New GUARDIANS project helps countries respond faster and smarter to nuclear crisis situations
Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is participating in a major research project led by the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) to better protect Europe against nuclear and radiological disasters. The so-called GUARDIANS project, funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe program, aims to ensure that countries can respond faster, smarter, and in a more coordinated way to nuclear incidents.
The project will run for four years and brings together 22 organizations from eleven European countries, including universities, emergency services, and technology companies. The Netherlands is also taking part: Professor of Innovation in Crisis Management and Societal Resilience Kees Boersma and Assistant Professor of Crisis Governance Nathan Clark are studying how societies deal with nuclear threats and how citizens and governments can better prepare for them.
According to Boersma, the topic is more relevant than ever: “The risks of nuclear accidents or deliberate attacks are increasing. It’s important that we know how to respond - not just technically, but socially as well.”
GUARDIANS focuses not only on technology, but also on the human side of crisis management. Researchers are studying how local communities, policymakers, and emergency services can collaborate and communicate more effectively in emergencies caused by nuclear accidents.
In addition, the project is developing new technologies, such as radioactive gas sensors, digital triage systems for emergency response, and smart decontamination and medical measures - including an improved method for distributing iodine tablets. Through a new online platform, GUARDNET (launching November 2025), data can be shared in real time to enable faster and more accurate decision-making during a crisis.
The ultimate goal of GUARDIANS is to better protect the population and reduce social and environmental damage in the event of nuclear incidents. By combining knowledge, technology, and collaboration, the EU aims to strengthen Europe’s resilience at a time when nuclear safety is becoming increasingly important.
The project will run for four years, but the first research results are expected next year.