COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 
Brussels, 29.07.1998 
COM(1998) 483 final 
JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE 
1997 ANNUAL REPORT 
(presented by the Commission) 

FOREWORD 
Every year the Commission presents an Annual Report for the Joint Research Centre (JRC), describing 
the entire spectrum of JRC activities during the year and giving information on the human and financial 
resources which have been available for the execution of the work. 
The Annual Report, accompanied by the Observations of the Board of Governors of the JRC, is 
transmitted by the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and Social 
Committee. 
The present report covers activities in 1997 and is issued in fulfilment of the reporting requirements set 
out in the Council decisions on the JRC specific programmes (1995-1998) for the EC (European 
Community)1 and the EAEC (European Atomic Energy Communities)2 respectively, and the 
supplementary High Flux Reactor programme 1996-1999 for the EAEC3. 
At the same time, the 1997 Annual Report constitutes a contribution to the reporting on Community 
RTD (Research and Technological Development) activities which is required by Article 130P of the EC 
Treaty. 
1 OJL361/114 31.12.1994 
2 OJL361/132 31.12.1994 
3 OJ L 172/23 11.7.1996 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
3-4 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 
INTRODUCTION 5 
THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE 6 
OBSERVATIONS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS 7 
JRC HIGHLIGHTS OF 1997 9 
1. THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE IN 1997 12 
1.1 INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES: JRC SPECIFIC RESEARCH PROGRAMMES 
1.1.1 Institutional Research Activities 
1.1.2 Institutional Scientific and Technical Support for Community Policies 
1.2 COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 19 
1.3 JRC INFORMATION DAYS, PUBLICATIONS, AND CONFERENCES 21 
1.4 HUMAN RESOURCES 23 
1.5 FINANCES 26 
2. ACTIVITIES OF THE JRC INSTITUTES IN 1997 27 
2.1 THE INSTITUTE FOR REFERENCE MATERIALS AND MEASUREMENTS 27 
2.2 THE INSTITUTE FOR TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS 30 
2.3 THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS 33 
2.4 THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS, INFORMATICS AND SAFETY 35 
2.5 THE ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE 40 
2.6 THE SPACE APPLICATIONS INSTITUTE 43 
2.7 THE INSTITUTE FOR PROSPECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES 45 
JRC Annua! Report 1997 
INTRODUCTION 
1997 was a year of evolution towards a more customer-driven approach in JRC institutional activities and 
was characterized by several scientific achievements in various research fields. These achievements are 
highlighted in the report. In particular, it should be mentioned that, for the first time, an innovative form of 
radiotherapy was tested on patients suffering from a very aggressive type of brain cancer, and that 
preliminary clinical trials have shown promising results in treating leukemia with alpha-immunotherapy. 
During the year, the JRC continued its successful performance as a neutral organisation at the service of 
the Commission within the frame of the objectives of the Council decisions on the JRC Specific 
Programmes for the period 1994-1998. In addition, JRC contributed to the preparation of the 5th 
Framework Programme with a proposal for the Centre's research in future years. In so doing, the Centre 
undertook an overall analysis of the demand for S&T assistance from the different customer Directorates 
General of the Commission. As a result of this analysis, a stronger emphasis is given to life sciences 
topics related to consumer protection, anti-fraud, prospective technological studies, sustainable growth and 
environment high on the Commission's agenda. The new orientation of the Centre is characterized by 
greater emphasis on socio-economic activities, reflecting the general orientation to "Research at the 
service of the individual and the citizen" given to future European Union's programmes. 
A particular effort was also made to improve the image of the JRC through a more determined 
communications policy. The visit in September of the Members of the European Parliament from the 
Committee on Research Technological Development and Energy, allowed for the presentation of future 
strategy and projects and to highlight the relevance of the Institutes scientific work to the European citizen. 
Additional efforts were made to open the Centre, in a more user-friendly approach, to the scientific press in 
order to render the JRC better known by the general public. 
A new technology transfer initiative was also approved by the Commission in early 1998, departing from 
earlier ideas for the creation of a technology park on the traditional model. Such a model was deemed not 
appropriate for the JRC in view of the need to preserve the independence and neutrality associated with its 
institutional role. Instead, an integrated set of flexible access mechanisms is foreseen through 
collaborative agreements with users for the sharing of large installations, as well as a technology transfer 
capital fund, a virtual technology park and training and education initiatives. 
JRC developed diverse collaborations with other research organisations, both in Member States and in the 
rest of the world, by participating in various networks to undertake different research and development 
initiatives. Competitive activities, such as participation in shared cost actions and work for external clients, 
continued to be obtained by JRC at a very significant pace, making the achievement of the four year 
objectives to appear attainable by the end of the programme. 
By capitalising on its multidisciplinarity, the JRC has maintained a high level of quality in its activities 
together with a continuous thrust to achieve better overall performance; efforts continued to render the 
internal organisation more flexible; these will be pursued and extended in 1998. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE 
The Joint Research Centre is the European Union's scientific and technical research laboratory, 
established by the European Commission, with headquarters in Brussels. Five separate sites, located in 
Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, house seven different institutes, each with its own 
focus of expertise. 
These institutes are: 
IRMM The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements GEEL (B) 
ITU The Institute for Transuranium Elements KARLSRUHE (D) 
1AM The Institute for Advanced Materials PETTEN (NL) and ISPRA (I) 
ISIS The Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety ISPRA (I) 
El The Environment Institute ISPRA (I) 
SAI The Space Applications Institute ISPRA (I) 
IPTS The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies SEVILLE (E) 
The Joint Research Centre is an integral part of the Community research and technological development 
system, and has developed over the years special skills and unique tools to provide neutral and Europe-
wide expertise, in order to get a better understanding of the links between technology, the economy and 
society. JRC aims to carry out the specific Community research programmes, decided upon by the 
Council and funded by the European Union budget; provide customer-driven research as scientific and 
technical support for other Community policies, such as those on the environment, agriculture or nuclear 
safety; and engage itself ever more successfully in competitive activities, i.e. participating on a par with 
industry, research organisations and universities of the Member States or associated countries in 
Community programmes, including shared-cost actions under the Framework Programmes, or providing 
paid services to private and public customers. 
The statutory staff, comprising officials, temporary and auxiliary agents, was 2 092 at the end of 1997.To 
this number one must add 148 scientists who were active in the Centre and were paid by the JRC under 
various hosting schemes. 
The global financial appropriations committed by the JRC in 1997 were around 291,316 Mioecu. 
This Annual Report is intended to give a general overview of JRC activities in 1997. 
The seven Institutes of the JRC produce their own Annual Reports. Readers may find more details in 
these Annual Reports. The JRC also publishes numerous scientific reports, presents papers to 
conferences and in scientific journals, and organizes workshops, seminars and conferences to 
disseminate its scientific output. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
OBSERVATIONS BY THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS ON THE JRC ANNUAL REPORT 1997 
The Board of Governors is pleased to note that the progress recorded in the 1996 Annual Report was 
sustained and consolidated during 1997. In particular the progress recorded in fulfilment of the mission of 
the JRC notably in support to EU Policies. The year saw a series of significant achievements which are 
highlighted in the present report. Competitive activities too are now an integral part of the JRCs working life 
- in particular together with its national partners the JRC has demonstrated success in obtaining contracts 
for participation in the shared-cost action programmes. 
Exploitation of Knowledge 
The Board of Governors is pleased that the JRC is moving positively to use and develop its knowledge and 
expertise for the benefit of the citizens of the European Union. The Board expects the JRC to continue to 
adapt its reservoir of knowledge as a resource for relevant and commercial exploitation. 
As highlighted in the report, the JRC is collaborating in the development of an innovative form of 
radiotherapy which is now undergoing clinical trials, and which could hold out hope for thousands of brain 
tumour sufferers. The JRC has also been involved in the development of an alpha emitting radioisotope 
adapted to a new kind of immunotherapy against cancer which is now undergoing various clinical trials at 
the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York and in European hospitals. 
Technology Transfer 
On a broader front, the JRC is developing a coherent set of initiatives to stimulate technology transfer, 
collaborative research and networking across Europe. An integrated set of mechanisms is being explored 
which should allow flexible access to JRC facilities, results, intellectual property, expertise and know-how. 
This is targeted at companies, large and small, research centres and individuals across Europe. The JRC 
is also addressing how best to exploit the significant range of intellectual property ideas residing in its 
various institutes. 
The Board of Governors sees all of this as a continuous process of trying to create better linkages 
between the JRC and its clientele in the Member States, and of creating networks and synergies of 
relevant groupings for the benefit of European industry and its citizens. The Board intends to follow these 
developments closely. 
Evolution of the JRC status 
In 1996 the Commission took a significant step when it decided to give the JRC the status of an 
autonomous Directorate General, a step which was welcomed by the Board of Governors. 
The Board has always strongly advocated giving the JRC the necessary freedom to play a fuller role and 
realise its full potential. In 1997 the Board issued a favourable opinion on a draft proposal to endow the 
JRC with legal personality. This move, properly executed, could help to enable the JRC to respond more 
fully to the competitive environment in which it is increasingly expected to operate. 
Evaluations 
During 1997 the Board continued to assess and supervise the implementation of the recommendations 
from the detailed and horizontal evaluations of the JRC activities carried out in late 1996 by Professor J. M. 
Rojo and the Visiting Groups. During 1997, the institutes systematically implemented detailed plans 
designed to give effect to these recommendations; for example addressing the spread of activities and 
how better to focus and concentrate resources. This is to be welcomed. 
5thFramework Programme 
The Board of Governors noted with keen interest the Commission's Proposal for the 5th Framework 
Programme. The Board has followed and has participated in the ensuing discussions at various levels -
JRC Annual Report 1997 
addressing the CERT (Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy) of the European 
Parliament, preparing a'submission to and addressing members of CREST (Scientific and Technical 
Research Committee), and in developing its own thinking concerning inter alia the compatibility of the 
programme and the capacity of the Centre. It adopted an Opinion in October 1997 emphasising the JRC 
mission on the basis of its neutrality, impartility and competencies necessary to underpin European 
policies. The opinion further stated that the Institutional budget in the 5th Framework Programme should be 
similar in real terms to that of the 4th Framework Programme and that a target for the competitive activities 
should be in addition 15% of the institutional budget. 
The Board believes that, as a result of solid progress made by the institutes over the past 5 years, the JRC 
is in a much stronger position to contribute to achieving the aims of the 5th Framework Programme. 
Staff 
The Board of Governors learned with regret that Director General Jean-Pierre Contzen would leave his 
position from July 1997. The Board would like to place on record its debt to him for the excellent 
contribution he made to building up the JRC and taking it into its new competitive role. The 
responsibilities of Director General during the second half of 1997 fell on the Deputy Director General, Mr. 
Hugh Richardson. 
After the period covered by the present Annual Report, the Commission in January 1998 selected and 
appointed Mr. Herbert Allgeier as Director General of the JRC. Mr. Allgeier is well familiar with the JRC 
which he, in a previous period served as the first Director of the Institute for Prospective Technological 
Studies in Seville. 
