Research within nuclear safety and radiation protection is necessary in order to maintain the high level of competence required by an expert authority. Furthermore, fast technological progress in these areas places demands on acquiring the latest findings.
How research strengthens control
The Authority’s research covers four areas:
- Safety at nuclear power plants
- Waste, transportation and physical protection
- Radiation protection
- Nuclear non-proliferation
Each area of research provides the Authority with the knowledge necessary to:
- assess the safety situation at nuclear power plants
- assess the effects of radiation on health
- develop nuclear non-proliferation work
- ensure national competence and research capacity
How research is conducted
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority has a research budget totalling 92 million Swedish kronor. The Authority finances research assignments within basic research. External undertakings and institutions such as consulting firms, universities and colleges are the main organisations conducting research assignments on behalf of the Authority. Some of the assignments are given to foreign research institutes and consulting firms. Only a small number of research assignments are conducted by the Swedish Radiation Safety Authority itself. This is partly due to the limited availability of researchers in Sweden having the necessary skills in terms of nuclear technology, in particular researchers who are independent of the industry.
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority also funds professor services and postgraduate positions at several Swedish universities. This area relates to professorships within radiation biology, radiation medicine and Man, Technology and Organization.
Research findings are often presented in the Authority’s bulletin.
New research structure being developed
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority is formulating an overall research strategy in order to more closely define the type of research to be conducted, the extent of research in the short and long term as well as the extent to which the research financed by the Authority is to contribute to competence nationally.
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority endeavours to achieve a high level of scientific standards and for this reason is supported by a research committee that provides advice and feedback on research.