The EURATOM research and training framework-programme 2021-2025 complements Horizon Europe, using its same instruments and rules for participation, covering the area of nuclear research and training. It focuses on Fusion, nuclear safety, radiation protection and radioactive waste management and decommissioning. This five year programme (a time limit set by Article 7 of the Euratom Treaty) will later be extended by two years (until 2027) to align it with the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and Horizon Europe.

The programme has direct actions (undertaken by the Commission’s Joint Research Centre – JRC – within a separate work programme), and Indirect actions on fission and fusion research (undertaken by multi-partner consortia).

Fission research will focus on safety, management of spent fuel and radioactive waste, decommissioning, radiation protection, education and training. The new programme places increased emphasis on non-power application of nuclear technology. In this regard, the medical field is the most prominent and EURATOM is supporting the European’s Beating Cancer Plan (cf. ionising radiation used for diagnostics and therapy). There is also much potential in the application of nuclear science to fields like agriculture, environment and space.

Fusion research will focus on the implementation of the European Research Roadmap to the realisation of Fusion Energy, which represents a long-term option for large-scale, low-carbon electricity production. It could help address a growing low-carbon energy demand towards the end of this century. Before deployment of fusion power plants, fusion research will enable Europe to create high-tech innovations and, with them, a more competitive high-tech industry.

PARTNERSHIPS UNDER THE EURATOM RESEARCH AND TRAINING PROGRAMME 2021-2025

Most of the EURATOM programme will be implemented through three European partnerships:

• European Partnership in radiation protection and detection of ionising radiation, which will build on and further develop the research priorities identified in the roadmap prepared by CONCERT, the 2015-2020 European Joint Programme for the integration of radiation protection research (HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01-09 Call Topic, currently open for this partnership, within the EURATOM Work Programme for 2021-2022).
• Co-funded European Partnership for fusion research, implementing the European fusion research roadmap over the years 2021-2025, to be carried out by the EUROfusion – the European Consortium for Development of Fusion Energy (Action not subject to call for proposals, within the Work Programme for 2021-2022).
• European Partnership in radioactive waste management, which will build on the successful ongoing European Joint Programme in radioactive waste management, EURAD (within the Work Programme for 2023-2024).

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EURATOM WORK PROGRAMME 2021-2022

• HORIZON-EURATOM-2021-NRT-01 Nuclear Research and Training Call for Proposals
  Closed

• Support for MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships in Nuclear Research and Training
  (Forthcoming call planned opening date: 13 April 2022)

Researchers in the fields covered by the EURATOM Programme shall be eligible to apply for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Postdoctoral Fellowships. Applicants must comply with all conditions as set by the Horizon Europe MSCA Work Programme 2021-2022, including specific eligibility conditions that apply to MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships in the research areas covered by the EURATOM Research and Training Programme 2021-2025. Please consult the information on the forthcoming HORIZON-MSCA-2022-PF-01 Call, planned to open on 13 April 2022.

• Prizes

The SOFT Innovation Prize is being offered to highlight and reward excellence in innovation that can be found in fusion research as well as the quality of the researchers and industries involved.

– Open from 15 September 2021 till 18 January 2022

The Nuclear Innovation Prize is being offered to highlight and reward the excellence in nuclear innovation that can be found in this field of research as well as the quality of the talented researchers and companies involved. There are two specific categories for this prize:
1. Nuclear Innovation Prize in safety of reactor systems; and
2. Nuclear Innovation Prize in radioactive waste management.

– Open from 28 July 2021 till 15 December 2021