Advancing Canada-ASEAN Collaboration Through Nuclear Energy Working Group Capacity Building Roundtable

The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC), in collaboration with Humber Polytechnic and Ontario Tech University, convened the Nuclear Energy Working Group Capacity Building Roundtable, uniting Canadian academic institutions, industry partners, and government officials from Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.

The roundtable served as a strategic platform to align Canada’s nuclear expertise with ASEAN’s growing interest in clean and secure energy solutions. Discussions focused on developing a long-term, structured roadmap to strengthen workforce development, regulatory readiness, and public acceptance across the region.

Strengthening the Foundation for Nuclear Workforce Development

Canadian institutions highlighted their comprehensive ecosystem of nuclear education, from engineering programs and skilled trades training to AR/VR simulations, regulatory curricula, and applied research. Industry partner AtkinsRéalis reinforced Canada’s global leadership in CANDU technology and its proven supply chain, showcasing how these strengths can support ASEAN countries as they explore nuclear options.

ASEAN representatives shared perspectives from their national transitions:

• Indonesia underscored the challenge of reducing coal dependence while maintaining affordability, emphasising the need for regulatory support, public communication strategies, and micro-credential pathways for current workers.

• Vietnam noted renewed interest in nuclear energy for long-term energy security, identifying opportunities for curriculum collaboration and strengthening nuclear literacy.

• The Philippines highlighted the value of a structured matchmaking framework with Canadian institutions and encouraged continued in-market technical missions.

  
  

Across ASEAN, the most urgent needs identified were:

1. Workforce development for technical and regulatory roles

2. Stronger regulatory capacity-building

3. Public awareness and trust-building

4. Long-term policy and financing clarity

   
   

A Shared Commitment to Long-Term Partnership

Participants agreed on several next steps to advance collaboration, including:

• Hosting in-ASEAN roundtables to deepen engagement

• Creating country-specific capacity-building tracks

• Developing portable, stackable micro-credentials for transitioning and upskilling workers

• Establishing a unified Canadian nuclear capacity-building package to streamline offerings for ASEAN partners

  
  

This roundtable represents a strong step toward enhancing Canada-ASEAN collaboration in nuclear energy and reinforces CABC’s commitment to supporting sustainable, long-term partnerships that advance regional energy security and clean energy transitions.