Maintaining focus and seeking synergies – ensuring that small R&D programs are able to maximise the effectiveness of the efforts in support of safeguards

The IAEA is largely dependent upon the Member State Support Programs (MSSPs) for the technologies and concepts that underpin the effectiveness and efficiency of the safeguards system. The contributions made by the large and well-funded MSSPs have built the foundations that will support safeguards for decades to come and are vital to the operation of the safeguards system, but smaller R&D programs can also make substantive contributions to the success of the system. Commonly the smaller R&D programs face funding constraints, which mean that for projects to proceed they must be seen as meeting national needs. The challenge, for these states and the IAEA, is to ensure a real focus on the operational needs of safeguards, by exploiting synergies between the needs of the state and the needs of the IAEA. The Australian safeguards support program has existed since June 1980. We have developed a good reputation for being responsive to the Agency’s needs and producing useful results in a reasonable period of time. The way in which we have done this is by trying to fit IAEA priorities into Australian institutional research priorities. The Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office (ASNO) produces detailed analytical work on basic safeguards parameters that is highly influential in the progress towards new safeguards methods and approaches. The Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), among its many areas of research, has substantial expertise in analysis for geochronology, enabling it to conduct research in nuclear forensics which is relevant to current safeguards controversies. This paper will explore the needs and value of relatively small scale safeguards R&D work.