1 / 32 Euratom Research and Training Programme on Nuclear Energy (2002 – 2006) – Present Status & Latest Call – Simon Webster HoU, DG-RTD.J4 Topical Information Meeting on Management of Radioactive Waste & Other Activities in the Field of Nuclear Technologies and Safety, 7 th July 2005

2 / 32 Overview  Legal stuff  Main features  Activity areas / budget  Status of current programme implementation + summary of on-going projects  Latest call for proposals  Key messages

3 / 32 Legal basis  Euratom Treaty, Title II Ch. 1 (promotion of research), esp. Art. 7 on Community research & training programmes  Euratom research Framework Programmes proposed by EC extensive prior consultation and review support EU strategic & political objectives, foster a Community approach and aim to deliver “EU added value” cover direct & indirect R&D actions in fission & fusion S&T require opinion of Euratom STC no co-decision - adopted by unanimous Council Decision  Specific Programmes and rules for participation also adopted by Council  Implemented by annual work progammes adopted by the Commission after approval by programme committee

4 / 32 Main features  FPs are multi-annual and run concurrently with the EC (“non-nuclear”) FPs  Fission “indirect actions” are implemented using the same funding instruments as the EC programme  Most actions are shared-cost – the EU contributes c. up to 50% and the project partners pay the rest  Contents of annual programmes often established by prior calls for EoI  Work programmes implemented via calls for proposal published in the OJ, can be fixed deadline calls or a continuously open call with cut-off dates  Proposals evaluated using invited independent experts

5 / 32 EURATOM vs. EC research € Billion ECEURATOM

6 / 32 EURATOM research budget FP FP FP FP-6 post enlargement FusionFissionJRC Activities € Million

7 / 32 FP6: “Fission” indirect actions 3 areas of activity Management of radioactive waste - €90M  establish a sound technical basis for demonstrating the safety of disposing spent fuel and long lived radioactive wastes in geological formations and underpin the development of a common European view on the main issues related to the management and disposal of waste.  to determine practical ways of reducing the amount and/or hazard of the waste to be disposed of by partitioning and transmutation and to explore the potential of concepts for nuclear energy to produce less waste. Other activities in the field of nuclear technologies - €50M  to support European Union policies in the fields of health, energy and the environment, to ensure that European capability is maintained at a high level in relevant fields not covered by the thematic priorities and to contribute towards the creation of the European Research Area.  Covers innovative concepts / education & training / safety of existing installations Radiation protection - €50M (not dealt with today)

8 / 32 Current status of FP6 “fission” programme Three fixed deadline calls for proposals  Deadline 6 May 2003: €67M used  Deadline 14 April 2004: €61M used  Final call published 8 th June 05 with deadline for receiving proposal of 11 th October: €52M available A continuously open call for proposals is on-going with cut- off dates every 6 months (spring / autumn)  2003 – 2004: €1M used per cut-off date  2005 – 2006: €1.5M per cut-off date  Next cut-off date 11 th October 2005  Final cut-off date 11 th April 2006

9 / 32 Project partners / countries Instrument & EU / total cost duration ACTINET: Network for Actinide Sciences27 / 13 NoE €6.35M / €10.5M 1/3/04 4 years ESDRED: Engineering Studies and Demonstrations of Repository Designs 13 / 9 IP €7.32M / €18.1M 1/2/04 5 years NF-PRO: Near-field processes40 / 10 IP €8M / €16.8M 1/1/04 4 years FUNMIG: Fundamental processes of radionuclide migration 51 / 15 IP €8M / €15M 1/1/05 4 years COWAM-2: Community Waste Management 2 19 / 9 STREP €1.2M / €2.33M 1/1/04 3 years Current major FP6 projects on geological disposal

10 / 32 waste container Buffer or backfill access shafts / tunnels disposal tunnels or caverns near Field / EBS, waste & container behaviour: 8 projects repository technology & EBS-EDZ: 14 projects performance and safety assessment: 8 projects far field – flow and transport: 7 projects public involvement: 2 projects seals cf FP5 projects on geological disposal

11 / 32 Project partners / countries Instrument & EU / total cost duration EUROPART: Partitioning of minor actinides and some long-lived fission products from high active wastes issuing the reprocessing of spent nuclear fuels 27 / 11 IP €6M / €10.3M 1/1/04 4 years RED-IMPACT: Impact of Partitioning, Transmutation and Waste Reduction Technologies on the Final Nuclear Waste Disposal 23 / 10 IP €2M / €3.51M 1/3/04 4 years EUROTRANS: European Research Programme for the Transmutation of High-Level Waste in an Accelerator Driven System 32 IP €23M / €43M 1/4/05 4 years Current major FP6 projects on P&T

