News and events - SAFER2028 research programme

Midterm Seminar of SAFER2028 20.-21.1.2026

Programme of the event and presentations are available. We have also collected short abstracts on each project.

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SMR Siting and Waste Management Results Webinar

19 November 2025 12:00-15:30

We warmly invite you to a webinar presenting key findings from the SAFER2028 SMR-SiMa project, a collaborative effort between VTT, the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), and LUT University.

This session will highlight recent research on:

Waste management strategies for spent nuclear fuel from Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
Siting considerations and societal acceptability of SMR facilities and repositories

The webinar is designed to support competence development and promote dialogue around emerging solutions in nuclear safety and sustainability. Whether you’re a researcher, policymaker, or stakeholder in the energy sector, this is a valuable opportunity to engage with the latest insights and contribute to the conversation.

More info and registration link (until 18.11): SMR Siting and Waste Management results webinar

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SAFER2028 Seminar on Human and Organizational Factors

Thursday 11.12.2025, 9:00–15:30 (UTC +02:00)

You’re warmly invited to the SAFER2028 Seminar on Human and Organizational Factors, jointly organized by the SAFER2028 TONUS and SCALA projects. The seminar will be held at VTT Centre for Nuclear Safety, Kivimiehentie 3, Espoo. The event will start at 9:00 with refreshments and a poster session. The morning session (9:30–12:00) is hybrid, and the afternoon session (13:00–15:30) is in-person only.

Registration open until 4.12. : Annual seminar on human and organizational factors

9:00 – 9:30	Refreshments and Poster session
9:30 – 9:40	Welcoming words by Jari Laarni and Kaupo Viitanen (VTT)
9:40 – 12:00	Human Automation Competence Development Introduction talks and panel discussion by experts from Sweden (e.g., Chalmers, Lund University) and Finland (e.g.,FIOH, VTT)
12:00 – 13.00	Lunch
13:00 – 14:00	40 years of Safety Culture development in Finnish Nuclear Industry. Introduction by Kaupo Viitanen, VTT Future Outlook on Safety Culture in the Context of Nuclear Energy Law Reform Introduction by Ann-Mari Sunabacka-Starck, STUK
14:00 – 14:15	Coffee break
14:15 – 15:20	Gamified modelling of future nuclear ecosystem and HOF research needs Game Masters: Kaupo Viitanen, Merja Airola & Sami Karadeniz
15:20 – 15:30	Closing words

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Bentonite seminar on Tuesday 20.8.2024 by SAGE project.

Presentations can be downloaded here.

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Webinar: “Empowering communities: How to ensure resident engagement when planning SMRs for district heating” arranged by the SMRSiMa project on 12.1.2024 presentations:

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SAFER2028 Framework Plan Seminar 9.6.2022, 09:00-16:00

Programme of the seminar (click the title to see the presentations):

9:00 Opening, Liisa Heikinheimo (MEAE)
9:15 Framework Plan, Tomi Routamo (STUK)
10:00 SAFER2028 Research Programme – what is new?, Suvi Karvonen (VTT)

10:30 Break

11:00 DENSE – Doctoral Education Network, Jarmo Ala-Heikkilä (Aalto)
11:20 Q&A Session on Call for 2023, Suvi Karvonen (VTT)

11:40 Lunch

13:00 Parallel sessions for thematic areas (detailed agendas):

A: Overall Safety and Society, Jan-Erik Holmberg (STUK)

B: Reactor Safety and Fuel, Antti Tarkiainen (TVO)

C: Nuclear Waste Management, Ville Koskinen (STUK)

D: Mechanical and Structural Integrity of NPP’s, Timo Kukkola (TVO)

For each session, a 15 min introduction to the research area by the chair

followed by an opportunity to pitch research project ideas to end users.

Break at ~14:30.

16:00 End of Day

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Bentonite seminar on Tuesday 20.8.2024 by SAGE project.

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Webinar: “Empowering communities: How to ensure resident engagement when planning SMRs for district heating” arranged by the SMRSiMa project on 12.1.2024 presentations:

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SAFER2028 Framework Plan Seminar 9.6.2022, 09:00-16:00

Past events