Nuclear Energetics Research and Development in Slovakia David Gilchrist – ENEL Area Tecnica Nucleare Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa November 2007

Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Summary Traditional relationships between Industry & Academia Why do we need research now? Changing context – the future is not the past Messages for Industry, Institutions & Government

November 2007 Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Traditional relationships PROBLEMS SOLUTIONS ANALYTICAL TOOLS EDUCATED STAFF

November 2007 Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Drivers for Research over the Years: National strategic importance of Nuclear Technology Emerging Technology – expanding basic knowledge base Emergent problems – new challenges Virtually no industrial technical support infrastructure Government prioritised funding direct to research institutions Applied Research capability built from teams from Fundamental Research programmes Pioneering 1950s to 1970s Evolving Technology – further expanding knowledge base, but increasingly based on operational experience Major problems arise – new demands by regulators & international standards Industrial technical infrastructure expands rapidly – often University “Spin Offs” “Applied Research” becomes a “Commercial Service” dominated by industrial revenue Many tools and techniques become industrialised – codes, methodologies, tools Maturing 1980s Nuclear Construction cut back dramatically Operations increasingly commercialised and cost conscious Internationalisation and standardisation of designs and solutions Industrial technical support firms start to diversify and some lose expertise Academic Research cut backs – nuclear loses public and political support Decline 1990s

November 2007 Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Why do we need Research any more ? Global market exists for technical support – until now, over-supplied (but volume of demand rising) No new problems ? – residual demand is for more of the same, not innovation ? Technical Support ??????? Industry faces major demographic problem – “MISSING NUCLEAR GENERATION” (Universities also face similar demographics) Nuclear Renaissance is driving recruitment needs – demand exceeds educational capacity in next ten years Nuclear Competence Development INDUSTRY needs GRADUATES GRADUATES need TEACHERS RESEARCH DRIVES TEACHERS BUT WHY RESEARCH ?

November 2007 Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Why do we need Research any more ? PICTURE OF EMO34

November 2007 Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Why do we need Research any more ? PICTURE OF EMO34

November 2007 Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Looking forward – why past models no longer fit Universities are not equipped to be engineering consultancies and cannot expect to be funded by competing for commercial business with Industrialised Technical Support firms Technical Support Need to look beyond currently small range of issues and hence beyond industry needs- Radwaste Management Fuel & Uprates Human Factors (Knowledge Management) Research Topics Multinational approach is critically important – EU is increasingly where the cake gets cut EU Research is not a level playing field Regional Alliances may be key – a dialogue is needed Research Coordination ?? Gen IV ?? ?? Modelling ??

November 2007 Univerzita Konštantína Filozofa Suggestions Industry must be prepared to play its part – but topics will be applied in specific fields Regional Industrial collaboration on Research may be facilitated INDUSTRY EU Government has the strategic view and the responsibility for the health of its academic institutions - how do State budgets compare to EU benchmarks ? Not only a question of money – advocacy and diplomacy also required Perhaps a National Nuclear Research Council could provide the focus ? GOVERNMENT OLD EU countries most adept at securing funding – time for all to learn from the “experts” ?