Acknowledgements 
The Board was pleased to have the opportunity in December 1997 of a detailed exchange of views with 
Commissioner Cresson on a range of pertinent issues, including the future orientation of the JRC. The 
Board looks forward to continuing a constructive dialogue with her in the future. 
The Board would also like to thank all of the staff of the JRC for their services and for the way they are 
responding to the new directions being charted out for the JRC. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
JRC HIGHLIGHTS OF 1997 
The JRC's scientific and technical work is mostly interdisciplinary and covers a large number of projects. 
The following few selected examples of work from the JRC Institutes illustrate various areas of activity and 
varied funding arrangements elaborated for JRC work in 1997. 
THE BORON NEUTRON CAPTURE THERAPY (BNCT): EXPLORATION OF AN 
INNOVATIVE TREATMENT FOR MALIGNANT BRAIN TUMOURS 
Approximately 15 000 Europeans are affected each year by glioblastoma, an extremely malignant type of brain 
tumour. Little progress has been made during the last 40 years in this field, and the average survival time of 
patients has not changed considerably, due to the low effectiveness of conventional treatments. An innovative 
form of radiotherapy is for the first time being tested in Europe at the HFR reactor in the JRC (Petten - The 
Netheriands). Five patients have already been treated in the framework of clinical tests that began in October 
1997. The boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) is carried out shortly after the patients surgical operation in 
his/her own country; it replaces conventional radiotherapy. The principle of this new treatment is to destroy 
only the cancerous cells, leaving healthy cells unharmed. 
It should be noted that the development of this therapy is only at the stage of clinical trials. The tests should 
make it possible to determine the optimal level of irradiation for the brain - varying the time, the dose, and the 
number of exposures to the new neutron beam. It is the first multi-national clinical application in Europe, 
where patients from one European country are treated in another country by physicians from a third country. 
This opens the way to organize clinical schemes that would use sophisticated and unique facilities to treat 
patients suffering from this aggressive type of brain cancer. 
ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE DETECTION SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIES 
The Space Applications Institute (SAI) is gaining recognition as a focal centre for mine detection and 
identification. Its work is continuing in close collaboration with national groups from EU Member States as well 
as with NGOs, representatives from mine-infected countries, and mine clearance teams. 
SAI set up an outdoor test range for establishing standards to validate the performance of mine detection 
sensors (e.g. metal detectors, ground penetrating radars and thermal infra-red sensors). This «benchmarking» 
action began in October 1997 with a workshop attended by the United Nations Department for Peace Keeping 
Operations (UNDPKO), non-govemmental organisations, mine clearance organisations, mine detector 
producers (SMEs), national research organisations, universities, and other Commission services concerned 
with mine clearance. The facility has been used by various mine-detection sensor producers, and in feasibility 
studies of a multi-sensor system for anti-personnel mine detection and identification. The standards obtained 
will be applied to subsequent SAI tests, as well as to mine clearance projects supported by the European 
Commission in mine-infected countries. 
NETWORK LABORATORY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL SAMPLING 
The discovery of the secret Iraqi nuclear weapons programme has led to a substantial strengthening of the 
safeguards system of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna. It became evident, that it is 
necessary to provide assurance that no undeclared nuclear activities are taking place in States having signed 
the Non-Proliferation Treaty. 
Ultra-sensitive environmental sampling techniques are one of the key new developments to help to detect the 
presence of clandestine activities. 
Following the agreement signed in July 1997 between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the 
JRC, the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) has become one of the network laboratories for the 
analysis of environmental samples. In this way the Institute is actively contributing to the policy of the 
European Union to support and strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency's activities in nuclear 
safeguards. The Institute is also closely collaborating with and providing similar support to the Commission's 
Euratom Safeguards Directorate (ESD) in the area of High Performance Trace Analysis (HPTA). ESD is 
providing financial support for increased automation of measurement technology. 
JHC Annual Keport 7yy/ 
10 
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND NETWORKING AT THE 
JRC 
Developing at the JRC a coherent set of activities to stimulate technology transfer, collaborative research and 
networking across Europe should be an indispensable and desirable complement to institutional activities. A 
feasibility study was thus carried out to define how this potential can best be exploited, taking into account, 
however, the need to preserve the institutional role of the JRC with its inherent neutrality and subsidiarity. As a 
result, an integrated set of mechanisms has been proposed for flexible access to JRC facilities, results, 
intellectual property, expertise and know-how, targeted at companies big and small, research centres and 
individuals across Europe. The objective is to achieve results across Europe and, therefore, to offer flexible 
options such as collaboration agreements and innovation-oriented actions. All components aim at facilitating 
access from geographically distant locations without having to invest in premises on the JRC sitest The 
proposed concept is thus a radical departure from traditional «technology parks», which aim at attracting 
investment and include a high proportion of property development. 
A particular effort was made in 1997 to increase the awareness of the JRC staff on intellectual property issues. 
A special leaflet explaining the need to protect inventions and the means to do so has been distributed to all 
staff. This message was amplified by a poster «Patent FIRST, then Publish». Patent coordinators have 
followed special training courses and have received access to specialised patent databases. 
ALPHA - IMMUNOTHERAPY 
Alpha-immunotherapy is a spin-off activity of the Basic actinide research work carried out at the Institute for 
Transuranium Elements (ITU). It has gained increasing interest and attention as a therapy for cancer 
treatment. 
The unique expertise of the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) in the nuclear field allowed it to 
prepare an alpha-emitting radio-isotope, Bismuth-213, adapted to a new kind of immunotherapy against 
cancer. A by-product of nuclear energy and derived from nuclear waste, Bismuth-213 is easier to handle than 
other alpha-emitters and decays rapidly into a non-radioactive substance. 
Early clinical trials carried out at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New-York, USA, on leukemia 
patients showed for the first time that alpha-particle therapy could be feasible and appears safe: no significant 
uptake of the isotope was registered outside of the target areas of bone marrow, liver and spleen. 
Similar studies sponsored by the European Commission are being carried out at Nantes, France, and 
Heidelberg, Germany. The French research focuses on an ex vivo bone-marrow purging feasibility study; the 
German one, on the other hand, is looking into the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) with in vitro 
tests. Bismuth-213 is being studied for cancers such as leukemias and lymphomas as well as for 
micrometastatic carcinomas. Alpha-particle therapy is also being investigated with the first in vitro tests for 
prostate cancer. ITU is already developing an additional production of Bismuth-213 in collaboration with the 
cyclotron department of the Forschungszentrum fur Technik und Umwelt in Karlsruhe. 
STANDARDS AND NORMS IN THE MATERIALS FIELD 
Standards and norms are of vital importance for industry, in particular when reliability and quality are at stake. 
Pre-nonvative work, i.e. all activities helping in the preparation of norms^ and standards, receives special 
attention at the Institute for Advanced Materials (1AM) where such activities have been undertaken for 
several years in the materials field. To date, the results obtained at 1AM have strongly contributed to the 
development of standard test methods for mechanical performance assessment, for new classes of materials 
(technical ceramics, composites), for new test methods (thermo-mechanical fatigue, damage tolerance of 
ceramic composites, residual stress), as well as for the improvement of existing standards. 1AM collaborates 
closely with CEN (Comité Européen de Normalisation), VAMAS (Versailles project on Advanced Materials and 
Standards) and ESIS (European Structural Integrity Society). 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
11 
COLLABORATION ON IMPROVING SAFETY AND WASTE TREATMENT 
To support the safe economic production of energy, extensive studies on the interaction of neutrons with 
matter and experiments were performed using the unique accelerators of the JRC at IRMM. 
The collaboration with CEA (Commissariat à I' Energie Atomique), on data needed for waste transmutation 
studies, was continued with the analysis of the measured cross sections of99Tc. Measurements of237Np in the 
resonance region have also been started. Similarly, in the context of a concerted action for the same goaf, 
resolution measurements of the inelastic scattering cross sections on 208Pb have been initiated. The 
international collaboration on the Doppler broadening of neutron resonances, also with CEA, was continued 
with measurements on U03, Np02 and Hg2Cl2. Measured data for metallic U and U02 were successfully 
analysed with simple solid state model; these data are important for the calculation of the temperature 
coefficient of reactivity, especially for high fuel bum-up. ; 
TRANSPORT SAFETY 
Industry worked closely with ISIS using the Large Dynamic Test Facility (LDTF), firstly to understand better the 
behaviour of material at high strain rates (in order to calibrate computer codes that simulate crashes) and 
secondly to test the crash resistance of new lightweight materials. This will help the industry meet European 
crash-test standards with vehicles that weigh less and consume less. During 1997 new understanding was 
reached on the behaviour of commonly used automotive steel. LDTF can now be used also for crash energy 
absorption studies of train and helicopter components. 
THE EUROPEAN INTEGRATED POLLUTION PREVENTION AND CONTROL BUREAU 
(EIPPC) 
The European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (EIPPC) Bureau, was bom out of the directive of the 
same name, adopted by the Environment Council in September 1996. The directive aims at a high level of 
overall environmental protection for which the objective is to set out high standards of practice, based on "Best 
Available Techniques" (BAT), and to reduce emissions and the impact of such emissions on the environment 
as a whole. 
The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) operates the EIPPC bureau and is responsible 
for formulating and distributing the BAT Reference Documents, organizing the exchange of information on the 
achievement of these standards, and informing authorities of Member States of any developments and 
changes in policy implementation. The Bureau is also establishing a dedicated electronic information 
management system to facilitate immediate broadcasts. 
During 1997 the EIPPC's work programme has concentrated on the following four sectors: paper and pulp; 
cement and lime; iron and steel; and cooling and vacuum systems. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
12 
1. THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE IN 1997 
1.1 INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES 
1.1.1 INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH ACTIVITIES 
The JRC research activities contribute to several lines of the Community Framework Programmes 
through the JRC specific programmes 1995-1998: 
•The Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies programme was carried out by the Institute for 
Advanced Materials (IAM), and encompasses research projects on advanced materials, on surface 
engineering, and on non-destructive evaluation techniques for the inspection of industrial structural 
components. 
•The Measurements and Testing programme encompassed research projects on reference 
measurements and materials - carried out by the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements 
(IRMM) - and on the assessment of the reliability of buildings and civil engineering structures, carried 
out by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS). 
•The Environment and Climate programme included: research projects on the atmosphere, soil, water, 
and waste pollution, executed by the Environment Institute (El); the setting up of the Centre for Earth 
Observation (CEO), a decentralized European data management and information system; applications 
of remote sensing techniques, carried out by the Space Applications Institute (SAI); and industrial 
hazards studies carried out by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS). 
•The Non-Nuclear Energy programme consisted of research projects related to materials for clean 
technologies and to the standardization of photovoltaic devices - carried out by the Institute for 
Advanced Materials (IAM). 
•The Targeted Socio-Economic Research programme included the Science and Technology 
Observatory function and prospective work carried out by the Institute for Prospective Technological 
Studies (IPTS). The essential role of the Institute is to harvest the available contributions from experts, 
consultants, research organisations and institutes in Member States, and when possible in third 
countries, in order to analyse, process and integrate them impartially and in depth and, more importantly, 
to distil clear trends or needs for action in a usable form for decision makers. 
