In December 2020, the European Council reached a political agreement on establishing a research and training programme of the European Atomic Energy Community for the period January 2021 to December 2025. The aim of this programme is to pursue nuclear research and training activities, with an emphasis on the continuous improvement of nuclear safety, security and radiation protection, as well as to complement the achievement of Horizon Europe’s objectives.
The total budget for the new EURATOM programme is €1.38 billion, with €266 million for indirect actions in nuclear fission, safety and radiation protection. This also includes medical radiation protection research.
The new programme will pursue the previous programme’s key research activities (nuclear safety, security, radioactive waste and spent fuel management, radiation protection and fusion energy), expand research into non-power applications of ionising radiation and make improvements in the areas of education, training and access to research infrastructures. Furthermore, it will support the mobility of researchers in the nuclear field in the framework of Horizon Europe’s Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA).
The new Euratom programme complements Horizon Europe using the same instruments and rules for participation.
The Euratom research and training programme can be read here.