Supporting the technology behind geological disposal
The European Commission introduced the ETPs to provide a framework for stakeholders to prioritise and develop strategically important issues. The technology platforms ensure that important areas of research that are highly relevant to industry receive sufficient funding. ETPs therefore address technological challenges that in the future can contribute to key policy objectives and help safeguard the European Union's competitiveness. The objectives include sustainable development, new technology-based public goods and services, maintaining a lead in new technology, and the restructuring of traditional industries. The Implementing Geological Disposal of radioactive waste Technology Platform (IGD-TP) was established to support the final disposal of nuclear waste in deep geological formations. The 'Secretariat of the implementing geological disposal technology platform' (SecIGD) project set up a secretariat to support the IGD-TP and to maintain the intranet for IGD-TP participants and the public webpage. With the support of the secretariat, IGD-TP was able to publish the founding documents of the technology platform for public consultation. The documents included the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA 2011) and the final draft of the Deployment Plan. The SecIGD project also organised two public exchange forums, project meetings and meetings for the IGD-TP's Executive Group and SRA. SecIGD and the IGD-TP's Executive Group members engaged in around 60 dissemination activities, contacting 13 000 people. In addition, the initiative produced three reviewed conference papers. SecIGD contributed to the success of the IGD-TP by ensuring stakeholder support, a focus on research funding and the meeting of technological challenges. In addition, it has helped to develop a common European view on the management and disposal of nuclear waste.