•The Nuclear Fission Safety programme encompassed a number of research activities ranging from 
studies on reactor safety - carried out by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) and the 
Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM) - to research activities on nuclear safeguards and fissile materials 
management, executed by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) and the Institute for 
Transuranium Elements (ITU). ITU carried out research on the safety of nuclear fuels and actinides. 
•The Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion programme (Technology and Safety) was carried out by the 
Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) and the Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM). 
This research is executed in the seven JRC Institutes as shown in Table 1 and it accounted for 65% of the 
JRC programme activities in 1997. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
13 
Table 1 - JRC Research Activities 
FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME LINES 
Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies 
Advanced Materials and Standards for Industrial Innovation 
Surface Engineering for Improved Properties and for New 
Industrial Applications 
Non-Destructive Evaluation, Testing and Inspection of Industrial 
Structural Components 
Measurements and Testing 
Prenormative Research in Support of Construction Norms and 
Standards, including Seismic Design Codes (Eurocodes) 
Measurement and Testing for Car Safety 
Reference Materials 
Reference Measurements 
Environment and Climate 
• Global Change 
Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) 
Atmospheric Processes over European Regions 
Remote Sensing for Terrestrial Biosphere (Land Degradation in 
the Mediterranean Region, Forest Monitoring) 
Remote Sensing for Marine Biosphere (North Atlantic Ocean, 
Mediterranean Sea) 
Advanced Earth Observation Techniques (Environment and 
Road Conditions Monitoring and Land Mine Detection) 
• Environmental Quality 
Techniques & Equipment for Environmental Quality Monitoring 
• Innovative Environmental Technologies 
High Performance Information Technologies for Environmental 
Protection 
Natural Hazards / Seismic Research 
Integrated Environmental Assessment 
Natural Hazards / Flooding, Droughts 
Non-Nuclear Energy 
Photovoltaic Energy and Electricity Storage 
Materials for Clean Combustion Engines 
Targeted Socio-Economic Research 
Technology Watch / Technology-Employment-Competitiveness 
Nuclear Safety and Safeguards 
• Reactor Safety 
European Networks on Component Ageing, Inspection 
Techniques & Structural Integrity 
Severe Accidents including Probabilistic Studies 
• Fuel Cycle Safety 
Basic Actinide Research 
Safety of Nuclear Fuels 
Mitigation of Long-lived Actinides and Fission Products 
Spent Fuel Characterisation in view of Long-Term Storage 
• Safeguards and Fissile Materials Management 
Safeguards R&D 
Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion 
Fluid Separation and Analysis 
Fusion Materials 
Remote Handling 
Hydrogen Materials Interaction IRMM 
X 
X ITU 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X IAM 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X ISIS 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X El 
X 
X SAI 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X IPTS 
X 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
14 
A more detailed description of these research activities in 1997, per institute, will be provided in Part Two 
of this document. However, some significant results have been highlighted in this first chapter: they 
illustrate how research has enabled the JRC to contribute to the advancement of science and technology 
for the benefit of European industry and the well-being of the European population. 
The agreement concluded in 1996 between the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements 
(IRMM) and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) for the preparation of Certified 
Reference Materials (CRMs) has led to projects aimed at preparing bio-medical, environmental and public 
health protection materials. Such CRMs are needed to achieve accuracy and world wide comparability in 
clinical diagnostics of human diseases. The activity thus supports the improvement of health standards. 
Certified reference materials of foodstuffs were prepared, to assist in the enforcement of European 
legislation on quality control. The analysis of cosmetics and a data bank on product safety were further 
developed.The production of CRMs of genetically modified organisms was a topic of particular interest. 
Negotiations with industry have been concluded and the work has started. These CRMs will enable the 
validation of analytical methods to be applied in the enforcement of the Regulation on Novel Food (EC 
258/97). 
IRMM focused also on quality health care with, as a new project, the validation of a 13C isotopic 
measurement method applicable to the diagnosis of stomach disease by a non-invasive and inexpensive 
technique. This technique will allow a substantially more cost-effective and less intrusive diagnosis of 
internal diseases, avoiding the risk of Helicobacter Pylori infection, a major cause for ulcers and stomach 
cancer. 
Following the agreement signed in July 1997 between the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and 
the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU), the Institute is now part of the network of laboratories 
dealing with the analysis of environmental samples. In this way the Institute is actively contributing to the 
European Union's policy to support and strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency's activities in 
nuclear safeguards. The Institute is also closely collaborating with, and providing similar support to, the 
Commission's Euratom Safeguards Directorate (ESD) in the area of high performance trace analysis 
(HPTA). Ultra-sensitive environmental sampling techniques are part of the key new developments to help 
to detect the presence of clandestine activities. 
In the field of basic actinide research, the work focused particularly on elucidating the electronic structure 
of those actinide elements and compounds which attract increasing interest, due to their peculiar chemical 
and solid-state properties. Actinide research as a whole is important in the framework of applications on 
fuel cycle, waste management and nuclear medicine. 
The Institute is also actively working on further reducing radiotoxicity in highly active wastes. For the first 
time, a closed partitioning and transmutation cycle was experimentally demonstrated, and shows that it is 
technically feasible to reduce the radiotoxicity of minor actinides by a factor of 100. 
The Institute was also involved in the development and application of the alpha nuclide Bi-213, used in a 
promising alpha-immunotherapy against cancer. 
The Institute for Advanced Materials (1AM) directed its research towards the development of innovative 
processing and testing methods for advanced materials. The emphasis was put on cost efficiency, 
performance improvement and the potential for standardization, for the benefit of industry competitiveness. 
In the context of achievement of the European Single Market, IAM also developed the preparation of 
industrially important norms and standards, in close collaboration with responsible international bodies 
such as CEN, VAMAS and ESIS. Standard test methods were developed for the assessment of 
mechanical performance, either for new classes of materials (technical ceramics, composites), for new test 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
15 
methods (thermo-mechanical fatigue, damage tolerance of ceramic composites, residual stress), or for the 
improvement of existing standards. This work helps to develop the European Standards System. 
To the benefit of the environment and human health, JAM continued to develop multiphase Ti-B-MoS2 
permanent coatings for cutting tools; this could lead fo phasing out in most machining processes the 
synthetic, lubricating cutting fluids which are non bio-degradable and can produce allergies. 
The Institute runs the European Network for Inspection Qualification (ENIQ), the Network for Evaluation of 
Steel Components (NESC) and the Network on Ageing Materials Evaluation and Studies (AMES), in which 
industries, service vendors, licensing bodies and R&D institutions participate. These networks aim at the 
safety and integrity of nuclear fission reactors for the benefit of the citizen and the environment. 
The Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) contributes to improving safety in industry and 
to the well-being of the European population. The Institute develops and applies its expertise in many 
fields, including: nuclear safety and safeguarding of nuclear materials; industrial and transport safety; 
seismic protection of buildings and civil engineering works; natural resource and environment 
management; support to antifraud measures, consumer protection, and the preservation of cultural 
heritage. In 1997, the Institute increased its efforts in the regulation of biotechnology in industry and on the 
evaluation of the potential risks of transgenic manipulations. 
As part of the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) project, and complementary to the activities of the 
Space Applications Institute, ISIS continued to operate and update information systems to promote the use 
of satellite-based Earth observation data. The work included: updating the European Wide Service 
Exchange (EWSE), now recognized as the leading source of information regarding Earth observation in 
Europe; enhancing the G7 Environment and Natural Resource Monitoring (ENRM) server by integrating it 
with 20 environmental databases across the world; developing the CEOS Information Locator System 
(CILS) on behalf of Third World countries; and developing a new Internet protocol for remote searching of 
geospatial databases. 
The major part of the Environment Institute (El) activities provides scientific and technical support to 
other Commission Services in designing and implementing European Union policies, in the fields of 
environment protection, and food and drug consumer protection. 
However, institutional research activities continued in the areas of water and soil, including the use of 
AMAL (Advanced Mobile Laboratory) to assess industrial sites and landfill contamination. Four in situ 
campaigns were performed in the subalpine ecoregion to contribute to setting up algorithms describing 
lake water quality and to compare different methods for the determination of phytoplankton pigments. 
Research activities have continued with the objectives of developing cost-effective tools for monitoring the 
state of European lakes and for the optimization of water-resource planning and management. The 
harmonization and development of analytical methods which is a basic requirement for the implementation 
of EC directives on water quality, has continued with AQUACON (Analytical Quality Control) project. 
In the field of atmospheric processes, research activities were mainly focused on tropospheric ozone, 
which affects human health, crops and vegetation, and on atmospheric aerosols, which are of major 
importance in evaluating and predicting climate trends. An understanding of this is a key element in the 
design and implementation of EU environmental policy. 
The Space Applications Institute (SAI) concentrated on possible applications of remote earth 
observation, sensing and detection. The Institute's mission is to maximise the use of space systems for the 
benefit of Europe's policy makers, industry, scientists and citizens. SAI's institutional research on 
environment and climate covers the terrestrial and marine biospheres, the lithosphère and the atmosphere, 
resulting in a comprehensive approach to uses of earth observation. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
16 
Significant progress was made towards establishing standards for mine detector performance and sensor 
validation: these standards will be applied to mine clearance projects supported by the European 
Commission in mine infected countries. The feasibility of a multi-sensor system for anti-personnel mine 
detection and identification was also studied. 
SAI's work on the improved management of natural hazards focused on developing the Space Techniques 
for Risk Management (STRIM), a joint venture with ESA and the Council for Europe, and on liaison with 
the DGXII task force on Natural Hazards. Work on forest fires saw links to the European Community 
Humanitarian Office (ECHO) and DG VI (Standing Forest Committee on Forest Fires). An inventory of 
existing techniques and models to assess flood risk and flood damage was completed, and work on 
drought indicators was developed in co-ordination with the Mediterranean Observatory. 
The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) addressed priority subjects in various 
technological fields, ensuring a neutral, Europe-wide assessment of scientific and technological change. It 
attempts to gain a better understanding of the impact of technology on the socio-economic environment, in 
particular on employment and competitiveness. The fields covered were «Mobility and Transport 
Research», «Environment», and «Energy». 
Through the ESTO (European Science and Technology Observatory) network, made up of 14 European 
national S&T organisations which share the responsibility of providing timely access to information on 
scientific and technological change of socio-economic relevance, IPTS has direct access to a very large 
number of specialists. Information obtained through the Observatory contributed to studies and, the "IPTS 
Report", which is the main "broadcasting" journal of the Institute, directed towards European decision 
makers. 
The European Integrated Pollution Prevention Control Bureau (EIPPC) was created to support the 
European Union policy for a high level of overall environmental protection. Its objective is to set high 
standards of practice, and to reduce emissions and their impact on the environment as a whole. It is 
responsible for the formulation and the distribution of the Best Available Techniques (BAT) Reference 
Documents. 
