The abbreviation CBRN stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological och Nuclear threats. FOI conducts research concerning chemical toxins, biological infectious agents and radio­logical substances.

The CBRN research area at FOI covers research on threats from, and protection against, chemical (C) and biological (B) agents that can be used as warfare agents or as chemical and biological weapons, as well as nuclear weapons (N) and their radiological consequences (R). The purpose is to ensure long-term knowledge development in the CBRN area and to maintain and further develop the strategic expertise that supports capability development within Sweden’s total defence.

FOI’s CBRN expertise is available in support of total defence in crises, during heightened readiness, and in war. The research also covers technical CBRN protection and dispersion modelling. The activities provide a basis for technical support and for scientific methods to verify compliance with disarmament, arms control, non-proliferation, and test-ban agreements.

The research area primarily supplies knowledge to the military defence, but also, to a large extent, to civil defence. The main clients are the Government Offices of Sweden (the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs), the Swedish Armed Forces, and the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MSB).