thereby reducing the need for retroactive verification and increasing operational security.
Participants from member states highlighted the importance of resilient field verification infrastructure, especially in the context of heightened security concerns. Several countries stressed that safeguarding nuclear material remains a collective responsibility that requires synchronised efforts across borders.
Civil society delegates emphasized the necessity of transparent communication and public engagement to sustain confidence in nuclear safeguards. Many underscored that the safeguards system’s credibility depends on robust verification protocols and the timely sharing of data among stakeholders.
Reviewers of the symposium’s agenda noted that the event follows the agency's four‑year cycle, with the previous symposium held in 2022. The interval has seen significant shifts, both in technologies that enable nuclear energy and in the geopolitical environment that frames the implementation of safeguards.
Looking ahead, the IAEA aims to harness emerging technologies—such as advanced imaging, artificial intelligence, and satellite analytics—to enhance the speed and accuracy of verification activities. Delegates agreed that continued investment in these tools, coupled with sustained international cooperation, will be essential for the safeguards system to remain effective amid rapid global change.
As the day unfolded, different breakout sessions explored topics ranging from conference‑center security protocols to lessons learned in field verification under crisis conditions. The symposium concluded with a call for all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitment to a resilient, collaborative safeguards framework that can adapt to evolving challenges and safeguard the world’s nuclear future.