1.1.2. INSTITUTIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR 
COMMUNITY POLICIES 
The JRC scientific and technical (S&T) expertise was directly available to the various Directorates General 
of the Commission in order to support the formulation and implementation of Community policies. The 
Institutional support activities fall under the Community Framework Programmes and accounted for 35% of 
the JRC's programme activities in 1997. They were related to the following Framework Programme lines: 
Information Technologies, Environment and Climate, Agriculture and Fisheries, Targeted Socio-Economic 
Research and Nuclear Safety and Safeguards through the JRC specific programmes 1995-1998. 
The support activities are customer driven, in fulfillment of impartial and neutral scientific and technical 
requirements arising from EU directives, decisions of the Commission and the Council, or obligations 
stemming from the Euratom Treaty. The work carried out in the JRC Institutes is illustrated in Table 2. 
In 1997, the three main lines of JRC support activities were: 
1. JRC Support for the Environmental Policy, which accounted for 43% of the scientific and technical 
support budget. It provided DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safey and Civil Protection) with scientific and 
technical assistance for the implementation of the legislation on chemical pollutants, atmospheric 
pollution, water quality, chemical waste, industrial risks, and nuclear safety. This work is part of the 5th 
EC Action Programme in the field of the environment, and includes: 
• The European Chemicals Bureau (ECB), which is now handling all the technical and scientific tasks 
required for the classification and labelling of dangerous substances, the implementation of the 
notification scheme for new substances, testing methods for chemicals, export/import control of 
dangerous substances and preparatory work on the Biocides Directive. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
17 
Table 2 - JRC 
Framework Programme Lines 
Information Technologies 
Safety and Reliability of Systems 
Geographic Information Systems 
High Performance Computing and Networks 
Environment and Climate 
• Environmental Quality 
European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP) 
European Chemical Bureau (ECB) 
European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods 
(ECVAM) 
Support to the European Environment Agency (EEA) 
Analysis of foodstuffs and chemicals in support of industrial policy 
European Technical Office for Medicinal Products (ETOMEP) 
Quality Control of Consumer Products (Consumer Protection) 
S&T Support to the Commission antifraud Services 
Coordination Unit of the Alpine Observatory 
• Innovative Environmental Technologies 
Industrial Reliability-Biotechnology and Environment 
Major Accident Hazards Bureau 
Agriculture and Fisheries 
Remote Sensing for Agriculture 
Electronic Identification of Animals and Volume Measurements 
European Office for Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks (BEVABS) 
Reference Measurements and Materials for Quality Control of 
Foodstuffs and Microbiology of Foodstuffs 
Targeted Socio-Economic Research 
Prospective Technological Studies 
Nuclear Fission Safety 
• Reactor Safety 
European Networks on Component Ageing and Inspection 
Techniques and Structural Integrity 
Harmonisation of Safety Criteria 
• Safeguards and Fissile Materials Management 
Euratom Safeguards Support: General 
Euratom Safeguards Support: On-site Laboratories and ECSAM 
IAEA Safeguards Support Support Activities 
IRMM 
.'• 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X ITU 
X 
X 
X 1AM 
X ISIS 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X El 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X 
X SAI 
X 
X IPTS 
X 
The European Technical Office for Medicinal Products (ETOMEP). This office, which forms part of a 
unit at ISIS, is established both in London, at the European Medicine Evaluation Agency, and in Ispra, 
at the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety. It is dedicated to the development of technical 
systems necessary for the implementation of European Union legislation on medicinal products. It 
contributes to the study, design and implementation of the telematics applications required by the 
European Union pharmaceutical regulatory sector. Its work is of direct and vital use to the European 
Medicine Evaluation Agency and the Member States. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
• 
• 
• The European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP), which was particularly active in the 
preparation and implementation of EC Directives on ambient air quality, with emphasis on the urban 
environment and industrial emissions and the harmonisation of measurements in the EU air quality 
monitoring networks. The laboratory contributed also to the implementation of EC Directives on 
environmental radioactivity, particularly those related to information exchange with Member States, 
both under normal conditions and following an accident. 
The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), which continues to coordinate 
efforts to promote orderly scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative methods which are of 
importance to the biosciences and which can reduce, refine, or replace the use of laboratory animal 
procedures. Its activities included pre-validation on photoirritancy, skin corrosivity, embryotoxicity, 
haematotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and epithelial barriers. Various international studies on in vitro methods 
for vaccine potency and safety testing were also started. 
The Major Accident Hazards Bureau, which supports the "Seveso" Directive on industrial hazards by 
operating the Major Accidents Reporting System (MARS) and the Community Documentation Centre 
on Industrial Risk. End users include all the actors in the legislative and regulatory process concerned 
with plant safety, such as national and local authorities, industry and safety practitioners. 
Support services related to the Alpine Observatory (Alpine Convention), with the aim of producing 
and/or collecting data, indicators and information characterizing the environmental and socio-economic 
status of the Alpine region. These data will be useful to the National Communication Centres, for 
distribution at national level. 
Institutional support to the European Environment Agency (Council Regulation 1210/90) whose role is 
to establish and coordinate, in cooperation with the Member States, a European Environment 
Information and Observation Network. The JRC contributed mainly in the areas of harmonisation of 
environmental measurements methods, the intercalibration of instruments, and the development of new 
measurement methods and instruments. 
Support for the elaboration of methodologies for the EU antifraud policy (UCLAF), via the effective 
development, introduction and use of new information technologies and data and risk analysis methods. 
JRC Support for the Common Agricultural Policy (DG VI), which accounted for 17% of the 
Scientific and Technical Support budget. Work is mainly carried out in the following research areas: 
Application of remote sensing to agricultural statistics, with the aim of developing and demonstrating 
methodologies which can integrate remote sensing data into the collection of statistics for the 
monitoring of crop acreage and agricultural production in the EC. The main objective being 
improvement of accuracy, objectivity, homogeneity and time delivery of statistics and forecast on the 
main crops produced in the European Union. 
Monitoring and control of the Common Agricultural Policy: research and development of new remote 
sensing techniques allowing improved monitoring and control of the Common Agricultural Policy 
through accurate measurements of areas and identification of specific.land uses and comparison of 
results with declarations of Member States. 
Implementation of Community wine sector legislation through the operation of the European Office for 
Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks (BEVABS). The work focuses on the control of adulteration and of the 
origins of wine, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques, 
with the aim of setting up a European Union Wine Data Bank. Every year some 1 400 wines are 
investigated, thus updating the wine data bank. 
Research and development of new verification methods and instruments for verification of electronic 
animal identification, in order to make it possible to take appropriate sanitary measures when needed 
and to control the market and prevent fraud within the Union. An identification system was under 
preparation, including electronic identifiers, readers, data acquisition systems, control strategy, data 
base and data transmission techniques with headquarters evaluation. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
19 
The technical specifications of a large scale demonstration.project, IDEA, for electronic animal tagging 
with passive transponders, were prepared. The tagging of one million animals in various countries of 
the EU is contemplated. The general database structure for the follow-up of the IDEA project was 
defined. The testing of animal identification devices for the development of standardized test 
procedures between IDEA and the International committee for Animal Registration (ICAR) has also 
started. 
• Quality control of foodstuffs, by supplying certified reference materials, providing suitable analytical 
procedures, and supplying and/or coordinating laboratory intercomparisons for evaluation and 
improvement of existing methods and development of new methods of analysis. 
3. JRC Support for Nuclear Safeguards (Euratom Safeguards DG XVII, IAEA Safeguards support 
programme DG I) accounted for 28% of the scientific and technical support budget. 
Most of the work undertaken dealt with the following tasks: 
• Completion of the design phase of the on-site laboratory for safeguards analysis at reprocessing plant 
at La Hague; routine analysis of nuclear materials samples; examination of the purchase and testing of 
major equipment, including the development of analytical techniques and their implementation in these 
on-site laboratories and the training of inspectors in the application of safeguards techniques. 
• Training of inspectors, harmonisation of in-service nuclear safeguards inspection practices, providing 
state of the art equipment and reference analyses of nuclear materials samples. 
• Work on non-destructive assay, sealing and identification techniques, surveillance techniques, testing 
of safeguards equipment, data information treatment, health physics and training. 
Other Institutional Scientific and Technical Support activities: 
In addition to supporting the three major sectors listed above, the JRC has also drawn on its capacities 
and on the presence in its institutes of appropriate teams and tools to provide the EU with support 
activities in other institutional scientific and technical fields: 
For instance, it has helped DG III (Industry) by working on the safety and reliability of informatics systems 
needed for other activities. Another area in which assistance was provided to DG III is foodstuff analysis, 
with particular emphasis on toxic materials in contact with food, irradiated food, and the development of 
analytical methods related to fertilisers. This work is in support of the industrial policy. 
For DG XXIV (Consumer Policy and Consumer Health Protection), the quality control of consumer 
products was further focused on, with particular attention to trace contaminations in industrial products 
such as cosmetics. 
Finally, in support of DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) and DG XVII (Energy), 
techniques for inspecting ageing nuclear components, in order to prevent any danger to the environment 
were further developed. 
1.2 COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
Competitive activities are in the process of becoming an integral part of the JRC corporate culture. This 
change is taking place at a rate compatible with the overall evolution of the JRC mission. 
The introduction of Third Party Work, towards the end of the eighties, was the first step in opening the JRC 
up to competition. This process reached a new stage with the Fourth Framework Programme (1994-
1998), which aims to gradually introduce a market-oriented, customer-contractor relationship into most 
JRC activities. The year under review (the third since this new competitive mandate was instituted) has 
been for the JRC a period of further adjustment to the competitive challenge, but has also represented an 
opportunity for consolidating the achievements of the first two years. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
20 
The market in which the JRC operates since the 1st of January 1995 can be described as falling under two 
main categories: the traditional external market, where the JRC conducts research and supplies services 
under Third Party contracts, and an enlarged competitive market, where the JRC: 
- competes for, and participates in Shared-Cost Actions under the 4th Framework Programme, in 
association with partners from Member States; 
- competes for scientific and technical support work for other services of the Commission, in response 
to invitations to tender (also under the 4th Framework Programme); 
- participates, in the context of a competitive approach, in various other Community activities that are 
put out to tender. 
The JRC portfolio of Shared-Cost Actions had reached over 95 contracts in number by the end of 
December 1997, for a total net earned value of 15,5 Mioecu for the year 1997. These results show that 
the JRC does have something to offer to research consortia as a source of high-quality research, generally 
in the form of expertise and facilities that closely match the requirements of many companies and research 
institutes involved in the Specific Programmes. 
Competitive scientific and technical activities in support of the Commission have continued at a sustained 
rate in 1997. The total of new contracts won in 1997 is well over 55 with a total contract value of 18,5 
Mioecu. 
Examples of S/T support activities where the JRC successfully bid in response to Commission services 
calls for tender can be found in the following projects: 
- in support of the Environment Policy : monitoring of tropical forest ecosystems via remote sensing 
applications; 
- advanced comparative food analyses for industrial and Consumer Protection Policies; 
- the study and implementation of ways and means for transferring selected technologies belonging to 
the Community to targeted industries. 
Outside the Framework Programmes, the JRC has gained competitive contracts with a total value of 6,1 
Mioecu in 1997. New activities cover, amongst others, studies for the definition of a decision support 
system for coastal area management. 
