Open access to JRC research infrastructure in coordination with OFFERR

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Expected outcome:

• Enabling access to the unique nuclear research infrastructure of the JRC to the European nuclear research and training community from Member States and Associated Countries.

Expected impact:

• Ability for the nuclear research community to perform, free of charge, advanced experiments using JRC experimental capacity.
• Contribution to the education and training capacity building in the nuclear technology domain.
• Facilitating cross-border collaborative research effort in the nuclear field at the European level, fostering shared expertise and resources.
• Enhance the dissemination of scientific knowledge at European level.
• Contribute to bridge the gap between research and industry, as well as the capacity gap between EU Member States.
• Supporting the implementation of the Euratom programme’s objectives and contributing to establishing the European Research Area in the nuclear field.
• Supporting critical infrastructure by ensuring the long-term availability and continued operation of these key experimental facilities.
• Creating synergies and complementarity with ongoing and foreseen Euratom projects by providing open access to state-of-the-art infrastructures and expertise.

Scope:

The Euratom programme has supported research contributing to increasing knowledge in nuclear safety via both collaborative projects (indirect actions) or via direct research actions implemented by JRC. Mapping of European Research infrastructures has been developed by NUGENIA and STC, however rather low mobility has been noticed, preventing these infrastructure from offering their full value to the research community.

To enhance access to nuclear research infrastructure, the Euratom R&T programme launched in 2022 the OFFERR project[[https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101060008

]] aiming at facilitating the access of the European researchers to the nuclear research infrastructure for both experimental, and education and training purposes.

Through the JRC, the European Commission directly manages unique research infrastructures, which are deeply integrated into the nuclear research efforts in Europe. The JRC open access programme to its research facilities already facilitates access for research centres, academic institutions and the industry.

Under this action, community support will be provided to facilitate access to JRC nuclear research facilities to users from research organisations and academia based in Member States and associated countries. Users will get free (of charge) access to the facilities, technical expertise from experienced JRC scientists and engineers, and assistance with experiment design, assembly, safety analysis, and examination.

This will lead to promoting research and training activities and mobility, as well as maintaining multi-disciplinary nuclear competences and broadening the availability of suitably qualified nuclear researchers, engineers and technicians in the EU. Furthermore, JRC can provide technical and scientific support to develop best practices and identify bottlenecks for mobility, as well as to develop a protocol or methodology that would hopefully catalyse further mobility actions.

The JRC personnel costs of its facilities are expected to be covered by the JRC direct actions budget. It is expected that the open access to the JRC facilities explores synergies with the governance of the OFFERR platform.

Funding rate: 100%