Research within nuclear safety and radiation protection is necessary in order to maintain the high level of competence required by an expert authority. Furthermore, the development of technology within these areas happens fast, requiring knowledge to be developed.
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 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 of 92 million Swedish Kronor. The authority finances research assignments within basic research. It is mainly external companies and institutions such as consulting firms, universities and colleges that conduct research assignments for the authority. Some of the assignments are given to foreign research institutes and consulting firms. Only a small number of research assignments are conducted within the authority. One reason for this is that there are a limited number of researchers available with competence within nuclear technology in Sweden, especially those who are independent from the industry.
The authority also finances professor services and postgraduate positions at some of Sweden’s universities. This relates to professorships within radiation biology, radiation medicine and Man, Technology and Organization.
The results of the research are often presented in the authority’s bulletin.
New research structure under development
During 2009 the authority will formulate an overall research strategy, which will closer define the type of research to be conducted, the extent of the research in the short and long term and to what extent the research financed by the authority will contribute to the national competence.
The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority endeavours to achieve high scientific quality and therefore has the support of a research committee that provides advice and feedback on the research.