In addition to these activities, the JRC continued to perform and obtain new work under contract from 
Third Parties. New contracts in 1997 totalled 11,1 Mioecu (cumulative actual 43,2 Mioecu over 3 years). 
Recent significant contracts being carried out include: 
- the design, procurement and operation of an integrated information system delivering network 
services to a large group of cooperative banks in one member state; 
- the study of the optimisation processes for planning, managing and protecting the water resources of 
a large European region. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
21 
Table 3 - Competitive Activities (Mioecu) 
Third Party Work 
Shared-Cost Actions 
Competitive Support 
Competitive Activities 
outside the FWP 
TOTALS Inscribed in 
1995 accounts 
18,5 
3,9* 
4,8 
1,3 
28,5 Inscribed in 
1996 accounts 
13,6 
9,8* 
10,6 
4,2 
38,2 Inscribed in 1997 
accounts 
11,1** 
15,5* 
18,5 
6,1 
51,2 TOTALS 
43,2 
29,2* 
33,9 
11,6 
117,9 
"Matching funds" (i.e. for participation by JRC in specific programmes of indirect action) not included. 
** These figures do not include the activities performed under external contract and related to the HFR 
reactor at Petten (NL), carried out by the Institute for Advanced Materials, which amount to around 5,5 
Mioecu for 1997. 
HFR Supplementary Programme 
As reported earlier, the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten is operated by the Commission in accordance 
with the Euratom/Netherlands agreement of 25 July 1961. On 27 June 1996, the Council adopted a four-
year (1996-1999) supplementary research programme to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre for 
the European Atomic Energy Community, concerning the operation of the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at 
Petten. Under previous supplementary programmes, the activities of the HFR were essentially the outcome 
of a cooperation between two partners, Germany and the Netherlands. The new supplementary 
programme introduced two major changes. On the one hand, the cooperation was enlarged to include 
France, which decided to support the HFR. On the other hand, besides traditional work for the nuclear 
R&D and industry, it was decided to dedicate a large part of HFR activities to medical applications. On the 
basis of contractual relationships, the reactor is now a major contributor to the production of medical 
radioisotopes for the European radio-pharmaceutical industry. Taking advantage of the unique possibilities 
offered by the HFR for the treatment of glioma, a highly malignant cancer of the brain, a pilot clinical testing 
of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) was continued within a demonstration project funded by DG 
XII. After 10 years of efforts by all the partners working with the JRC in this field, this is the decisive step 
which will make this promising new therapy available for human treatment. 
In 1997, the HFR went successfully through the in-service inspection of the reactor vessel, an operation 
which has to take place every 3 years. The number of operational days in 1997 was 280 days, slightly 
above the planned 273 days, and the occupation level for experiments was on average around 80%. 
Another significant achievement is the upgrading of one of the beam tubes, used for the measurement of 
residual stress in materials by neutron diffraction. This technique is applicable to a wide range of 
components used in industrial plants, aeronautics, or the car industry. 
1.3 JRC INFORMATION DAYS, PUBLICATIONS, AND CONFERENCES 
As one of the measures to increase the visibility of the JRC and stimulate collaboration with industry and 
the national research and academic world, members of the JRC Board of Governors have taken the 
initiative in recent years in organizing JRC Information Days in Member States. Following successful 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
22 
events in Ireland and Finland last year, the Swedish Member of the Board of Governors, Professor Janne 
Carlsson, President of the Royal Institute for Technology, Stockholm, took the initiative and a similar event 
was held on 25-26 September 1997. 
The event, organized by the Swedish R&D Council with the JRC, drew some 140 participants 
representing industry notably SMEs, research institutes and universities. The programme of the first day 
in Stockholm was devoted to a presentation of the JRC by the JRC delegation led by Mr. H. Richardson, 
the Acting Director General, and directors and representatives of all JRC institutes. This was followed by 
discussion sessions on the individual institutes and their projects of interest to the Swedish participants. 
During the second day the JRC participants visited Swedish industry, research institutes, and authorities 
in the Stockholm and Gothenburg areas. The JRC unit for public relations and publications took care of 
the dissemination of information material to the participants, who also followed JRC presentations on 
Internet. 
The Information days in Sweden gave rise to further collaboration by Swedish partners in JRC activities. 
To consolidate this, a Swedish delegation recently paid a visit to the JRC Ispra Site. This will be followed 
up by other schemes for extending JRC collaboration with this Member State, for instance in multi-lateral 
networks through which the JRC conducts much of its work. 
The JRC offers a vast array of publications on scientific matters, ranging from papers and articles 
published in scientific magazines, to conference papers, EUR reports, reviews, and information about the 
JRC posted on INTERNET. 
In 1997 the JRC published in total around 1 333 papers, and their distribution by Institute is shown in 
Table 4. 
The detailed list of JRC publications is published each year in the "Publications Bulletin". The last issue, 
No. 17, published in March 1997, lists all publications issued in 1996. 
Table 4 - JRC Publications in 1997 
Institute 
General Management 
Institute for Reference 
Materials and Measurements 
Institute for Transuranium Elements 
Institute for Advanced Materials 
Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety 
Environment Institute 
Space Applications Institute 
Institute for Prospective 
Technological Studies 
TOTAL ARTICLES IN 
JOURNALS 
1 
30 
46 
42 
49 
63 
30 
2 
263 ARTICLES-IN 
PROCEEDINGS 
3 
57 
20 
106 
150 
67 
78 
15 
496 CONFERENCE 
PAPERS 
-
49 
48 
56 
35 
87 
42 
12 
329 EUR 
REPORTS 
3 
4 
2 
15 
26 
34 
21 
28 
133 SPECIAL 
PUBLICATIONS 
9 
1 
. 
13 
21 
10 
45 
13 
112 TOTAL 
16 
141 
116 
232 
281 
261 
216 
70 
1333 
Most of these publications are available upon request from the Public Relations Unit, Ispra. 
In addition to publications, the above mentioned Bulletin lists all patents obtained by the JRC. There were 
23 patents granted in 1997. A considerable increase in comparison with previous years. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
23 
Each year, the JRC organizes a number of conferences, workshops and seminars at its five sites in 
Europe. The numerous visitors show the constant interest of the scientific community in the contributions 
to research and development made by the JRC. 
1.4 HUMAN RESOURCES 
The JRC's statutory staff is made up of officials and temporary agents, including both scientific-technical 
and administrative staff. Although at a pace limited by the actual recruitment possibilities, the JRC has 
started implementing the new research staff policy, which establishes targets (40% for permanent staff, 
35% for temporary agents with a 5 year contract and 25% for temporary agents with a 3 year contract) to be 
achieved within a 5 year period. 
By the end of December 1997, the statutory staff numbered 1871+221 auxiliary agents, as compared with 
1746+190 auxiliary in December 1996. Table 5 gives the distribution of statutory staff in 1997. Besides 
normal mobility, a number of staff members retired in 1997, having reached the statutory age limit. 
Recruitment for replacements was in progress at the end of the year. 
Table 5 - Distribution of statutory staff 
(including auxiliary agents) 
Institute 
Directorate General 
Programmes Directorate 
Resources Coordination-Scientific & Technical Support 
Ispra 
Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements 
Institute for Transuranium Elements 
Institute for Advanced Materials 
Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety 
Environment Institute 
Space Applications Institute 
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies 
JRC staff seconded to national bodies 
Auxiliaries 
TOTAL 1995 
25 
13 
347 
169 
194 
250 
433* 
219 
101 
26 
9 
143 
1929 1996 
34 
8 
428 
181 
186 
267 
276 
222 
100 
35 
9 
190 
1936 1997 
41 
10 
426 
186 
190 
291 
287 
240 
147 
43 
10 
221 
2092 
* Total staff of the Institute for Systems Engineering and Informatics and Institute for Safety Technology 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
24 
DISTRIBUTION OF STATUTORY STAFF 1997 
600 
500 
400 
300 
200 
100 
Q) J? 
O Q. 
CO J2 
' t: .1 a I §• 
£ co 
"O _ 
n m 
§| O J (0 o 
8£ 
I03 
w a: s < to 
to UJ < 
CO CO 
1-
0. o 
T3 
c o o <D 
W 
it: 
TO W 
o T3 
O 
X5 
TO C 
g 
ro c 
a LZH Officials and 
Temporary 
Agents 
Auxiliaries 
In addition to statutory staff, 148 scientists were also active in the JRC under various hosting schemes: 
• senior scientists hosted as visiting scientists; 
• national experts seconded to the JRC by Member States, to participate in selected scientific work; 
• post-doctoral scientists and post-graduate students trained through a programme of fellowships. 
Table 6 gives the distribution, by Institute, of these scientists working at the JRC at the end of December 
1997. 
In addition, about 10 scientists each year come from a third country, assisted by a grant within the 
framework of a Commission agreement with their countries or with the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA). 
Besides the above mentioned scientists, several senior scientists and about 142 trainees work at the JRC 
Institutes at no cost to the EU budget, in general for short periods of time. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
25 
Table 6 - Visiting scientists, seconded experts, grantholders (as of December 1997) 
Institutes 
Resources 
Coordination 
Institute for Reference 
Materials and Measurements 
Institute for Transuranium 
Elements 
Institute for Advanced 
Materials 
Institute for Systems, 
Informatics and Safety 
Environment Institute 
Space Applications Institute 
Institute for Prospective 
Technological Studies 
TOTAL Visiting 
Scientists 
-
2 
-
1 
7 
2 
9 
4 
25 Seconded 
Experts 
-
-
-
-
1 
3 
3 
3 
10 Post-
Doctoral 
Scientists 
-
8 
7 
3 
9 
4 
4 
2 
37 Post-
Graduate 
Students 
1 
13 
10 
11 
12 
14 
9 
6 
76 TOTAL 
1 
23 
17 
15 
29 
23 
25 
15 
148 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
26 
1.5 FINANCES 
The budget (commitments credits), as implemented by the JRC in 1997, is given in Table 7. 
Table 7 -1997 Budget implementation in Mioecu (Commitment Credits) 
Institutional activities 1996 1997 
Information and Comm. Technologies 2,946 3,516 
Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies 21,534 21,190 
Measurements and Testing 26,722 28,312 
Environment and Climate 74,451 80,800 
Agriculture and Fisheries 10,849 13,548 
Non Nuclear Energy 3,838 4,691 
Targeted Socio-Economic Research 7,728 9,406 
Subtotal EC Specific Programmes 148,068 161,463 
Nuclear Safety and Safeguards 63,229 64,365 
Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion 10,310 12,483 
Subtotal EAEC Specific Programmes 73,539 76,848 
SCA EC Programmes 3,013 6,029~ 
SCA EAEC Programmes | 0,411 | 2,012" 
a=____B___ Subtotal SCA | 3,424 | 8,04T 
Total specific Programmes 225,031 246,352 
Competitive Activities 
Participation to shared-cost actions (SCA) 4,011 5,074 
Competitive Scientific and Technical Support activities 10,191 8,908 
Participation to Community activities outside the FWP 1,879 2,754 
Work for third parties j 16,561 20,051" 
Subtotal j~ 32,642" 36,787 
HFR Reactor 8,088 8,110 
HFR Completion of previous programmes 6,262 67 
Subtotal I 14,350 | 8,177 
TOTAL II 272,023 291,316 
Total JRC committed financial resources amounted to 291,316 Mioecu: 
• for the execution of the JRC specific programmes (Research and Institutional support activities for the 
services of the Commission) 
• for the execution of JRC competitive activities within the framework of the EU budget (participation in 
shared-cost actions, competitive support activities for the services of the Commission, JRC 
participation in other Community activities, contributions from the Dutch, German and French 
governments for the operation of the HFR and from JRC customers for the execution of work at their 
request. 
