U.S. nuclear technology company Lightbridge has been granted a European patent for its 'multi-zone fuel element' nuclear fuel design, covering 39 European contracting states including key markets such as the UK, France, and Germany. The fuel element features axial radial zones made of three distinct materials, allowing for more precise control of neutron flux distribution throughout the fuel's lifecycle. Manufacturable via additive manufacturing, it enables complex multi-material geometries unattainable with conventional methods and is applicable to metal, ceramic, and metal-ceramic composite fuel systems. The radial zone structure optimizes reactor performance, safety margins, and fission material efficiency, with applications in existing light water reactors, pressurized heavy water reactors, and future small modular reactor platforms. Lightbridge noted that Europe's large fleet of nuclear power units and national clean energy plans constitute a natural market, and that the patent clears a path for entry into the European nuclear market. Additive manufacturing is accelerating in the nuclear sector: early this year, Argonne National Laboratory submitted a proposal to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers to establish a qualification pathway for laser powder bed fusion in nuclear reactor manufacturing. Oak Ridge National Laboratory has also developed 3D-printed reactor components that reduce construction timelines and enable geometries not achievable with conventional processes.