Safety of low enriched fuel for research reactors - securing the supply of medical radioisotopes

Europe has a unique portfolio of HPRRs and MPRRs. They are vital to a number of scientific areas, from basic research and materials research, nuclear physics, medical and life sciences to the education and training of highly qualified experts. These are essential for implementing the highest nuclear safety standards in Europe.

These first-class research reactors are mostly used for irradiation testing of existing and future materials. This enables scientific advances crucial to the development of applied technologies, production of homogeneously doped silicon for high-performance semiconductors and production of radioisotopes for industry and nuclear medicine. This enables a stronger European Health Union and a more secure, better-prepared and more resilient EU.

Euratom research will be driven by further development and qualification work by European HPRR and MPRR operators to enable their research reactors to be converted from highly enriched uranium to low-enriched uranium, and/or to ensure t