Global Research for Safety

Global Research for Safety (GRS), legally known as Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) gGmbH, is Germany's central scientific and technical expert organisation for nuclear safety. Founded in 1977 and headquartered in Cologne, GRS is a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH) that conducts research, develops simulation codes, performs safety assessments and provides consultancy to government authorities and international bodies. Its work spans reactor safety, decommissioning and dismantling, interim storage, final disposal of radioactive waste, nuclear security, radiation protection and power-to-gas. GRS employs around 355 people from disciplines including physics, geology, meteorology, computer science and engineering, and in 2025 it managed 456 projects. Its simulation codes are used by 255 institutions from 40 countries. The organisation operates from four locations in Germany: Cologne (headquarters), Berlin, Braunschweig and Garching near Munich. GRS is owned 46% by the Federal Republic of Germany, 46% by the Technische Überwachungs-Vereine (TÜV), 4% by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and 4% by the Free State of Bavaria. It is primarily funded through publicly supported research projects and expert reports, with main clients including the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Action, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN), the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR), the Federal Office for the Safety of Nuclear Waste Management (BASE) and the Federal Office for Radiation Protection (BfS). International clients include the European Commission and nuclear regulatory authorities of various countries. GRS also maintains international offices in Paris/Châtillon and Kiev in association with IRSN (RISKAUDIT). Despite Germany's nuclear phase-out, GRS emphasises that nuclear expertise remains essential for the safe decommissioning of plants, waste disposal and international cooperation.

The Gesellschaft für Anlagen- und Reaktorsicherheit (GRS) was founded in 1977 as Germany's central expert organisation for nuclear safety. According to the French Wikipedia, it was created in 1976 through the merger of the LRA Laboratory of the Technical University of Munich and the Institute for Reactor Safety of TÜV Cologne; the official website states it was founded in 1977. GRS is a non-profit limited liability company (gemeinnützige GmbH) owned 46% by the Federal Republic of Germany, 46% by the Technische Überwachungs-Vereine (TÜV), 4% by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia and 4% by the Free State of Bavaria. Its headquarters are in Cologne, with additional locations in Berlin, Braunschweig and Garching near Munich. In October 1990, following German reunification, GRS opened a new office in Berlin and hired about 40 scientists from the East German SAAS company, which was being dissolved. GRS has also established international offices in Paris/Châtillon and Kiev in association with the French Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) under the name RISKAUDIT. In 2002, IRSN and GRS signed a cooperation agreement. Over the decades, GRS has expanded its research areas to include reactor safety, decommissioning and dismantling, interim storage, final disposal, nuclear security, radiation protection and power-to-gas. It develops simulation codes used by 255 institutions from 40 countries. As of 2025, GRS employs around 355 people and manages 456 projects. Despite Germany's nuclear phase-out, GRS continues to provide expertise for the safe operation, decommissioning and waste management of nuclear facilities, and supports the Federal Ministry for the Environment and other authorities during nuclear emergencies through its emergency centre in Cologne.

• 2002

  IRSN and GRS sign a cooperation agreement.

• 1990

  In October, GRS opens a new office in Berlin and hires about 40 scientists from the dissolving East German SAAS company.

• 1977

  GRS is founded as Germany's central expert organisation for nuclear safety (per official website).

• 1976

  GRS is created by the merger of the LRA Laboratory of the Technical University of Munich and the Institute for Reactor Safety of TÜV Cologne (per French Wikipedia).

Independent, non-profit scientific expert organisation providing technical and scientific expertise in nuclear safety to government and international clients.

• Simulation codes for nuclear safety analysis

  Used by 255 institutions from 40 countries.

• Safety assessments and expert reports

  Provided to government authorities and international clients.

• Research projects on reactor safety, decommissioning, disposal, radiation protection

  456 projects in 2025.

1. 1Startseite | GRS gGmbHgrs.de
2. 2Über uns | GRS gGmbHgrs.de
3. 3Standorte | GRS gGmbHgrs.de
4. 4Unternehmen | GRS gGmbHgrs.de
5. 5Global Research for Safety - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 6Société pour la sûreté des installations et des réacteurs nucléaires - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org