The IAEA nuclear applications laboratories in Seibersdorf, Austria will be holding an “open day” for potential partners on 29 March, where companies interested in partnering with the Agency can learn about the work of the laboratories, their equipment needs as well as how partnerships may work.
Parties interested in the site visit have until 11 March to confirm their participation using the registration form found here.
The open day is part of an initiative which calls for the contribution or free loan of equipment to support the IAEA’s efforts to modernize its nuclear applications laboratories in order to meet evolving needs of Member States in the use of nuclear techniques in food and agriculture, human health, the environment and nuclear instrumentation.
“The IAEA is looking to obtain a wide variety of equipment, such as a pathogen testing facility for plant breeding and genetics research and a broad energy gamma detector for measuring radionuclides for soil erosion assessment and nuclear emergency response in food and agriculture,” said Andy Garner, Laboratory Coordinator.
This initiative marks the second time the IAEA has called on private companies to contribute equipment under its initiative to renovate the labs. Four possible partnerships are currently under discussion as a result of previous calls for expression of interest.
“We are delighted to be supported by the companies who have expressed interest so far,” said Garner. “To expand on these successes, we are seeking further private sector support to improve the work being done in our laboratories.”
Potential donors can express their interest to provide equipment to the IAEA’s laboratories, based on a list of equipment published on the United Nations Global Marketplace (UNGM) portal, until 30 April. The UNGM is a platform to bring together UN procurement staff and the vendor community.
The UNGM portal can be accessed here. It is not an IAEA requirement for suppliers to register with or submit their interest through the UNGM portal.
Read more about the IAEA laboratory modernization project, including the status of new laboratory buildings, here.
