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Nuclear Forensics: Hungary at the forefront

2017.03.23

On 21 March 2017, the Centre for Energy Research of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, the International Atomic Energy Agency and the Permanent Mission of Hungary to the UN in Vienna held a joint press conference in Budapest about the cooperation of the IAEA and the Centre for Energy Research in Hungary. The Hungarian institute is the first collaborating centre dedicated by the IAEA in nuclear forensics. The Collaborating Centre organizes and holds international training courses and longer programs, determines innovative research areas, provides technical support and assistance to the region and strengthens nuclear security in Hungary and in the region.


Mr. Károly Dán, Ambassador of the Permanent Mission, expressed his happiness and pride that the cooperation, which had been initiated by the Mission, is in place now and he said that it was a great honour for the Centre for Energy Research and for Hungary.

Mr David Kenneth Smith, Nuclear Security Coordinator, Division of Nuclear Security, International Atomic Energy Agency, outlined that the present Collaborating Centre designation represents the culmination of over ten years of partnership between the IAEA and the Centre for Energy Research, and its forerunner organizations, to bring innovative nuclear security solutions to meet the threat of nuclear and radioactive material out of regulatory control. Mr Smith highlighted “These threats are not hypothetical; approximately 3000 incidents of nuclear and other radioactive materials out of regulatory control have been officially reported by Member States to the IAEA’s Incident and Trafficking Database from 1993 to 2016.”  

In his speech, Mr Ákos Horváth, Director General of the Centre for Energy Research pointed out: “This event is of great importance in the history of our research centre, and I would say, also important for the Agency as well, as we were the first designated in this research field. It is an honour for those colleagues working in the Nuclear Security Department of our Research Centre, who put considerable efforts in the adoption of the nuclear security culture and practice of the nuclear forensics in Hungary.”  

Ms Éva Kovács-Széles, head of the Nuclear Security Department, Centre for Energy Research held a presentation about the area of nuclear forensics. She underlined that one of the challenges of the researchers is to keep the procedures and the professional rules of the investigating authorities in mind.

What is Nuclear Forensics?

Nuclear forensics is increasingly used by states to prevent and respond to incidents of nuclear and other radioactive material (e.g. radioactive sources for industry and medicine) encountered out of regulatory control, using laboratory analysis and subsequent interpretation to determine the origin and history of these materials supporting law enforcement investigations or nuclear security vulnerability assessments. The area receives special attention because of the increasing number of events.

How do they support HAEA’s activities?

Within the Centre for Energy Research the Nuclear Forensic Laboratory supports the regulatory work of the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority. In case of finding or confiscation of nuclear materials, the laboratory will carry out the analysis to identify the owner of the materials. In the case of missing materials, their well-equipped mobile laboratory helps the search of the licensee and the inspectors of the HAEA. During IAEA or HAEA safeguards inspection, the laboratory provides technical support.