GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

To reduce the risk of nuclear proliferation, EU Member States are strongly committed to the principle of minimisation of highly enriched uranium, with the objective of converting research reactors and radioisotope production targets to high-assay low-enriched (19.75%) uranium (HALEU).

The preparatory phase should include:

• Strategic work
  • ex ante analysis of the socio-economic impact of the initiatives, taking the limits and long term benefits into account;
  • plans to integrate the different national research initiatives in accordance with the EU objective of balanced territorial development whenever appropriate;
  • creation or consolidation of centres of excellence or regional partner facilities.
• Management work
  • planning in terms of coordination and integration of national efforts for a period of at least 10 years;
  • recruitment plan (timing, resources) to manage the initiatives;
  • organisation of logistic support for European research teams, including the setting up of the required e-infrastructure.
• Governance work: preparation of adequate decision-making and (separated) management structures, advisory bodies, intellectual property rights, access rules for researchers, etc.
• Financial work
  • financial arrangements, possibly step by step, for the coordination and integration of national efforts following EU principles and the Financial Regulation;
  • studying new mechanisms, for example pre-commercial procurement processes or support from EU structural funds or Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI), by which public authorities may develop new research & innovation approaches.
• Legal work
  • identification of adequate legal structures for the setting up, construction and operation of the integrated or joint research programmes;
  • drafting of intergovernmental agreements in the form of a ‘signature-ready’ document for the setting up and actual implementation of the initiatives.
• Technical work, whenever needed, such as:
  • planning for the transfer of knowledge from existing prototypes or key enabling technologies developed at national level to the Euratom Community;
  • adaptation of national research facilities ensuring their optimal exploitation by the beneficiary scientific communities at European level; additional research work can also be proposed, provided it helps meet the above objectives.

After 2 years, a successful preparatory phase should lead to the implementation of joint programmes based on public-public and public-private partnerships, with increased efficiency and consistency as well as better visibility and attractiveness at global level.