The financial resources for the specific programmes were provided by the JRC part of the General Budget 
for the European Union 1997 and the contributions from the EEA (European Economic Area) countries: 
Iceland, Liechtenstein arid Norway for the EC programmes. In addition, there is a contribution from 1996 
onwards to the EC programmes from Israel. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
27 
2. ACTIVITIES OF THE JRC INSTITUTES IN 1997 
2.1 THE INSTITUTE FOR REFERENCE MATERIALS AND MEASUREMENTS (IRMM) 
The IRMM promotes and harmonizes the use of European standards, reference materials and 
methodologies at the European level. In 1997, the Institute pursued its specific programme under the 
heading Measurements and Testing and contributed to the Framework Programme line "Industrial 
Technologies and Materials Technologies". IRMM consolidated its responsibility for managing the BCR's 
(Bureau Communautaire de Référence ) reference materials. 
IRMM also provided support activities for Community policies in the area of environment and nuclear 
safeguards, the safety and quality control of consumer products, and reference measurements and 
materials for quality control of foodstuffs. It provides services and reference materials to various customers 
from the European Member States and around the world. 
A. INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES 
Institutional Research Activities 
The measurement expertise and refined analytical techniques of the Institute have made it possible to 
establish a coordinated analytical measurement system at the European level, for the characterisation and 
certification of high quality reference materials, applicable in both the nuclear and non-nuclear fields. 
Within this framework, IRMM has further extended its tasks and responsibility for storage, stability control, 
distribution, sales administration and recertification for BCR certified reference materials. 
SPECIAL CERTIFIED REFERENCE MATERIALS (CRMs) 
The agreement signed in 1996 with the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) led IRMM to 
focus on the preparation of materials for bio-medical, environmental and public health protection. The first 
stages of a project on urinary proteins are under way. Planning is in progress for other projects, on 
glycated haemoglobin (for monitoring giycaemia in diabetes patients), multi-enzyme calibrants and a serum 
panel forhCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin hormone) isoforms, used to detect early pregnancy, certain 
types of cancer and embryonic disorders. In addition, preliminary discussions on projects for osteoporosis 
and markers for cardiac damage are being conducted. In another agreement with the Swedish and Swiss 
National Measurement Institutes, the determination of trace elements in serum is being assessed. 
Negotiations have been concluded with industry for the production of CRMs of genetically modified 
organisms. A contract has been signed to make possible the validation of measurement equipment for 
reading isotopic signatures in breath gases, used for the early detection of stomach ulcers and cancer. 
In order to provide a reliable basis for the determination of a possible radioactive contamination of 
deceased persons having been in contact with nuclear materials in the past the US National Institute of 
Technology is preparing a reference material for which IRMM has been invited to provide specific 
certification data. 
Intentional and accidental releases of radionuclides have been continuing for almost 40 years. To enable 
correct assessment of related potential health hazards to the European population, reliable, precise and 
rapid analytical methods are necessary, both for monitoring purposes and in the case of incidents. This 
requirement resulted in the ongoing development with respect to low level radioactivity determination in 
various matrices relevant to the dose burden of the European citizen. The year 1997 saw the finalisation of 
procedures for water and sediment and the start of a procedure for shellfish samples, all applying highly 
selective chromatographic techniques in combination with extremely sensitive spectrometric detection. 
Advantages of the new methods are accuracy, speed and the strong reduction of hazardous wastes. This 
instrumentation is used to provide primary isotopic gas standards for the international measurement 
community, e.g. in the area of atmospheric chemistry. 
The expansion of the International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP) which enables field 
laboratories world-wide to compare their results to Sl-traceable values, has continued. The International 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
28 
Measurement Evaluation Programme on trace elements in water has been completed, with about 200 
participants from 26 countries, an exercise for trace elements in serum has started in cooperation with a 
Scandinavian External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) and the programme was extended to the 
industrial sector with a proficiency testing exercise for trace elements in polyethylene attacking an 
important problem for car manufacturers. This 10th IMEP round is also important because of the EC 
Directive 94/62/EG (metals in packaging waste). Samples have been sent to participants for analysis. 
Materials for neutron dosimetry were produced in support of the nuclear energy producing industry and 
research institutions operating test reactors. Theses dosimeters are used for neutron fluence rate 
measurements in the reactor, for safety surveillance purposes and for optimising reactor performance. 
QUICK RESPONSE TO CONSUMERS CONCERNS: SAFETY OF EURO COINS 
In the field of heavy metal traces of environmental or bio-medical relevance, analytical research was 
carried out on the release of nickel from Euro coins, in order to evaluate their allergenic potential. Concern 
had been raised by the European Bureau of Consumers' Unions about the potential of nickel released 
from such coins to provoke allergies while being handled by consumers, banks, shops, etc. The JRC 
carried out the necessary chemical reference measurements and found that the nickel content release 
from the new Euro coins was similar to that of many coins currently in circulation, and substantially lower 
than some of them. 
Current developments in the nuclear energy sector (increased fuel burnup, Pu recycling, plans for waste 
transmutation), require improved knowledge of basic nuclear data. This is clearly spelled out in the 
"Michelangelo Initiative" which was formulated by the European nuclear industry under the aegis of the 
European Commission. IRMM is the only European laboratory which is capable of producing these data 
over a wide energy range from a few meV to about 20 MeV. Especially the GELINA facility is the only 
facility worldwide to provide the high resolution neutron cross-section data required for many of the above 
mentioned applications. 
With the two versatile neutron sources of the Institute (LINAC and 7 MV Van de Graaff), neutron 
interaction data measurements were performed for applied purposes, following the recommendations of 
the OECD NEA Nuclear Science Committee, in particular its Working Party on International Evaluation 
Cooperation. IRMM coordinated the worldwide experimental activity to solve the remaining High Priority 
Requests in the frame of the NEA Working Party on Measurements Activities. 
Neutron Reference Measurements for safe energy production, for waste transmutation and for shielding 
applications were performed. 
In particular, measurements of the fission fragment mass distributions of neutron induced fission of 238U 
were continued and the analysis of the data has started. In a collaboration with the University of Gent, light 
particle accompanied fission has been measured for neutron induced fission of 239Pu in the resonance 
energy region and for spontaneous fission of the even Pu isotopes. Activation data for about 30 short-lived 
activation products, measured in collaboration with the "Forschungszentrum", Julich, and Argonne National 
Laboratory, are being analysed. 
IRMM has a Treaty obligation (1) to improve the data for the set of neutron reactions which are used as 
reference standards for all neutron data measurements, and (2) to act as a standards laboratory for 
radionuclide metrology. In 1997, work concentrated on three important standard cross-sections : 10B(n,->) 
235U(n,f) and H(n,n). The total cross section data of 10B, measured within the framework of an international 
collaboration on the 10B neutron cross section standard, have been analysed. The construction of an 
improved ionisation chamber for the determination of the ratio of the reference cross sections 235U(n,f) and 
H(n,n) is making good progress. 
In radionuclide metrology, two 204TI solutions are being standardized within the framework of the "Bureau 
International des Poids et Mesures" (BIPM) comparisons. A solution of 169Yb, which is a candidate nuclide 
in cancer therapy was standardised and decay data were measured in the frame of an EUROMET project. 
At the "Linear Accelerator" (LINAC) for neutron data, equipment and shielding in the new experimental hall 
for radiation physics have been constructed for the production of X-ray sources. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
29 
INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATION: MEASUREMENTS FOR IMPROVING SAFETY 
AND WASTE TREA TMENT 
Collaboration with the Commissariat à lEnergie Atomique (CEA), Saclay, on data needed for waste 
transmutation studies, was continued with the analysis of the measured cross sections of 99Tc. 
Measurements of 237Np in the resonance region have been started. Similarly, in the context of concerted 
action to the same end, high resolution measurements of the inelastic scattering cross sections on 208Pb 
have been initiated. These measurements are important for applications in the development of nuclear 
fuels and the management of nuclear waste materials. International collaboration on the Doppler 
broadening of neutron resonances, also with CEA, was continued with measurements on U03, Np02 and 
Hg2CI2. Measured data for metallic U and U02 were successfully analysed with simple solid state model; 
these measurements are important for the calculation of the temperature coefficient of reactivity, especially 
for high fuel burn-up. 
Institutional Support Activities 
IRMM's support activities were, among others, related to Nuclear Safeguards at the request of DG I 
(External Relations), for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and of DG XVII (Energy, Euratom 
Safeguards Directorate). Numerous non-nuclear certified reference materials were also prepared for other 
DGs (III, VI). The following activities highlight work carried out as institutional support to other Directorates 
General: 
• Work on dried nitrate or metallic spike materials was continued, to improve safety at large processing 
plants, and uranium and plutonium isotopic reference materials were prepared on behalf of DG I for 
IAEA. Low concentrations implied meticulous chemical work in IRMM's ultraclean chemical laboratory. 
IRMM provided solutions for detector calibration needed in non-destructive assays of uranium and 
plutonium at the request of DG XVII (Energy). • 
• Certified reference materials of foodstuffs were prepared for DG III (Industry) and DG VI (Agriculture), 
in order to fulfil quality control requirements for the enforcement of European legislation. For DG VI, the 
new activities on selenium speciation in animal foodstuffs made significant progress and further 
research is in progress. Cosmetics analysis and a product safety data bank were being further 
performed and developed for DG XXIV (Consumer Policy). 
B. COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
Shared-Cost Actions deal mainly with the following topics: 
Preparation of a set of environmental reference materials for the measurement of rare earth elements in 
tuna muscle, mussel tissue and sediment for the monitoring of environmental pollution by these 
increasingly used elements. 
Preparation of a sludge and a fly ash reference material for the measurement of contamination by 
polychloro-dibenzo-dioxins (PCDD) and polychloro-dibenzofurans (PCDF) for use in environmental 
monitoring, as e.g. required by EC Directives 94/67 CE on the maximum emission of PCDD/DF during 
waste inceration. 
Preparation of bronze reference materials for corrosion studies on bronze antiquities to support the 
development of restoration and conservation techniques for the protection of the cultural heritage and for 
calibration of analytical methods for examination of bronze antiquities. 
