Safeguards Research and Development at ABACC. Accomplishments and future strategy

Since the inception of the implementation of the Quadripartite Agreement (INFCIRC/435), ABACC took note of the need to develop a technical capacity to face the challenges to be a safeguards agency as well as gain credibility in the nuclear safeguards world. This capacity means to develop and implement systems in the technical area, in the inspection framework, in the conceptual analysis of processes and approaches and in the political scenario. These tasks will certainly generate needs in missing fields in which research and development (R&D) projects would be necessary. Beyond this responsibility, ABACC has been involved in the application of safeguards to sensitive and complex installations, as enrichment facilities, which require special equipment, safeguards procedures and technical expertise. It is not uncommon that the application of a safeguards approach needs new developments and searching for unique solutions in which R&D plays a significant role. Although ABACC looks for direct application, the R&D as a strategic quality for the organization has never been neglected. This paper summarizes the R&D projects that ABACC has participated in or accomplished. It also presents the policy applied by ABACC for R&D in new safeguards system technology, and personnel qualification to fulfill the needs on the present and future safeguards and non proliferation applications. It also addresses the R&D collaboration with other non proliferation and safeguards organizations.