The Czech Republic’s radioactive waste disposal concept assumes the construction of a deep geological repository in crystalline host rocks at a depth of 500m below the earth’s surface. The current stage of the site selection and evaluation process requires that the characteristics of the geosphere be determined at a depth envisaged for the future repository. This paper addresses the current state of construction of, and preparation of the R&D program for, the new Bukov generic underground research facility which will provide invaluable support for the current siting process and the safety evaluation of the disposal concept in the Czech Republic by providing the depth calibration parameters required to supplement the data acquired from surface exploration. The intensive characterization program which was conducted during the construction phase focused on the characterization of the site from the geological, geomechanical and hydrogeological aspects. The future experimental program will focus on the following principal research areas: the geosphere and materials and techniques.