Competitive Support for Community Policies 
Via support to DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research) a contract 
was concluded with industry, aiming at the validation of a 13C isotopic measurement method which can be 
applied to the diagnosis of stomach diseases by a non-invasive and inexpensive technique based on the 
isotopic measurement of exhaled breath. Both safeguarding nuclear material and proper nuclear material 
management are strictly intended to increase the safety and/or ensure public health of the European 
citizen. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
30 
A set of standard waste barrels presently being produced via support to DG XIII will be used to develop 
calibration standards for waste characterisation measurements, and therefore will lead to an increase of 
measurement consistency between different waste handling installations and hence, to a general 
harmonisation of radwaste measurements in Europe. This will contribute to both above aspects by 
enabling high performance calibration of waste measurement systems, thereby greatly enhancing 
measurement quality and hence population safety. 
Activities Under Contract 
IRMM also provides services on a commercial basis, and the BCR's reference materials have been made 
commercially available for non-nuclear applications. 
Three low-energy detector calibration multi-X-ray reference sources were produced, certified for their X-ray 
emission rates and sold to CIEMAT, Madrid, the Danish Space Research Institute, Copenhagen, and the 
LPRI/CEA, Saclay. The activity of 37Ar implanted in AI layers was determined for the University of Gent. At 
the Van de Graaff accelerator, hydrogen profiling studies have been performed on industrial 
semiconductors at the request of the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm. 
The supply of nuclear samples to external customers, in particular for reactor neutron dosimetry, was 
continued. Uranium-doped glass reference materials for uranium contaminated soil samples were 
prepared. 
2.2 THE INSTITUTE FOR TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS (ITU) 
The Institute for Transuranium Elements contributed to the Framework Programme line Nuclear Fission 
Safety with specific research areas such as basic actinide research, safety of nuclear fuels, mitigation of 
long-lived actinides, and spent fuel characterisation. 
Work on the safety of actinides in the nuclear fuel cycle continued to be the major contribution of the 
Institute. 
ITU also provided scientific and technical support for Community policies in the area of nuclear safety and 
safeguards, predominantly related to the implementation of on-site laboratories at Sellafield and Cap la 
Hague, but also related to nuclear safety in Eastern countries and the Russian Federation. In addition, ITU 
continued to carry out contractual work at the request of various customers. 
A. INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES 
Institutional Research Activities 
Work in Basic Actinide Research continued as one of the major activities of the Institute in 1997. The 
continuing and rapidly growing interest in the actinides results from four major reasons: 
• The application of two "major" actinides (uranium and plutonium) in the fuel cycle; 
• The growing interest in some "minor" actinides (neptunium, americium and curium) in the framework of 
waste management (partitioning and transmutation programmes); 
• The growing interest of the scientific community in the multiplicity of very unusual and highly interesting 
chemical and physical phenomena of actinide compounds and 
• The potential applications of actinides in nuclear medicine, for example alpha-immunotherapy 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
31 
SYNCHROTRONS SHINE NEW LIGHT ON BASIC ACTINIDE RESEARCH 
The use of x-ray synchrotron sources has already made a substantial impact on studies of magnetic 
phenomena. Because of the presence of absorption effects associated with each element, the X-ray 
beams can be made "element specific" by tuning to these absorption edges. An elegant demonstration of 
this is the study of solid solutions between two compounds, where the important question is the magnetic 
configuration of each species. Using very smalt crystals (less than 1 mg in mass, and dimensions of about 
1x1x0.1 mm**3) of Np substituted into a uranium compound, researchers at ITU, Karlsruhe, using the 
world's most powerful synchrotron in Grenoble, France (the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility), 
have shown that the technique can see individually the magnetic signal associated with both U and Np 
atoms. These experiments, using new techniques involving resonance scattering, open up the possibilitiy 
of determining the electronic structure and hence the speciation of transplutonium ions in the solid state. 
In vitro studies on alpha-immunotherapy continued in collaboration with partners from Nantes (France). At 
the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, 9 patients were subjected to phase 1 clinical 
tests. The production of Actinium-225 by cyclotron irradiation of Radium-226 was demonstrated. 
NEW PRODUCTION METHOD FOR NUCLIDE USED IN ALPHA-IMMUNOTHERAPY 
The Institute is involved since a few years back in the development and application of the alpha nuclide Bi-
213 for a new Alpha-immunotherapy treatment against cancer. One of the problems was the lack of 
sufficient amounts of this nuclide for current and future medical applications. Bi-213 used in alpha-
immunotherapy was successfully generated by irradiating Ra-226 with protons. 
Together with the Cyclotron group of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, it has been demonstrated that Ac-
225, which is the precursor for a Bi-213 generator, can be obtained by this new method in shorter time 
periods and with less effort than by processing aged U-233 the previous source material. 
In order to increase cost-effectiveness of nuclear power production, research and development is 
underway to increase the fuel residence time in the reactor, i.e. the burn-up of the fuel, without putting 
safety at stake. The Institute is establishing those basic parameters and characteristics, which are 
relevant to the safety of the fuel and which are incorporated in a code (TRANSURANUS) developed at the 
Institute and used inter alia by many licensing authorities. 
In the area of safety of nuclear fuel, porosity distribution and micromechanical property measurements 
continued with fuel of 80 GWd/t average burn-up. Simulated high burn-up U02 fuel up to 200 GWd/t has 
been fabricated and characterised in order to perform micro-structural examinations. Fission gas release 
from power reactor fuel of a burn-up of 90 GWd/t was analysed and evaluated. Source term 
measurements on samples from safety experiments were performed and equipment was up-graded for 
fast fission product release measurements. 
In the field of fuel fabrication technologies, new technologies (sol-gel and infiltration) were tested for 
various applications in transmutation programmes. The fuel performance code TRANSURANUS was 
further improved and consequences of high burn-up were modelled. These activities, of particular interest 
to operators of nuclear reactors and fuel fabrication plants, and to national and international authorities in 
charge of licensing and regulation, contribute to improved nuclear safety, particularly in phenomena which 
occur in light water reactor fuel rods at extended times of operation. 
In the area of spent fuel characterisation, leaching, oxidation and corrosion experiments continued on 
SIMFUEL, irradiated U02 as well as irradiated Pu02 and irradiated MOX fuels. The leaching and corrosion 
experiments were performed in granite environments and simulated groundwater. The oxidation 
experiments were performed at temperatures of up to 1 000°C. This work is directed towards the 
characterisation of unprocessed spent fuel and its behaviour under long term storage conditions, 
determination of its radiotoxic potential, and investigation of leaching of this waste form under various 
realistic conditions. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
32 
REDUCTION OF MINOR ACTINIDE RADIOTOXICITY BY A FACTOR OF 100 
The safe disposal of highly active wastes dominates the nuclear debate in several countries. The major 
issue is the potential risk due to the long-term radiotoxicity of transuranium elements and some long-lived 
fission products, such as for example technetium and iodine. 
To further reduce the potential long-term hazard of such wastes, partioning and transmutation research is 
being performed in several countries. The objective is to separate the long-lived nuclides from the waste 
to recycle them in reactors and to "transmute" or "burn" them by neutron capture or fission into nuclides 
with much shorter halflives. 
For the first time a closed partitioning and transmutation cycle was demonstrated. The remaining minor 
actinides of a previous transmutation in the PHENIX reactor (SUPERFACT experiment) were partitioned 
from fission products with an overall partitioning yield of 99.9 %. From this and the observed transmutation 
half-life of 2 years it can be concluded that it is technically feasible to reduce the radiotoxicity of minor 
actinides by a factor of 100 with a half-life of about 3 years including the out-of-pife time. 
Collaborative work with leading national laboratories takes place mainly in the area of mitigation of long-
lived actinides and fission products, with particular emphasis on further reduction of the radiotoxicity of 
highly active wastes. 
In the framework of cooperation with various European partners, fuels have been fabricated, characterised 
and welded into pins for different irradiation experiments, including the irradiation of americium in the 
thermal reactor Osiris (Actineau) and the homogeneous incineration of fuel with high plutonium contents in 
the High Flux Reactor at Petten (TRABANT). 
The extension of the minor actinide laboratory made substantial progress in line with the schedule. The 
separation of actinides from the Superfact fuel was demonstrated with advanced reprocessing techniques, 
and material science and fission damage investigations of inert matrices continued. 
In the area of safeguards R & D a new chemical separation method for preparation of mass spectrometer 
filaments was developed, validated and implemented. A highly sensitive thermal ionisation mass 
spectrometer, capable of measuring up to four masses simultaneously, is under evaluation for safeguards 
applications. 
Institutional Support Activities 
Non-proliferation of nuclear weapons is an important policy objective of the European Union. In addition, 
the European Commission has itself executive powers under chapter 7 of the Euratom Treaty to control 
nuclear materials in the Union. The Euratom Safeguards Directorate of DG XVII is carrying out inspections 
in accordance with Treaty requirements and international obligations of the Community. 
In support of community policies in the area of nuclear safeguards and fissile material management for DG 
XVII, major progress was made towards the implementation of the on-site laboratory at Sellafield. The 
design phase for the on-site laboratory at Cap la Hague was completed, and tender procedures for 
equipment purchases were launched. ITU analysts continued to perform on-site and in field support at the 
request of DG XVII (about 1700 measurements). In-house analytical services continued (about 500 
samples p.a.), and work on quality assurance procedures and the nuclear material data bank progressed 
significantly. 
In support of IAEA safeguards, analytical services were provided in relation to waste and swipe samples. 
Consultancy and training was provided in clean laboratory techniques, robotised analyses of nuclear 
materials, and on-site laboratories. 
B. COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
Shared-Cost Actions 
The Commission supports the further safe development of nuclear energy in the European Union. For this 
purpose, funds have been made available under the 4th Framework Programme by DG XII on a Shared-
Cost basis. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
33 
The work on ongoing projects in the framework of the Nuclear Fission Programme continued in close 
cooperation with partners. Some examples are: new partitioning techniques for the recovery of minor 
actinides from high level liquid waste; Joint Experimental Feasibility for Targets and Transmutation 
(EFTTRA) Experiment on Transmutation of Americium; Source Term for Performance Assessment of 
Spent Fuel. 
Activities Under Contract 
As in previous years, the work carried out for various customers concerned post-irradiation examination of 
irradiated fuel, fabrication and characterisation of fuels for transmutation, and examination of high burn-up 
oxide and mixed oxide fuels. A significant number of new contracts was signed during 1997 with Siemens, 
AG-Bereich Energieerzeugung (KWU), CEA Cadarache, COGEMA (Compagnie Générale des Matières 
Nucléaires, Vélizy, France),The British Nuclear Fuels pic, and the Central Research Institute of the Electric 
Power Industry, Tokyo, Japan. 
Other Competitive Activities 
• Cooperation with Bulgaria and the Czech Republic in the area of fuel modelling to improve reactor 
safety continued, a PHARE project. 
• Cooperation with MINATOM and GOSATOMNADZOV in setting up analytical facilities in the Russian 
Federation for nuclear material accountancy and control, is ready to start, within the framework of the 
Commission's TACIS programme (Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States). 
2.3 THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS (IAM) 
IAM contributed with its Research and Technological Development activities in 1997 to the following 
Framework Programme lines: Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies, Non-nuclear Energy, 
Nuclear Fission Safety, and Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion. 
