The Belgian Nuclear Research Centre SCK•CEN and the US Department of Energy Idaho and Oak Ridge National Laboratories will make their research reactors, labs and education and training facilities available to scientists from other countries for training and research and development, representatives of the labs announced at the IAEA General Conference today.
Both institutions received designations as IAEA International Centres based on Research Reactor (ICERR).
“The IAEA ICERR scheme helps IAEA Member States access state-of-the-art facilities and so achieve their national nuclear research and development and capacity building objectives,” IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano said at today’s designation ceremony. “Through advanced training, ICERRs foster knowledge, build nuclear competence and develop nuclear safety culture.”
The Belgian research reactor BR2 (Belgian Reactor 2) is one of the most powerful and flexible research reactors in the world: It produces 20 to 25% of the world’s most important radioisotopes, including medical isotopes essential for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
“This is an outstanding recognition for Belgium. The nuclear expertise and experience obtained through our research and development support the education and training activities with which we transfer knowledge and skills to current and future generations,” said Eric van Walle, Director General of SCK•CEN. “We are proud to contribute to IAEA’s goal with our unique infrastructure.”
