The conference will focus on the safety demonstration of the nuclear power plants to be licensed and constructed in the near future, which includes, among other aspects, the establishment and compliance with comprehensive and rigorous requirements for siting, design and operation; the demonstration of adequate safety margins against external hazards; and of a robust and reliable design to prevent early radioactive releases or radioactive releases large enough to require long-term protective measures and actions. The introduction of passive safety systems, digital instrumentation and a number of innovative safety features in the designs as well as the inclusion of severe accidents in the design envelope of the new plants are some of the topics that pose crucial challenges to the safety demonstration and licensing of new reactors in addition to meeting the objectives of the Vienna Declaration for existing reactors. Therefore, all these aspects are of central interest to design organizations, nuclear regulators, plant operators and technical support organizations in IAEA Member States. In view of this, various stakeholders are already joining efforts at international level in establishing harmonized approaches to the design and licensing of new reactors.