Euradwaste '08 - EU Bookshop - Europa

energy is produced by fission of uranium and plutonium as well as in the nuclear fuel cycle, where
fissile elements are separated from spent nuclear fuel for reuse. In the disposal of radioactive waste,
actinides have to be considered in long-term safety assessments due to their long half-lives and radiotoxicities.
Actinides also are in the focus of the “Partitioning and Transmutation” concept, a potential
alternative to the final disposal of long-lived radionuclides, and of the development of nuclear
fuels for advanced reactor systems.
Actinde research is highly complex and expensive. The reasons are high work safety requirements,
as actinides, due to their radiotoxicity, may only be handled in special controlled areas and there in
glove boxes or hot cells exclusively (except natural thorium and uranium). In addition, U-233, U-
235, and Pu-239, for instance, may be used as nuclear fuels and are suitable for nuclear weapons.
They are subject to rather strict licensing and control requirements and may only be handled in secured
and monitored areas. Consequently, there are only few laboratories in Europe that have the
license, the infrastructure and the recourses’ to handle actinides. These laboratories are pursuing
national research programmes and so far have been accessible for external scientists, e.g. from universities,
to a very limited extent only.
In recent years, the number of young scientists working in the field of actinide research decreased
in Europe. Without young scientists, however, Europe may suffer a loss of competence that cannot
be compensated in the short term. Without enthusiastic and ambitious young scientists, it will be
impossible to maintain competence, which does not mean to preserve the current state of science
and technology only, but to accumulate new knowledge in order to improve our understanding of
the various processes and systems. This is a prerequisite to cover the demand of research institutions,
nuclear industry and licensing authorities for excellent young scientists and engineers in the
future.
2. Bundling of European Activities
In view of the high relevance of actinides to the use of nuclear energy and the necessity of maintaining
competence, it appeared reasonable to stimulate European actinide research and to improve
cooperation. For this purpose, a project (ACTINET-5) was launched under the 5 th Framework Programme
of the European Commission with the vision to develop the frame and the terms of reference
for the implementation of a European Network of Excellence on Actinide Research within the
6 th Framework Programme. Objectives of the project included:
Definition and execution of joint transnational research projects.
Better use of the infrastructure available at the actinide laboratories.
Facilitating access of European scientists to the actinide laboratories.
Familiarizing young scientists with actinide research.
Enhancing training and education in the field of actinide research.
Specific promotion of young scientists is aimed at further developing and sustainable maintaining
European competence in the field of actinide sciences.
Within the framework of ACTINET-5, contacts between the large European actinide laboratories
were intensified and potential structures and research topics were discussed with interested parties
from universities and other research institutions. A consortium of 27 partners from 13 European
countries was founded. This consortium comprises a so-called core group that represents the large
European actinide laboratories. These are the French Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique (CEA),
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