Improved nuclear data for energy and non-energy modelling applications

Topic Description

This action should provide reliable nuclear data and IT tools to be used for different nuclear energy and non-energy applications, mainly in the field of fission, radiation protection, safety, sustainability and enhancement of nuclear technologies. It should among others improve and develop related Data Bank services to scientists, assist member countries in benchmarking, testing and evaluating High Priority Nuclear Data sets, support access to key experimental infrastructures that address specific measurement capabilities and methodologies, preserve know-how in computer applications, nuclear data evaluation and validation of models, make available expertise and knowledge transfer by strengthening existing cooperation with international organisations such as OECD/NEA and IAEA nuclear Data sections.

The combination of advanced simulation models and more accurate nuclear data will allow optimising the use of and need for experimental and demonstration facilities in energy and non-energy applications such as the design improvement, optimisation of waste management and geological disposal, and support to a multidisciplinary approach in radiation protection. A concerted effort including new nuclear data measurements, dedicated benchmarks (i.e. integral experiments) and improved evaluation and modelling is needed in order to achieve the required accuracies. The action should aim among others to obtain high precision nuclear data for the major actinides present in advanced reactor fuels, to reduce uncertainties in new isotopes in closed cycles with waste minimisation, to better assess the uncertainties and correlations in their evaluation.

At least 5% of the total action budget must be dedicated to Education and Training activities for PhD students, postdoctoral researchers and trainees supported through the action.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the Euratom Programme of between EUR 1.75 and up to a maximum of EUR 3.5 million would allow this specific challenge to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

This action is expected to contribute to the enhancement of safety and competitiveness of European industry in nuclear field, resource efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nuclear energy and non-energy applications. It will also reinforce the responsibility of the research community in formulating robust science-based policy recommendations to decision makers.

International cooperation