Year
2003
Abstract
A Co-ordinated Research Project (CRP) on “Improvement of Technical Measures to Detect and Respond to Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and other Radioactive Materials” has been established by the IAEA. The Project addresses two major subject areas: improvement of portable and installed border monitoring equipment including implementation issues and nuclear forensic support for the analysis of seized nuclear material samples for the IAEA Member States. Two consultant meetings have been held in 2002 and 2003 to prepare the CRP and the specifications for border monitoring equipment. About 20 applications for contracts and agreements from several Member States have been obtained and are being evaluated. It is planned to hold the first Research Coordination Meeting in November 2003 in Vienna. In the second area the first Consultants Meeting was held in February 2003 to determine the major task areas and to establish a system of nuclear forensic support to Member States. The results of the CRP are expected to strengthen the capability of Member States to prevent, detect and respond to events of illicit trafficking and nuclear terrorism by supporting them with the selection, provision and installation of equipment, advice, training, and demonstration exercises. This paper summarizes the task, the status of the activities, discusses the recommendations of the meetings, and outlines the future plans.