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the Institute for Nuclear Waste Disposal (INE) of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, the European
Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) in Karlsruhe and the Belgian Studiecentrum voor
Kernenergie - Centre d’Étude de l’Énergie Nucléaire (SCK-CEN). On behalf of this consortium and
coordinated by the CEA, a project proposal for a “Network of Excellence (NoE) for Actinide Sciences
ACTINET” was submitted for a period of four years under the 6 th Framework Programme of
the EU. The proposal was approved by the Commission and funds of 6 million EUR were granted.
The project started in March 2004.
3. The NoE ACTINET
The objectives of the NoE ACTINET can be summarized as follows:
Stimulation and enhancement of actinide sciences in Europe
Significant improvement of access of European scientists to the large actinide laboratories
Better utilization of the experimental and analytical infrastructure existing in Europe for actinide
research
Increase in mobility in particular of young scientists from the institutions of the ACTINET
members
Establishment of joint R&D projects in the field of fundamental actinide sciences
Maintaining European excellence by scientific evaluation and selection of joint R&D projects
Transfer of knowledge to young scientists by intensified education and training
Maintenance and extension of European competence in the field of actinide research
Apart from the organization and management of the network, activities of the NoE ACTINET concentrate
on integration, joint research projects as well as on education, training, and transfer of
knowledge.
ACTINET is open to new partners. Several new members have joined the network during the last
four years.
3.1. Organization and Management
The organization structure of ACTINET is similar to that of other networks or integrated projects
under the 6 th Framework Programme of the EU. All members of the consortium are represented in
the governing board. Among others, it is the task of this governing board to define general principles
of the network, to approve and allocate (annually) the budget under the given financial boundary
conditions, and to decide on new members. The scientific advisory committee comprises scientists
who have been selected for their scientific reputation and represent various areas of actinide
sciences. They are supposed to accompany the network from the scientific point of view, to provide
consultancy, and to define new topics or foci, if applicable. The scientific advisory committee
members evaluate the joint projects proposed in the field of research, education, and training. The
executive committee consists of 9 members, four of which represent the core institutions. They support
the coordinator in the management of the network and prepare the decisions of the governing
board. Within the limits of the budget approved, they decide on the funds granted to positively
evaluated projects. The executive committee is supported by the management team that comprises a
number of working groups with defined tasks, such as the support of the three research areas, organization
and coordination of the actinide laboratories, or organization of education and training.
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