The NICE Future initiative was officially launched at the 9th Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in Copenhagen in 2018. U.S. Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Dan Brouillette, Canadian Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Natural Resources Kim Rudd and Japanese Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Masaki Ogushi launched the initiative at a side event on 24 May, following a discussion by ministers on the role that nuclear energy can play in future clean energy systems.
"I expect this initiative would bring the wisdom of the world on nuclear innovation together and contribute to policy making for realizing clean energy systems that solve challenges in each country. Our aim is to promote nuclear innovation utilizing out-of-the-box ideas from the private sector, pursuing the development of reactors with new concepts, including harmonization with renewable energy, combined with enhanced safety, efficiency and flexibility" said Japanese Vice-Minister Masaki Ogushi.