12 / 32 Project partners / countries Instrument & EU / total cost duration PERFECT: Prediction of Irradiation Damage Effects on Reactor Components 28 / 12 IP €7.5M / €18M 1/1/04 4 years EC-SARNET: Sustainable integration of European research on severe accident phenomenology and management 49 / 19 NoE €6.3M / €24M 1/4/04 4 years NURESIM: European Nuclear Reactor Simulation Platform 25 / 13 IP €4.5M / €13.5M 1/2/05 3 years RAPHAEL: VHTR – reactor physics, safety, fuel technology, fuel cycles, materials, components & plants design 35 IP €9M / €20M imminent 4 years GCFR: gas-cooled fast reactor? STREP €2M / €3.6M 3/03 4 Years Current major FP6 projects on “other activities”: installation safety & innovative concepts

13 / 32 Project partners / countries Instrument & EU / total cost duration CETRAD: Coordination Action on Education in Radiation Protection and RWM 20 / 17 CA €250K / €303K 1/1/04 15 months NEPTUNO: Nuclear European Platform for Training and University Organisations 35 / 19 CA €830K / €840K 1/1/04 18 months JHR-CA: Definition phase of development of Jules Horowitz Reactor 12 / 8 CA €1.5M / €1.5M 1/1/04 2 years HOTLAB: European Hot Laboratories Research Capacities and Needs 19 / 12 CA €200K / €230K 1/1/04 18 months Current major FP6 projects on “other activities”: training & infrastructures

14 / 32 Work Programme 2005/6 Activities covered by fixed deadline call Areas covered & budgets: Management of radioactive waste… €25 M Other activities in field of nuclear technologies & safety……………....…...€13 M (Radiation protection…………………….€14 M) Instruments & indicative size of EU contributions: Integrated Project (IP)…………..……….~ €3 - 7 M Network of Excellence (NoE)……..…….~ €3 - 5 M Integrated Infrastructure Initiative (I3)....~ €3 - 5 M Specific Targeted Research Project (STREP).………………………...~ €0,5 - 3 M Coordination Action (CA)………………..~ €0,2 - 1 M

15 / 32 Management of radioactive waste Geological disposal: topic 1 Performance assessment techniques to guide the development of the safety case  Instrument: IP  Objective: To improve and harmonise integrated PA methodologies and tools for various disposal concepts for SNF & LL-RW in different deep geological environments  Broad scope linking with existing IPs  Requires a “multidisciplinary team, including both implementers and regulators…”

16 / 32 Management of radioactive waste Geological disposal: topic 2 Disposal of SNF and LL-RW  Instruments: one or more STREP(s) and/or CA(s)  Objective: To review and improve approaches and methods dealing with scientific and technical issues of relevance to the safety of the geological disposal of spent nuclear fuel and long-lived waste  Several possible individual subjects suggested, covering an assortment of different topics  Would complement the on-going and planned research conducted using the new funding instruments

17 / 32 Management of radioactive waste Geological disposal: topic 3 Issues related to the governance of spent nuclear fuel and long-lived radioactive waste  Instruments: one or more STREP(s) and/or CA(s)  Objective: To investigate, review and improve the governance of spent nuclear fuel and long-lived radioactive waste.  Broad scope of possible proposals  Broad participation of stakeholder groups advantageous (end users/problem owners, civil society, NGOs, social scientists)

18 / 32 Management of radioactive waste Geological disposal: topic 4 Co-ordination of RD&D priorities and strategies for geological disposal  Instruments: one or more CA(s)  Objective: Define a strategic research agenda and establish the basis for an effective utilisation of European skills and know-how enhancing European collaboration and excellence in this field.  Strategic action to e.g. define road map for future RD&D needs and paving way for increased networking and integration  Participation of WMOs and/or waste regulators

19 / 32 Management of radioactive waste P&T: topic 1 Nuclear Waste Transmutation in critical reactors  Instruments: one or more STREP(s)  Objective: Investigate the potential of fast or thermal critical reactors to transmute nuclear waste and assess their advantages and disadvantages.  Could include feasibility of Pu and MA recycling and LLFP incineration, including safety and economic aspects and impact on the fuel cycle

20 / 32 Management of radioactive waste P&T: topic 2 Innovative fuels for waste minimisation in LWRs  Instruments: one or more STREP(s)  Objective: Study the possibility of using innovative high burn-up fuels (such as uranium, thorium and/or inert- matrix based fuels) dedicated to efficient plutonium and minor actinide burning and assess their performance under irradiation and compatibility with relevant waste disposal concepts.  Could cover fabrication, characterisation and irradiation, core and safety studies, PIE, waste management issues

21 / 32 Management of radioactive waste P&T: topic 3 A strategic road-map for unified research in the EU with a view to establishing a true European Research Area in partitioning and transmutation  Instrument: CA  Objective: To establish a comprehensive and viable road- map for research and development in the area of P&T to assist RWM and disposal strategies.  Could cover road map for RD&D, long-term strategy, networking and integration aspects  Broad participation of P&T R&D community + regulators and public bodies

22 / 32 Management of radioactive waste P&T: topic 4 Durable networking of nuclear data research community across Europe and an assessment of future needs of nuclear data  Instrument: CA  Objective: To maintain and enhance the competence of researchers across Europe in the area of nuclear data by establishing a durable networking of researchers active in this field. Also, assess future needs of nuclear data for ADS and other reactors, eg those of Generation IV.  Could cover networking of major actors, mobility & training, dissemination and review aspects  Broad participation from nuclear data community, incl. from new MS and international organisations

