KOREA ATOMIC ENERGY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

Their core work

KAERI is South Korea's principal nuclear energy research institute, conducting research on reactor technology, nuclear materials, and nuclear safety. Within H2020, they contribute specialist knowledge on Generation IV reactor materials, severe accident modelling, and fatigue assessment of nuclear power plant components. Their role in European projects reflects their standing as one of the few non-European institutions trusted to participate in sensitive nuclear safety research, bringing decades of operational reactor experience and materials testing capabilities.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

KAERI's H2020 involvement began in 2017 with a focus on next-generation reactor materials (GEMMA, GEMINI Plus), reflecting forward-looking R&D on Generation IV systems. From 2019 onward, their focus shifted toward operational safety — severe accident management and fatigue assessment of existing nuclear infrastructure. This evolution suggests a broadening from future reactor design toward ensuring the long-term safety and life extension of current nuclear power plants.

KAERI is moving from future reactor R&D toward operational safety and plant life extension — a growing priority as Europe debates nuclear energy's role in decarbonization.

How they like to work

KAERI participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator, which is typical for non-EU organizations in Horizon 2020 nuclear research. Despite only four projects, they have worked with 71 unique partners across 20 countries, indicating they join large, multi-national consortia. This broad network suggests they are a valued specialist contributor sought out for their reactor expertise rather than a project initiator.

With 71 consortium partners across 20 countries from just 4 projects, KAERI operates within large European nuclear research consortia. Their reach spans well beyond Asia into the core European nuclear research community.

What sets them apart

KAERI is one of very few Asian public research bodies actively embedded in European nuclear safety research consortia. They bring operational experience from South Korea's active nuclear fleet — a perspective that complements European research with real-world data from a different regulatory and geological context. For consortium builders, KAERI adds international credibility and access to Korean nuclear infrastructure and testing facilities.

Highlights from their portfolio

• MUSA
  Addresses severe accident management across both reactors and spent fuel pools — a critical safety topic with direct regulatory relevance post-Fukushima.
• INCEFA-SCALE
  Longest-running project (2020-2026), tackling environmental fatigue gaps that directly affect nuclear plant life extension decisions across Europe.