On April 15-19, 2024, the first Regional Coordination Meeting was held at the Institute of Nuclear Chemistry and Technology (IChTJ) as part of the RER1024 project "Enhancing the Use of Radiation Technologies for Improved Resource Efficiency". The Institute being the Collaborating Center for Radiation Technology and Industrial Dosimetry, was proposed to organize a kick-off meeting, attended by Ms. Maria Helena Freitas Casimiro - IAEA Technical Officer of Radiochemistry and Radiation Technology Section and Ms. Meng Li – IAEA Program Management Officer.

The meeting was attended by 26 representatives from 18 IAEA Member States from Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Russia, North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Hungary.

The meeting was devoted to a review of progress and activities carried out under the RER 1021 project and a discussion on the action plan to be implemented under the RER1024 project in 2024-2027. The scope of this project refers to the use of radiation technologies for polymer recycling, broadly understood green technologies and quality assurance systems (QMS).

During the meeting, representatives of individual Member States presented their work and achievements in the use of radiation technologies in environmental applications. Meeting participants had the opportunity to familiarize with electron accelerators installed at the INCT the Radiation Sterilization Station for Medical Devices and Allografts and the Center for Radiation Research and Technologies. These visits also included demonstration exercises of absorbed dose measurement using two dosimetric systems: calorimetric and alanine, energy measurement using an aluminum wedge and PVC foil, as well as electron range measurement using CTA foil and alanine.