The use of radioactive materials to provide ionizing radiation for a number applications in medicine, research, public health, and industry has long been the standard. However, in the past decade, advances in alternatives to radioactive materials have made new technologies more commercially available for these applications delivering equivalent, or sometimes better, results. This has the potential to provide equivalent results for these applications while potentially reducing the need for the safety, security, and end of life management requirements typically associated with traditional technologies involving radioactive materials.Several Member States have engaged in activities to replace radioactive materials with alternatives with positive results but also have faced challenges related to the management disused radioactive sealed sources (DSRS) that result from the transition.

The objective of this meeting is to bring together a diverse group of stakeholders from industry, research, governmental organizations and regulatory bodies to exchange knowledge on the availability, discuss regulatory frameworks to share information on where the current state of alternative technologies is and where it is headed in the future.

The meeting will serve as a platform for participants to share industry, national and international experiences, along with key lessons learned, regarding the current status and anticipated future developments in Alternative Technologies. Discussions will cover major factors influencing strategic choices, as well as implementation challenges.

This meeting is intended for policymakers, regulatory authorities, waste management organizations, and technical experts from industry and member states involved in the implementation of applications involving these technologies. Additionally, the meeting is relevant to representatives from research institutions, medical and industrial users of radioactive materials.

In order to be designated by an IAEA Member State or invited organization, participants are requested to submit their application via the Intouch+ Platform to the competent national authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Mission to the IAEA or National Atomic Energy Authority) or organization for onward transmission to the IAEA by 10 October 2025.

To know more about this event, please visit the event information sheet.