23 / 32 Management of radioactive waste Infrastructures: single topic Radioactive Waste Management Infrastructures  Instruments: one of more I3(s)  Objective: To promote the coherent use and integration of infrastructure related services to the research community at a European level by mobilising a large number of stakeholders in a given class of infrastructure. This should be done with a view to induce a long-term integrating effect on the way research infrastructures in Europe operate, evolve and interact with similar infrastructures and with their users  Covers networking, transnational access and joint research activities for any RWM infrastructure (excludes design studies/construction)  Participation of major potential users

24 / 32 Other activities Innovative concepts: topic 1 Advanced Innovative Reactor Systems  Instruments: one or more STREP(s)  Objective: To assess the critical scientific issues and the technical feasibility of fourth generation reactor systems and fuel cycles (except VHTR and GCFR).  Could cover design, materials, safety, core & fuel design, plant management  To contribute to the Euratom R&D participation in GIF

25 / 32 Other activities Innovative concepts: topic 2 Back-end of the Gas Cooled Reactor fuel cycle  Instrument: STREP  Objective: To assess the back end of the Gas-Cooled Reactor fuel cycle with a view to evaluating their industrial feasibility and environmental impact.  Scope could include reprocessing of the SNF, RWM, disposal behaviour and PA, environmental impact and economic analysis

26 / 32 Other activities Education and training: single topic Harmonisation of nuclear education and training schemes across EU  Instruments: one or more CA(s)  Objective: To contribute to the European Area of higher education in the nuclear field and extend it to training activities to meet the stakeholders needs in the areas of reactor safety, waste management and radiation protection.  Could include development of E&T modules, e.g. as part of existing R&D programmes, setting up of pilot sessions to assess their feasibility / financial viability, encourage mutual recognition of schemes in EU and networking of large E&T facilities and infrastructures

27 / 32 Other activities Safety of existing installations: topic 1 Sustainable integration of European research in residual lifetime prediction methodologies  Instrument: NoE  Objective: Restructure research activities/organisations in order to achieve scientific and technical excellence in residual lifetime prediction methodologies and to support a Common Safety Justification Framework in close collaboration with all stakeholders concerned with safety.  Networking activities such as development of RTD capability involving major S/T organisations and supported by the end users, assuring sustainable integration, optimising use of infrastructures & mobility etc  Broad participation of nuclear experts + regulators. Training & dissemination are key aspects

28 / 32 Other activities Safety of existing installations: topic 2 Advanced tools for nuclear safety assessment and component design  Instruments: One or more STREP(s) and/or CA(s)  Objective: To evaluate advantages and disadvantages of advanced tools for nuclear safety assessment and component design encompassing technical as well as human aspects.  Could include: development of advanced tools to improve operation & maintenance of nuclear installations (cooling systems dynamics, integrity of containment, corrosion effects, I&C, man-technology-organisation interfaces, etc.); benchmarking of advanced design methodologies; development of a common safety justification framework in collaboration with all stakeholders

29 / 32 Other activities Cross-cutting activities: topic 1 Development of Nuclear Technologies & Safety Infrastructures  Instruments: one of more I3(s)  Objective: To promote the coherent use and integration of infrastructure related services to the research community at a European level by mobilising a large number of stakeholders in a given class of infrastructure. This should be done with a view to induce a long-term integrating effect on the way research infrastructures in Europe operate, evolve and interact with similar infrastructures and with their users.  Covers networking, transnational access and joint research activities for any infrastructure in this area (excludes design studies/construction)  Participation of major potential users

30 / 32 Other activities Cross-cutting activities: topic 2 Platform for nuclear technologies and safety  Instruments: One or more CA(s)  Objective: To generate synergy among the various endeavours in Europe in the field of present and future nuclear technologies and safety by identifying and pursuing a collaborative R&D programme.  Scope covers developing areas for cooperation on nuclear technologies and safety, based on the findings of existing studies  Requires broad participation from nuclear industry, research institutions and other principal stakeholders, including regulatory authorities and public bodies

31 / 32 Work programme 2005/6 Activities covered by continuously Open Call Areas / instruments:  Specific Support Actions (SSA): implementation of activities in the work programme, dissemination of results and preparation of future activities  Trans-national Access to Large Infrastructures (TALI): access for researchers to infrastructures that provide essential & unique services to EU research community  Training fellowships and European re-integration grants, special training courses, grants for co-operating with Third Countries Support will be strictly limited to activities falling within the technical scope of the Work Programme

32 / 32 Key messages  WP & call notice available on Cordis Website – provide all necessary info on scope, areas & technical topics, funding instruments, budget, evaluation, submission of proposals, etc.  Deadline / cut-off date 11 th October 2005  WP includes greater use of “smaller” (i.e. old) funding instruments than previous FP6 calls (follows recommendations of Marimon report and discussion with programme committee)  Special emphasis on research infrastructures and cross-cutting activities  WP also includes some key follow-up actions that pave the way for further integration and co-operation in FP7