OBJECTIVES

ORIENT-NM seeks to explore the possibility and critically assess the added value of establishing a Co-Funded European Partnership (CEP) to support the development of a coordinated pan-European research and innovation programme on nuclear materials, positively impacting Europe’s competitiveness in the nuclear field at world scale.

EXPECTED IMPACTS

ORIENT-NM aims at designing a plan for a CEP on nuclear materials in all its aspects.

Why a Co-Funded European Partnership (CEP) on nuclear materials?

Europe aims to be climate-neutral by 2050. The transition towards an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions relies on a secure and sustainable energy supply. Nuclear energy has an important role to play in this regard being the second largest source of low-carbon electricity in the world.

Nuclear materials represent a key element for the safety, efficiency, economy, and sustainability of nuclear energy. Hence the importance of establishing an ambitious and coordinated research and innovation EU-wide partnership that catalyses EU Member States’ national resources towards consensually defined objectives.

HIGHLIGHTS

ORIENT-NM aims at preparing a CEP, addressing all its aspects:

Produce a single vision and a convincing strategic research agenda (SRA) for nuclear materials until 2040:

Consistent with national programmes and industrial needs.
Considering supply chain constraints, standardisation issues, and availability of infrastructures.

Elaborate an efficient CEP governance and legal structure, observant of:

Decision-making processes;
Intellectual property issues;
Promotion of innovation;
Implementation schemes: quality assurance, SRA updating, and knowledge & data management.

Develop protocols to interact with other relevant stakeholders, including:

International organisations
Standardisation bodies & technical safety organisations
Research communities
Infrastructure managers
Industry

To achieve its objective, ORIENT-NM will encourage a dialogue between the research community, represented by the associations and beneficiaries involved in the project, and the Member States, facilitated by the European Commission. Two main workshops at fixed moments of the project are at the centre of this approach.