Funding SANE: A Deeper Dive Into Research Financing

Financing background

The SANE project (Safety Assessment of Non-Electric uses of Nuclear Energy) is funded by the Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021–2025), part of the European Union’s Horizon Europe framework. This programme supports research and innovation in the field of nuclear energy - particularly in areas that enhance safety, sustainability, and the responsible use of nuclear technologies.

A European investment in safety and innovation

SANE is financed under Grant Agreement No. 101163929, with a total project budget of €3.6 million, of which €3.49 million comes directly from the Euratom programme. This means that around 96 % of the project’s eligible costs are covered by EU funding, while the remaining share is contributed by project partners through co-funding and in-kind resources such as staff time, laboratory access, or technical infrastructure.

The project runs for three years (September 2024 – August 2027) and brings together a diverse consortium of leading European research organisations and technical institutes. The partners include KIT (Germany), SCK CEN (Belgium), INERIS (France), CVR (Czechia), CEA (FRANCE), SSTC NRS (Ukraine), ENER (Ukraine), EAG (Spain), NRG PALLAS (Netherlands) and VTT (Finland). Together, they combine expertise in nuclear safety, thermal systems, radiation protection, risk communication, and engagement with different stakeholders and stakeholder groups.

One of the project’s associated partners, PSI, is supported by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI), reflecting how national funding can complement EU programmes to strengthen international collaboration.

What Euratom supports

The Euratom Research and Training Programme (2021–2025) provides about €1.38 billion in total funding to nuclear research across Europe. Its priorities include nuclear safety, radiation protection, waste management, and the development of new applications of nuclear technologies beyond electricity generation.

Within this framework, SANE focuses on assessing the safety and societal aspects of non-electric uses of nuclear energy — for instance, using nuclear heat for industrial processes, hydrogen production, or district heating. These applications could play an important role in Europe’s path toward decarbonisation and energy independence, provided they meet the highest safety and communication standards.

By funding projects like SANE, Euratom helps bridge scientific research and real-world implementation, ensuring that innovations in nuclear energy are developed transparently, responsibly, and with public trust.

Shared responsibility and collaboration

The funding structure of SANE reflects the EU’s collaborative approach to research: while the European Commission provides the main financial support, each partner contributes additional resources and expertise. The consortium’s distributed model allows research institutions from across Europe to share facilities, exchange data, and develop harmonised approaches to safety and risk assessment.

Periodic funding from the European Commission is linked to progress milestones, technical deliverables, and financial transparency. This ensures that public funding is used effectively and that the project remains aligned with EU objectives.

Investing in Europe’s energy future

Through this strong financial and institutional support, SANE is helping Europe explore how nuclear technologies can serve society in new, safe, and sustainable ways. By combining research excellence with a focus on risk communication and stakeholder engagement, the project is not only advancing technical understanding but also strengthening public confidence in the responsible use of nuclear energy.

Ultimately, the SANE project stands as an example of how European cooperation and targeted investment can drive innovation while safeguarding people and the environment — laying the groundwork for a cleaner and more resilient energy future.

You can visit the European Commission website for more information:

about SANE project: EU Funding & Tenders Portal | EU Funding & Tenders Portal,

about EURATOM: Euratom Research and Training Programme - Research and innovation.