The National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” is the largest multidisciplinary research center in Greece, with critical mass in expertise and infrastructure in the fields of Nanotechnology, Energy & Environment, Biosciences, Particle and Nuclear Science, Informatics and Telecommunications.

The Center was inaugurated in 1961 as a state-owned entity under the name Nuclear Research Center “Demokritos”, following the coming into operation of the nuclear reactor research facility. The development of the nuclear reactor introduced a cutting-edge technology to Greece, signifying a major turning point in the development of large-scale research infrastructures and the first step towards the establishment of a national Research and Technology policy.

In 1985, it has been renamed as National Center for Scientific Research “Demokritos” and became an autonomous Legal Entity of Public Law supervised by the General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT), while preserving its administrative and financial independence.

The NCSR “Demokritos” conducts world-class basic and applied research, for advancing scientific knowledge and promoting technological development in selected areas of national socio-economic interest. The Center also plays a pivotal role in graduate education and professional training and its unique infrastructure is employed for high-technology services to the Industry and the Society.

The NCSR “Demokritos” has contributed significantly and in many ways to:
- The advancement and world-wide recognition of the Hellenic research activity
- The development, diffusion and transfer of high quality know-how to public and private sectors
- The reversal of high-caliber scientific brain drain
- The provision of highly qualified research personnel to the Greek academic community as well as to the Greek Industry

Research activities are currently coordinated by five (5) Research Institutes:
- Institute of Informatics & Telecommunications
- Institute of Biosciences & Applications
- Institute of Nuclear & Radiological Sciences & Technology, Energy & Safety (INRASTES)
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
- Institute of Nuclear & Particle Physics

ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY LABORATORY, INRASTES

ERL is a founding unit of NCSR 'Demokritos‘. Its operation started in 1959 and was regulatory imposed in 1961. ERL is one of the 13 NCSR “D” Laboratories, accredited for services provision. It is dedicated to the research (original, oriented, technological), related to the radiation protection of the environment and man, radioecology and aerosol science. ERL operates a part of the Greek Environmental Radioactivity Control Network, coordinated by the Greek Atomic Energy Commission, the regulatory authority for the radiation protection of the Greek population, in the frame of the REM program of EU (article 35 of the EURATOM Treaty).

It provides specialized scientific and technological services to other institutions, companies and individuals,under its programs of Technological Research and Applications. A part of ERL activities is focused on artificial radioactivity, NORM/TENORM and radioecology of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystem. Another part is related to atmospheric aerosol properties, metrology and modelling applications. ( Research on Radiation Protection & Radioecology and Aerosol Science ).