Finnish Research Programme on Nuclear Waste Management KYT2022 - Framework Programme for the Research Period 2019–2022

Abstract

KYT2022 is the research programme of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, where the objective is to ensure that the authorities have sufficient levels of such nuclear expertise and preparedness that are needed for comparison of different nuclear waste management methods and technologies. Research directly related to licensing applications belongs in other programmes by the authorities and those responsible for nuclear waste management. The starting point for public research programs on nuclear safety is that they create the conditions for maintaining the knowledge required for the continued safe and economic use of nuclear power, developing new know how and participating in international collaboration. Nuclear research organizations in Finland have been an important asset for the ministries, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK), power companies and Posiva. The content of the KYT2022 research programme is composed on nationally important research topics, which are the safety, feasibility and acceptability of nuclear waste management. The research programmes aim for large, coordinated topics that can have one or multiple year duration. KYT2022 research programme also functions as a discussion and information-sharing forum for the authorities, those responsible for nuclear waste management and the research organizations, which helps to make use of the limited research resources. The programme aims to develop national research infrastructure, ensure the continuing availability of expertise, further high-level scientific research and increase general knowledge of nuclear waste management. The framework programme has been authored on behalf of a planning group named by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The framework programme is valid for 2019–2022.