Project description
Securing a future role for non-power reactors
Europe has a broad and very diverse landscape of nuclear research reactors (RRs). These are non-power nuclear reactors that serve as a neutron source, and they are used for research and training, materials testing and the production of radioisotopes for medicine. Many of these RRs have been in operation 30-50 years. While maintenance and regular upgrading has been necessary, financial pressure has resulted in the closure of many RRs. The EU-funded TOURR project will investigate the decreasing number of RRs. It will identify future needs and design a roadmap for the upgrading of existing RRs. The project’s overall goal is to evaluate related needs, develop tools to optimise the RRs, and raise awareness amongst decision-makers about their future role in European research and development.
Objective
Nuclear research reactors (RR) have been constructed in countries implementing nuclear power plants and used in experiments necessary to develop commercial reactors and training programmes. Neutron irradiations have found new applications in the adaption and production of existing and new materials, including medical radioisotopes. The latter enabled development of new diagnosis and treatment techniques, for the benefit of millions of patients. Europe has a broad and very diverse landscape of RRs, many of them 30-50 years in operation, well maintained and regularly upgraded. Yet financial pressure, caused by combination of declining interest and the absence of a sound financial model, led to closure of many of them ( e.g OSIRIS in Saclay) and a few others will close soon (e.g. BER2 in Berlin). On the other hand, only one RR is now being constructed – the Jules Horowitz Reactor. Those negative trends call for a coordinated European action to assess the impact of the decreasing number of RRs, identify future needs (including new neutron sources), draw a roadmap for upgrade of the existing RR fleet, and a model for harmonized resource management.
TOURR project is a response to this challenge. Its primary objective is to develop a strategy for RR in Europe and prepare the ground for its implementation. This strategic goal can be divided into specific objectives:
(1) Assessment of the current status of European RR fleet, including plans for upgrade;
(2) Evaluation of urgent EU needs;
(3) Developing tools for optimal use of RR fleet,
(4) Rising awareness among decision makers on the (future) role of RRs.
The ambition of TOURR project is to secure access and availability of RRs as a vital part of the European Research Area and to support stable supply of medical radioisotopes.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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H2020-Euratom - Euratom
MAIN PROGRAMME
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H2020-Euratom-1. - Indirect actions
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
CSA - Coordination and support action
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) NFRP-2019-2020
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1000 BRUSSEL
Belgium
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.