Maintaining Nuclear Competence within the EU

1. Maintaining Nuclear Competence within the EU Vladimír Slugeň Director of the Institute of Nuclear and Physical Engineering, FEI STU in Bratislava SNUS President ENS Past president and HSC member

2. Vision for ENS in 2009 – 2011 In tried to accent: Expert and professional face of ENS Scientific and academic face of ENS Role of ENS in effective nuclear knowledge management “Highest risk in nuclear safety and energy supply – missing knowledge and skills!”

3. Vision for ENS ENS should be more active and visible also at the university level. ENS could try to give university graduates a “new dimension”, let say feeling that beside excellent job possibilities in nuclear there exists also organisation where they can find answers not only on professional questions (via meetings, workshop, seminars on national or international, formal or non-formal level), but also community feeling supporting they pride to do this job.

4. A network of people More than 20.000 professionals from industry the academic world research centers authorities From 22 Member Societies in Europe an Israel

5. Corporate Members More than 60 Corporate Members research institutes industry governmental authorities Partners for nuclear technology and research

6. Expert Analysis • Position Papers • Expert Analysis • Conference Highlights

7. Conferences Well established, very international conferences on key issues ENS flagship conference with industry exhibition Communication in the nuclear sector European Research Reactor Conference Education and Training in the nuclear sector Reactor Fuel Cycle Conference

8. Website

9. The ENS Higher Scientific Council (HSC) is concerned • about the current negative developments within some Member States of the EU and the consequential reduced perspectives in the field of nuclear energy technology, education, research and development. • The HSC believes that the use of nuclear energy provides an essential contribution to the secure, clean and affordable energy supply for electricity generation, and that this will remain for at least the rest of this century.

10. The ENS Higher Scientific Council (HSC) strongly recommends that the nuclear industry should actively encourage the setting up of knowledge transfer mechanisms to ensure that the knowledge, know-how and experiences of the current generation of professionals within the industry is not lost to the young people entering nuclear careers. 10

11. The Fukushima Effect The accident at Fukushima had mixed implications for the EU. The accident could have been avoided if nuclear power plants and the nuclear safety regulatory frameworks were sufficiently robust. 11

12. Funding Challenges The lack of enthusiasm for the use of nuclear energy for electricity production in some parts of the EU has meant that nuclear fission energy related budgets are being cut. Nuclear fission R&D budgets within Europe which have effectively been reduced in the past decade are now under more pressure because of the lack of political commitment and realism regarding the need for the use of nuclear power to ensure that Europe has an adequate energy infrastructure in the coming decades. 12

13. Specific reasons for R&D support in Slovakia 1. To keep the nuclear knowledge grooving in Slovakia since 1955.Without the nuclear research, nuclear knowledge as well as education decreases. Together to this decreases also safety culture.

14. Specific reasons for R&D support in Slovakia 2. For creation of suitable conditions towards safe operation and lifetime prolongation of operating NPPs. 3. For advanced approach to simulation and modeling or several accident management 14

15. Specific reasons for R&D support in Slovakia 4. For the safe and effective decommissioning based on scientific approach. Only Europe needs new about 7000 experts for decommissioningtill 2025. It implies our current activity for establishing of Decommissioning training centre in Slovakia 15

16. Specific reasons for R&D support in Slovakia 5. For new generation of experts for the built of Gen.III reactors. 6. For new generation of experts for the built of Gen.IV reactors (projects as ALLEGRO or GFR). 16

17. Specific reasons for R&D support in Slovakia 7. For high educated generation of young technicians which will be able to take part at development of thermonuclear facilities (projects ITER, DEMO, PROTO) in effective international collaboration framework 8. For effective commercial application of Slovak companies inEuropean or world space focused on deliveries in nuclear builds, service or decommissioning. 17

18. Cooperation academia - nuclear industry • Graduate studies in nuclear power engineering at the level Bc., MSc. PhD. • Post Graduate Courses • Periodical preparation of selected licensed staff of NPP • Consultations • Contracts SES2012, Bratislava, 27.9. 2012

20. Scientific orientation (STU) • Orientation to Nuclear Safety Evaluation • Nuclear fuel cycle issues, • Reactor criticality calculations • Material science, application of nuclear spectroscopic methods on advanced materials (Mössbauer spectroscopy, PAS LTS, DBS, TEM, BNM, …) • Computer Modelling (MCNP5&X, SCALE6, SRIM, TRANSPORT, Microshield, Visiplan) • Linear accelerator – ..., ion implantation, experimental simulation of radiation damage

21. Interfaces Safety is Integrated Accountable Learning driven Clearly recognized Strong leadership Safety culture Culture Science Engineering R&D Material science ICT Innovation Others Knowledge culture Human Design Construction Operation Maintenance Safety Knowledge Safety management Management Knowledge management

22. Thank you for your attention!