EVANS: Franco-Czech project to improve nuclear safety

France’s Framatome and its Czech partners, ÚJV Řež and the Research Centre Řež, have secured €1.2 million in funding from the French National Research Agency and the Czech Technology Agency for the EVANS project. The initiative aims to develop experimental benchmarks and validate advanced neutronics codes used to simulate nuclear reactions in light water reactors. These codes are crucial for predicting the behaviour and safety of reactors. The project strengthens Franco-Czech collaboration in nuclear research, building on an agreement between the partners from 2023. A key component of the project is the LR-0 research reactor in Řež, which facilitates neutron-physics experiments on VVER reactors and helps to enhance nuclear safety and fuel design.