Euratom Research and Training Programme 2014–2018
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| Euratom Research and Training Programme 2014–2018 | |
|---|---|
| Name | Euratom Research and Training Programme 2014–2018 |
| Jurisdiction | European Union |
| Established | 2014 |
| Dissolved | 2018 |
| Preceding1 | Euratom Research and Training Programme 2007–2013 |
| Superseding | Euratom Research and Training Programme 2019–2020 |
| Budget | €1.6 billion (indicative) |
| Website | None |
Euratom Research and Training Programme 2014–2018 The Euratom Research and Training Programme 2014–2018 was a European Union-funded initiative focused on nuclear research, safety, and training coordinated under the European Commission and the European Atomic Energy Community. It aimed to support research activities relevant to nuclear fusion, fission, radiation protection, radioactive waste management, and human capital through grants, networks, and infrastructure access. The programme operated in the wider policy context of the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community and parallel to Horizon 2020 priorities.
Background and Objectives
The programme derived authority from the Treaty of Rome amendments leading to the European Atomic Energy Community framework and responded to concerns raised after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster about safety, resilience, and transnational coordination. Objectives included strengthening the scientific basis for nuclear safety as faced by institutions such as the International Atomic Energy Agency and the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group, enhancing capabilities akin to those promoted by the Joint Research Centre, and supporting long-term technology trajectories exemplified by projects linked with the Iter Project and the Joint European Torus. Policy goals referenced alignments with the Council of the European Union conclusions on nuclear research and the European Parliament debates on energy policy.
Programme Structure and Funding
Administered by the European Commission Directorate-General for Energy in cooperation with the European Research Executive Agency, the programme’s budget allocation covered collaborative research, training actions, and infrastructure. Funding instruments mirrored mechanisms used in Horizon 2020 such as grants, coordination and support actions, and research infrastructure access provided through consortia including national laboratories like CEA (France), UKAEA, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, and research organizations such as SCK•CEN and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Financial oversight involved the European Court of Auditors standards and reporting to the European Parliament budget committees. Calls for proposals were published to attract entities including Universität Stuttgart, Politecnico di Milano, CEA Saclay, and private firms like AREVA.
Research Areas and Projects
Research themes targeted nuclear fission safety, radioactive waste management, radiation protection, and fusion research. Notable project types included infrastructure projects linked to the JRC Institute for Energy and Transport, joint projects addressing lessons from the Chernobyl disaster, and workstreams related to materials science relevant to ITER and JET (Joint European Torus). Projects fostered collaboration among universities such as University of Cambridge, TU Delft, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, and national research centers like CEA, Forschungszentrum Jülich, and CEA Grenoble. Topics included advanced reactor systems echoed in studies by OECD Nuclear Energy Agency, decommissioning techniques comparable to work at the Sellafield site, and radiation dosimetry research aligned with the International Commission on Radiological Protection recommendations.
Training, Mobility and Education Activities
The programme prioritized human capital through fellowships, training networks, and mobility schemes modeled after Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, enabling exchanges between institutions such as CERN (for joint techniques), Karolinska Institutet (for radiobiology), and institutes like Institut Curie. Doctoral and postdoctoral fellowships connected beneficiaries including École Polytechnique, ETH Zurich, Sorbonne University, and Universidade de Lisboa to national labs. Education activities included summer schools, secondments, and capacity-building workshops involving stakeholders such as the European Nuclear Education Network and technical collaborations with manufacturers like Siemens and Rolls-Royce Holdings.
Governance and Implementation
Governance combined Commission oversight, expert advisory groups, and stakeholder consultations with entities such as the European Economic and Social Committee and national ministries of member states including France, Germany, United Kingdom (pre-Brexit participation), Italy, and Spain. Implementation used calls managed by the Research Executive Agency and evaluation panels drawing experts from institutions like Max Planck Society, CNRS, and Helmholtz Association. Monitoring and evaluation followed indicators comparable to those in Horizon 2020, with ethics and safety reviews coordinated alongside the European Food Safety Authority for radiological aspects when applicable. Intellectual property conditions referenced frameworks used by European Patent Office applicants and consortium agreements based on model rules from the European Commission.
Results, Impact and Legacy
Outcomes included published research, improved methodologies for decommissioning practiced at sites like La Hague, advances in fusion materials feeding into ITER preparations, and trained cohorts of researchers who moved to organizations such as EDF, Framatome, UKAEA, and academia. The programme influenced policy dialogues in the European Council and supported standard-setting interactions with the International Atomic Energy Agency. Its legacy informed successor actions under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2019–2020 and the ongoing integration with Horizon Europe-era initiatives, leaving lasting networks among universities, national laboratories, industry actors like Orano, and regulatory bodies including the European Nuclear Safety Regulators Group.