STATNI USTAV RADIACNI OCHRANY v.v.i.

Their core work

SURO is the Czech national institute for radiation protection, conducting research on radiation exposure, dosimetry, and radioactive waste management. They provide scientific expertise on how to safely handle, treat, and dispose of radioactive materials — from pre-disposal waste processing to long-term geological storage. Their work also extends to studying health effects of radiation exposure and addressing the societal dimensions of radiation protection, including public communication and education.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

SURO's early H2020 involvement (2015–2019) centered on integrating radiation protection research communities (CONCERT) and the technical science of radioactive waste disposal and geological storage (EURAD). From 2020 onward, their scope broadened significantly: they moved into pre-disposal waste treatment, radionuclide monitoring, material science (PREDIS), and — notably — the human side of radiation through dosimetry, health risk assessment, and societal communication (RadoNorm). This signals a shift from purely technical waste management toward a more complete radiation lifecycle perspective that includes public health and societal engagement.

SURO is expanding from back-end waste disposal toward front-end radiation health, public risk communication, and societal acceptance — making them increasingly relevant to projects that bridge nuclear science with public policy.

How they like to work

SURO operates exclusively as a participant in large-scale European Joint Programmes and multi-partner Research and Innovation Actions — they have never coordinated an H2020 project. With 217 unique partners across 32 countries, they are deeply embedded in the European nuclear and radiation protection research community. Their consistent participation in COFUND-EJP programmes (CONCERT, EURAD) shows they are a trusted contributor within established institutional networks rather than a project initiator.

SURO has collaborated with 217 unique partners across 32 countries, placing them at the center of Europe's radiation protection and nuclear waste research networks. Their reach spans nearly all EU member states and associated countries with nuclear programmes.

What sets them apart

As the Czech Republic's dedicated national radiation protection institute, SURO brings a combination of regulatory-grade scientific expertise and practical waste management knowledge that few academic labs can match. Their unusual breadth — spanning dosimetry, waste treatment, material science, AND societal communication — makes them a versatile partner who can contribute to both the technical and the public-facing dimensions of nuclear and radiation projects. For consortium builders, they offer a reliable Central European anchor with deep connections to the wider European nuclear research community.

Highlights from their portfolio

• RadoNorm
  By far their largest H2020 grant (EUR 869K, 76% of total funding), combining hard radiation science with societal engagement — an unusual and valuable dual focus.
• EURAD
  European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste Management, placing SURO in the core pan-European consortium shaping radioactive waste disposal policy and science.
• PREDIS
  Addresses the critical pre-disposal phase of radioactive waste — a practical, near-term challenge distinct from the longer-horizon geological disposal work in EURAD.