Session: 10-01 R&D - Euratom-funded R&D Overviews

Paper Number: 110315

110315 - Lessons Learned From Implementing Training and Mobility Programmes Within Ec H2020 Projects Eurad and Predis 

EURAD (representing European Joint Programming) and PREDIS projects are funded by the European Commission and both are dealing with research, strategic studies and knowledge management on radioactive waste management (RWM). PREDIS is focusing on radioactive waste pre-disposal, EURAD on overall aspects of RWM with special impact on geological disposal of radioactive waste (RW).

Since these projects beginning, the KM has been understood as an essential activity in order to ensure efficient knowledge transfer among RWM community and with a special emphasis on the results gathered within both projects research. Another benefit of the intensive cooperation between EURAD and PREDIS in the KM is their support of the European Commission with respect to the Council Directive 2011/70/Euratom contributing to safe, sustainable and timely management of radioactive waste in the national RWM programmes.

In 2020, EURAD launched the ‘School of Radioactive Waste Management (RWM)’, it deals with all aspects of training and mobility and supports utilisation of available research infrastructures. All KM actions are linked to the EURAD Roadmap, populated with State-of-Knowledge documents that describe, in a generic way, all implementation activities necessary to dispose radioactive waste.

In order to create a portfolio of training courses, currently existing training initiatives in the field of RWM were mapped. A survey and gap analysis were carried out to identify unfulfilled current needs for courses on specific topics. The School of RWM has already organized three training courses, herewith responding to the perceived needs. PREDIS has also already organised two courses, combining on-site course with visit to LLW/ILW management facility.

Besides training courses, both projects regularly organize topical webinars, which are related to actual RWM & Pre-disposal themes, and has in average >100 participants from all parts of the world.

Both projects launched a dedicated mobility programme, which allow their beneficiaries (mainly students) to perform technical visits to infrastructures (such as underground research facilities, nuclear laboratories or computing centres), to undertake internships and to set up exchange programmes between institutions within EURAD/PREDIS. In addition, both projects financially support participation to training courses and international events.

Finally, EURAD and PREDIS projects support their respective student communities (>130 students), including master, PhD students, and postdocs who take an active part in developing the training programme. A number of initiatives are taken in both projects to give visibility to students in the R&D programmes thus supporting their networking and possibilities for mentoring.

In order to improve their efficiency, EURAD and PREDIS knowledge management activities will be merged in the upcoming EURAD-2 and will also contribute to the involvement of the wider KM end-users community participating in the RWM.

Presenting Author: Paul Carbol European Commission, JRC

Presenting Author Biography: N/A