The
Kick-off Meeting for the EURAD-2 project, a European initiative dedicated to waste management, was held in Ghent, Belgium on 23 and 24 October. This project continues the activities initiated with the
EURAD-1 programme and
PREDIS, project, with the aim of further developing a joint strategic programme for research, development and knowledge management at European level.
The five-year EURAD-2 involves 143 organisations from 21 European countries. Italy is participating in this partnership for the first time based on a Ministerial mandate, and is represented by the two main beneficiaries: Sogin, in the Waste Management Organisation Committee, and ENEA, in the Research Entities Committee. In addition, several Italian entities from the academic, industrial and research world in the field of radioactive waste, will also be collaborating as affiliates in the partnership.
The project aims to merge and complement the programmes of EU Member States, ensuring the creation and preservation of cutting-edge scientific solutions for radioactive waste management. EURAD-2 aims to provide safe and responsible solutions, taking into account the different stages in the progress of national programmes and covering all management phases: from strategic planning to pre-disposal and disposal.
The project is subdivided into 10 Work Packages dedicated to research, development and demonstration (RD&D) activities, aimed at developing and consolidating scientific and technical knowledge, and 6 Work Packages for Strategic Studies, which will analyse methodology issues and promote solutions for scientific and technical problems.
This participation represents a significant step for the country in the European context of radioactive waste management, helping to develop innovative and sustainable solutions.