The 10th IGD-TP Exchange Forum: RD&D challenges from siting to industrialisation

Registration: Registration for the Exchange Forum is now open (the online registration can be accessed here).

The total number of participants is limited.  Registrations will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis with a final decision by the Organising Committee.

Registration fee: The costs of the Forum are subsidised by the IGD-TP.  However, a small fee is required to support the event:

• The Exchange Forum registration fee (€150). Includes participation, refreshments and lunch on both days, and the conference dinner on 25 November.  A reduced fee of €50 is available for students.
• The optional technical tour on 27 November is €50. This includes return transport from Prague, refreshments and lunch.

For those attending only the EURAD-2 Wave 2 meeting there is no registration fee.  This meeting starts after lunch on 26 November.

Cancellation policy:

• Cancellation before 22 August 2025 – 90% refund
• Cancellation before 24 October 2025 – 50% refund
• Cancellation after 24 October 2025 – no refund, but registration may be transferred to another participant upon request.

Poster submission: Poster abstract submission is now open as part of event registration (online registration can be accessed here).

The submission must include the poster title, authors and their affiliations, and an abstract of no more than 300 words.  We strongly encourage you to submit poster applications that align to the IGD‑TP Strategic Research Agenda; the Key Topic area that your poster is most closely linked to must be identified.  There will be a prize for the best poster.

Deadline: Poster abstracts must be submitted by 29 August 2025.

Accepted poster authors will be notified by 30 September 2025 and a release consent form supplied at that time.  The poster presenter must physically attend the Exchange Forum.

Guidance: Poster sessions will be grouped according to Key Topics in the IGD-TP Strategic Research Agenda (SRA).  The nine SRA topics are:

1. Post-closure Safety Case
2. Wasteforms and their Behaviour
3. Technical Feasibility and Long-term Performance
4. Implementation and/or Optimisation
5. Safety of Construction and Operations
6. Monitoring
7. Methodologies for Site Characterisation
8. Strategy for Repository Project Development
9. Knowledge Management

The posters will be set up in the refreshment area within the venue to increase visibility and attendee interaction.  One of the significant advantages of a poster presentation is that it allows one-on-one time with the audience for exchange of information and to answer questions.  Poster presenters are encouraged to verbally and visually convey the importance of their subject, including its implications and significance.

Presenters are to bring the hardcopy poster with them.  The posters are to be A0 in size and will be in portrait (vertical) orientation.

To increase the visibility of your work, we would also like to publish the selected posters on the IGD‑TP website after the event.  If you would like us to include your poster, then a PDF file copy of your poster must be provided by 15 November 2025 to secretariat@igdtp.eu.

Bukov Underground Research Laboratory (pvpbukov.cz)

The Bukov underground research facility (URF) is located 550 metres below the surface in the former Rožná uranium mine, which was the last uranium mine in operation in Central and Western Europe before its closure in 2017.  Experiments are conducted at the Bukov URF aimed at obtaining data on the behaviour of the rock environment at the expected depth of the future deep geological repository.  It is also used for in-situ testing of the materials being considered for the construction of the engineered barriers.  The first section of the Bukov URF was put into operation in 2017 and the second section of the underground complex, which includes 13 test chambers, opened earlier this year.

Programme:

Maximum number of participants: 25

Conditions of Entry:

Because the underground laboratories are located within the radiation protection controlled zone (with the potential presence of ionising radiation – former uranium mine), the personal details of all the participants are needed in advance (name, passport number, date of birth and company) in order to be granted permission to enter the facility. Visitors are provided with protective clothing and footwear on-site.

Pregnant women, persons under 18 years of age and persons that suffer from claustrophobia or any other illnesses/conditions that could endanger their health during the visit are not permitted to enter the controlled zone. Visiting the Bukov URF may be physically and mentally demanding and/or stressful for those with such illnesses/conditions.

