IRSN

The Institut de radioprotection et de sûreté nucléaire (IRSN) is a French public expert institute responsible for radioprotection and nuclear safety. It provides independent scientific expertise, safety assessments, and technical support to public authorities, notably the Nuclear Safety Authority (ASN) and the ministries responsible for energy, environment and industry.

IRSN was created in 2002 as the successor to the Institute for Nuclear Protection and Sûreté Nucléaire (IPSN) and related services, merging research and expert resources to address risks associated with nuclear facilities, radiation protection, and emergency response. It operates within the national system for risk governance and crisis management.

The institute conducts research and analysis across radiation protection, reactor safety, fuel cycle technology, radiological monitoring, and environmental impact; evaluates safety cases for civilian nuclear installations, supports regulatory decision-making, and maintains measurement networks and modelling capabilities for accident scenarios. It also provides emergency response support and participates in decommissioning and waste management studies.

IRSN collaborates with national authorities, industry, and international bodies such as the IAEA, EURATOM, and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency; it publishes assessments and technical notes, shares data with the public sector, and contributes to European and global safety standards.