Sellafield Ltd faces some of the world’s most complex nuclear decommissioning challenges – requiring solutions that reduce costs, minimise risks, and make operations safer. To accelerate progress, the organisation needed new ways to reach innovators from diverse industries and bring fresh thinking into the nuclear sector.
The scale of Sellafield’s mission makes this critical. The site is undertaking a decades-long programme to safely clean up its legacy of nuclear waste and aging facilities, a task expected to continue until 2125. This includes retrieving hazardous waste from old ponds and silos, treating and storing it in modern facilities, and dismantling redundant buildings and infrastructure.
With the focus firmly on hazard and risk reduction, a national and regulatory priority that demands advanced technology and innovative solutions, Sellafield needed access to external expertise to complement and improve existing company knowledge and practice.
Sponsored by Sellafield Ltd and designed by FIS360, the Game Changers Innovation Programme was established in 2015. FIS360 manages and delivers core aspects of the programme, including:
Through feasibility and proof-of-concept funding, innovators receive the resources and expert support they need to adapt their technologies for nuclear decommissioning and beyond.
1000 +
Over 1000 applications submitted
300 +
More than 300 feasibility studies funded
125 +
Over 125 proof-of-concept projects managed
£ 3 m+
More than £3 million in investment
£ 100 m+
Over £100m in predicted savings
Game Changers has become a catalyst for innovation in decommissioning. Together with Sellafield and UKNNL, FIS360 has:
Example technologies include a gamma camera, originally for space and medicine, now used to characterise active gloveboxes; quantum sensing from automotive applied to remote hydrogen detection; moisture detection from food and art sectors repurposed for early corrosion monitoring; and molten metal sealing from oil and gas investigated for cracks in ponds and pipework. These innovations directly support Sellafield’s mission to decommission more efficiently, reduce risk, and accelerate progress toward a safer, more sustainable future.
We have a proud history of bringing extraordinary people together to make a meaningful difference to our mission. For years now, FIS360 have continued this tradition. Through Game Changers, they have built a thriving community of innovators, and worked tirelessly with them and us to develop world class solutions to our complex challenges. Those solutions are and will be having a profound impact on how we deliver work on the Sellafield site, and we look forward to continuing this truly collaborative partnership.
Andres Alfaro
Emerging Technology Team, Sellafield Ltd
Ice Nine have been involved in multiple Game Changers projects, matching our novel robotic solutions to difficult, real-world challenges. The funding support available for small SMEs reduces risk in development time and costs, whilst enabling demonstration to key stakeholders. We have benefitted access to the network of innovative engineers and challenge holders through engagement in the process, which in some cases has led to collaborative bids. We are incredibly grateful to the FIS360 team for running it!
Matthew Nancekievill
CEO, Ice Nine Ltd
The Game Changers programme has allowed us to disseminate UAV challenges posed by restricted access and harsh environments to a broad range of solution providers and collaborate closely on innovative UAV technology. FIS360 has been instrumental in these collaborations, guiding solution providers to meet our technical and commercial requirements. Game Changers has allowed us to engage with companies that aren’t from the nuclear sector, enabling new technologies and ideas to be explored and developed.
Amanda Smith
UAV Equipment Program Lead, Sellafield Ltd
