One major issue for nuclear energy, requiring intensive R&D programs, remains a broadly agreed approach to waste management, in particular long-lived waste components. R&D is also needed to explore new concepts for nuclear energy generation that make better use of fissile material and generate less waste. Actinide science is one central theme to respond to these needs. Few laboratories in Europe possess knowledge and tools in actinide science, none of them covers the full spectrum at the scale required by the technical challenges, and they few interact. Existing and future knowledge and tools in Europe should therefore undergo a process towards integration and optimisation.
In this context, the general objective of ACTINET is to gather the concerned scientific community through a network, aiming to reach sustainability in a few years. Knowledge dissemination, education and training activities through the network will ensure highest level of expertise in Europe. Transnational access to experimental facilities will valorise existing and future facilities and optimise their use.
In general, research and education networking will revitalize actinide science, facilitate the development of joint European scientific programmes, and make the field more attractive to young scientists. More specifically, the goals of ACTINET are: - coordinate the use of major actinide facilities to the European scientific community; - improve human mobility between member institutions, in particular between academic institutions and national laboratories; - promote excellence through a selection process of R&D and training activities.
These goals will be achieved through procedures allowing the pooled facilities to operate as a multi-site User Facility, including selection of proposals for research, education and training on a competitive basis. An initial joint program of activities, agreed among the community, will allow launching the Network...