Richard Repository (surao.gov.cz)

The Richard Repository has been in operation for over 60 years.  Formerly a limestone mine, a secret Nazi factory and currently the oldest waste disposal facility in the Czech Republic, the Richard facility has been used for the disposal of intermediate and low-level radioactive waste since 1964.  The facility is located near to the historic town of Litoměřice and is used for the disposal of so-called institutional waste (i.e. materials from the industry, healthcare and research sectors).  Some of the waste is accepted for storage (rather than disposal) pending its final disposal in the planned Czech deep geological repository.  The Richard disposal facility also includes a certified testing facility for waste packages and special form radioactive substances.

Programme:

Maximum number of participants: 24

Conditions of entry:

Because the disposal facility is located within the radiation protection controlled zone (with the potential presence of ionising radiation), the personal details of all the participants are needed in advance (name, passport number, date of birth and company) in order to be granted permission to enter the facility. Visitors are provided with protective clothing on-site.

Pregnant women, persons under 18 years of age and persons that suffer from claustrophobia or any other illnesses/conditions that could endanger their health during the visit are not permitted to enter the controlled zone. Visiting the Richard disposal facility may be physically and mentally demanding and/or stressful for those with such illnesses/conditions.

Research Centre Řež (cvrez.cz)

Building on the experience of its parent company ÚJV Řež (the former Nuclear Research Institute), the Research Centre Řež (CVŘ) was established in 2002 to undertake research and development in the energy sector, especially in the nuclear field.  A modern research base with expert teams, CVŘ also has a unique experimental infrastructure including the LVR‑15 and LR-0 research reactors, process loops, hot cells and a full range of state-of-the-art laboratories.

Reactor LVR-15 (control room and reactor hall, hot cells) – The LVR-15 reactor is used primarily for irradiation of materials, production of radiopharmaceuticals and experiments using neutron radiography and other applications of neutron beams. SUSEN hot cells – Hot cells instrumentation intended for scientific purposes (autoclave, blasting and fatigue machines, cycling machine, creeping machine) and preparation of samples (ES, EDM, CNC, sample preparation for microscopy), SEM, nanoindentor.

Programme:

Maximum number of participants: 32 (in 2 groups)

Conditions of entry:

Entrance to the UJV Group premises is at the visitor‘s own risk. UJV Group assumes no liability for damage of any kind occurring on the works premises.
Each visitor, including accompanying persons, is issued an access authorisation badge and must be registered at the security checkpoint. Badges must remain clearly visible.
Entering the premises under the influence of alcohol or any classified substance is prohibited. Furthermore, it is prohibited to bring in, be in possession of or consume alcoholic beverages or any narcotic or psychotropic substances on the premises. A visitor can be randomly selected for an alcohol or drug test.
Filming or photographing on the premises or the publishing of anything heard or seen is strictly prohibited.
Electronics including cell phones (switched on) and weapons including knives are not allowed. Prohibited objects can be stored in the assigned area.
Tour participants must wear appropriate footwear – sturdy, low-heeled shoes, and trousers are expected. Woman may wear a skirt if they also wear tights.

Conference venue: The Exchange Forum will be held at the OREA Hotel Pyramida Praha, Bělohorská 24, 169 00 Praha 6, Czech Republic (https://www.orea.cz/en/hotel-pyramida).

Accommodation: The cost of accommodation in Prague is not included in the registration fee and must be booked and paid directly by the participant. However, a discount on the room rate at the event hotel is available to registered participants (the code will be provided during registration).

Travel: Prague is easily reached by public transport.

• By plane:  The international Václav Havel Prague Airport is located on the north-western outskirts of Prague in the Ruzyně district. Connections to the city centre are provided by public transport buses, AE – Airport Express buses, or Tick Tack-Airport Taxi.
• By train: Three European railway corridors intersect in Prague, connecting the metropolis with the whole of Europe.  The city’s primary train station is the Prague Main Railway Station, which connects to all major Czech cities and abroad. The second international train station is Prague Holešovice. Czech Railways is the largest national carrier in the Czech Republic; other major operators include RegioJet and Leo Express.

You will find more accommodation and travel options, as well as Prague attractions and events information, at the official tourism website: https://prague.eu/en/

We would like to make this event as accessible as we can.  We strongly encourage you to contact us if you need further information or have any queries.