IAM developed research activities on advanced materials, contributing to science and technology for the 
benefit of European industry as well as European consumers; some examples are the development of 
radio tracer methods for the determination of heavy metal release from gas catalysts and during food 
processing, the investigation of the safety aspects of future fusion machines, and the reassessment of 
industrial needs on novel catalytic washcoats to be used in car gas exhaust systems. 
IAM showed a special interest in pre-normative work of vital importance for industry. In 1997, the results 
obtained at IAM have strongly contributed to the development and improvement of standard test methods 
for mechanical performance assessment and for new classes of materials, such as technical ceramics and 
composites. 
A. INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES: 
Institutional Research Activities 
The main goals of the Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies programme address the pre-
normative needs of industry in Europe, including: 
• development of innovative processing and testing methods for advanced materials, focusing on cost 
efficiency, performance improvement and standardisation potential ; 
• alignment of the broad scope of testing, processing and analytical research on advanced materials, 
including composites and interfaces, with the information and data requirements of industry and 
standards development by CEN ( Comité Européen de Normalisation) and ISO ( International 
Organisation for Standardisation); 
• establishment of a European methodology for inspection qualification associated with the validation of 
advanced NDE ( Non Destructive Evaluation) techniques for pressure vessels, piping and power 
generation components; 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
34 
• networking of users in power industries, collaborating on the Institute's data facilities for mechanical 
properties and corrosion; 
• enhancement of the potential of surface engineering methods, for the improvement of fatigue, wear and 
corrosion behaviour, thermal barrier performance, and in biomedical and sensor applications; 
• development of radio tracer (thin layer activation) methods for the determination of heavy metal release 
from gas catalysts and during food processing; 
• development of radio tracer methods for advanced applications in technical components and consumer 
goods. 
For the Non-nuclear Energy programme, the work was divided into two lines: Photovoltaic Energy and 
Electricity Storage, carrying out research and support activities relevant to the White Paper "Energy for the 
future: Renewable sources of energy", and Materials for Clean Combustion Engines, under directives for 
reduction of emissions and gaseous pollutants. 
The goals of the Photovoltaic Energy and Electricity Storage line were, on the one hand, to develop and 
operate diagnostic testing and monitoring techniques for photovoltaic components and installations as well 
as electricity storage, and, on the other hand, research on methodologies and procedures for photovoltaic 
devices to be standardised at a European or international level. In the Materials for Clean Combustion 
Engines line, emphasis was put on reassessing industrial needs for novel catalytic washcoats to be used in 
car gas exhaust systems, and on characterisation of previous results in near-to-engine operation 
conditions. 
The Nuclear Fission Safety activities were focused on a better understanding of ageing mechanisms of 
components materials in nuclear power plants. In particular, a new test facility was installed at 1AM for 
irradiation of vessel material (the LYRA facility). Design rules for pressure vessels and stress corrosion 
damage were also investigated. 
1AM was involved in long term activities within the Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion programme, and 
carried out specific tasks at the request of the Next European Torus (NET) and the International 
Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) projects. Activities covered three main lines: fluid separation 
and structural analysis, fusion materials, and tritium materials interaction. The safety related aspects of 
future fusion machines were also investigated. 
STANDARDS AND NORMS IN THE MATERIALS FIELD 
Standards and norms are of vital importance for industry, and the safety of users, in particular when 
reliability and quality are at stake. Pre-normative work, i.e. all activities helping in the preparation of norms 
and standards, receives special attention at the Institute for Advanced Materials, where such activities 
have been undertaken for several years in the materials field. Today, the results obtained at 1AM have 
strongly contributed to the development of standard test methods for mechanical performance 
assessment, for new classes of materials (technical ceramics, composites, ), to new test methods (thermo-
mechanical fatigue, damage tolerance of ceramic composites, residual stress..) as well as to the 
improvement of existing standards. 1AM collaborates closely with international organisations such as CEN 
(Comité Européen de Normalisation), VAMAS (Versailles project on Advanced Materials and Standards), 
and ESIS (European Structural Integrity Society). 
Institutional Support Activities 
1AM provided support to DGXI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) and to DGXVII (Energy) 
in topics related to nuclear fission safety, in particular by running the European Network for Inspection 
Qualification (ENIQ), the Network for Evaluation of Steel Components (NESC) and the network on Ageing 
Materials Evaluation and Studies (AMES). For DGXI, considerable assistance was provided to the Codes 
and Standards Working Group and to its action on Inspection and Manufacturing, on Fracture Mechanics, 
and on Materials. For DGXVII, participation and support were provided to the European Non Destructive 
Evaluation Forum (ENDEF). 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
35 
B. COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
Shared-Cost Actions: 
The financial volume of contracts signed in Shared-Cost Actions at the end of September 1997 was 45% 
higher than in 1996. 
NEW COATINGS FOR DRY MACHINING 
Presently almost all machining processes are based on the use of synthetic cutting fluids with the threefold 
task of reduction friction, cooling pieces, and removing metal chips from the machining area. They also 
have significant drawbacks from an environmental point of view: they are non bio-degradable and can 
produce allergies. In Germany alone, 100 000 tons of oil-based lubricants are now used each year. 
Lubricant-free machining would be preferable in many ways, but is difficult to achieve. 
Lubricant-free machining would thus be preferable to enhance safety at work as well as decrease 
environmental impact of industrial processes. 
The JRC approach is to develop multiphase hard coatings for cutting tools, able to sustain the severe wear 
they are exposed to, and which have low friction coefficients in order to reduce contact temperature. So 
far, promising results have been obtained at 1AM on the basis of Ti-B-MoS2 coatings which were 
synthesised by a special Innovative technique. 
Competitive Support for Community Policies 
Four IAM proposals were retained for funding in 1997 by DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information Market 
and Exploitation of Research) within the framework of the Innovation programme. They are in the areas of 
nano-technology, surface engineering, and materials testing and characterisation. 
DG III (Industry) financed an IAM proposal for the setting-up and coordination of activities within the 
framework of the European Pressure Equipment Research Council. 
Activities Under Contract 
Contracts signed in 1997 were at the same financial level as those signed in 1996, and served the same 
portfolio of industrial needs, including non destructive evaluation techniques, coating technologies, and 
corrosion studies on materials for power generation . 
2.4 THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS, INFORMATICS AND SAFETY (ISIS) 
The Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) is the JRC's centre of expertise in the science and 
technology of safety management, the multi-disciplinary analysis of industrial, socio-technical and 
environmental systems, and the application of information technology. 
Work at ISIS focused on those well identified tasks under the Fourth Framework Programme where it uses 
its skills and unique facilities to advance European research for the benefit of European industry and the 
well-being of the European population. ISIS was particularly active in supporting efforts towards the 
regulation of biotechnology in industry and the evaluation of its potential risks. 
ISIS continued to provide scientific and technical support for Community policies. Customers included DGI 
(External Relations) and DGXVII (Energy), DGXI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) for 
work related to safety and licensing issues in the nuclear, chemical and biotechnology industries, DG III 
(Industry) for Information Technology, DG VII (Transport) for Aircraft Safety, the European Environment 
Agency, the Forward Studies Unit, and DG VI ( Agriculture) and the Commission antifraud service 
(UCLAF) for fraud control. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
36 
A. INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES 
Institutional Research Activities 
As part of the long term research that will help the safeguards inspectorate harness new technology to 
improve efficiency and prepare for the inevitable new challenges that will be raised by disarmament and 
the enlargement process, significant progress has been made in neutron measurement techniques for Non 
Destructive Assay. A high efficiency counter for passive neutron interrogation was constructed; sealing-
bolt production was improved by implementing quality control techniques, and seal-reading instruments 
were improved by the adoption of a new compact board; a prototype of a high resolution acquisition system 
based on a new laser type was developed for the 3-D reconstruction of plants and structures; a laboratory 
prototype of a distributed surveillance system based on digital cameras, compact industrial PCs and 
Ethernet network was developed. 
Reactor safety research concentrated on severe accidents in light water reactors and covered the following 
activities: tests at moderate pressures (< 5 bar) were performed in both FARO and KROTOS facilities at 
Ispra on the test sections to allow better observation of the mixing, jet break-up and quenching processes; 
the development of the REACFLOW code for the numerical simulation of deflagration and detonation 
processes in arbitrary gas mixtures continued. A two-dimensional axisymmetric code version has been 
completed which is now ready for industrial application. A fully three-dimensional pilot code version is in the 
testing phase. 
SEISMIC RESISTANCE OF STRUCTURES 
The facilities of the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA), continued to provide a unique 
testbed for the application of the pseudodynamic test method for checking the seismic resistance of 
structures. The data from these tests provide a scientific basis for the building standard - Eurocode 8 - that 
constitutes Europe's main protection against damage to life and property from earthquakes. The 
advantages of using b3se isolation techniques for the seismic protection of monument buildings have been 
explored. Tests were conducted at ELSA on the Palazzo Geraci model by using a special steel base 
isolation device. A series of tests were performed to assess the adequacy of the pseudodynamic test 
method for structures equipped with high-damping rubber bearings. A reduced-scale structure, already 
tested on a shaking table, was tested pseudodynamically at ELSA, and the results were compared. 
As part of the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) project, and complementary to the activities of the 
Space Applications Institute, ISIS continued to operate and update information systems to promote the use 
of satellite-based earth observation data. The work included updating the European Wide Service 
Exchange (EWSE), now recognised as the leading source of information regarding Earth Observation in 
Europe, enhancing the G7 Environment and Natural Resource Monitoring (ENRM) server by integrating it 
with 20 Environmental databases across the world, developing the CEOS Information Locator System 
(CILS) on behalf of Third World countries, and developing a new Internet protocol for remote searching of 
geospatial databases. 
ISIS contributed to the Fusion Programme with its heavy robotics facility ROBERTINO. The Control and 
Data Acquisition systems of a blanket test facility for ITER have been developed, as part of an international 
effort to develop assembly procedures for blanket modules inside the vacuum vessel. 
Institutional Support Activities 
The Institute acted as the main scientific adviser to the Euratom Safeguards Directorate (ESD) (DG XVII) 
for the following topics: 
• development of two passive neutron counters for measurements of Mixed Oxide (MOX) fuel pins and 
of a passive neutron counter for the assay of Pu scraps; 
• development of a multimedia safeguards training package including a multilingual keyword search 
engine and the quantification of measurement uncertainty in neutron assay methods; 
• supply of a complete site station for ultrasonic sealing/identification of spent fuel elements stored in 
ponds, including a powerful seal-management database, to be used by Euratom inspectors at THORP 
Sellafield (UK); 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
37 
• training courses for EURATOM inspectors in Non Destructive Assay (NDA) and mass and volume 
measurement techniques in large tanks. 
ISIS also provided the technical means whereby DGI supported the International Atomic Energy Agency 
(IAEA) through: experimental investigation in TAME (TAnk MEasurement) of error components in 
mass/volume measurements of liquids in large tanks; testing of portable pressure measurement 
equipment, and demonstration in particular of their unattended mode of operation through long term in-field 
trials in the USA; environmental testing of various safeguards devices in the TEMPEST laboratory on the 
basis of an IAEA test procedure, developed in 1996 with the support of JRC Ispra; training courses for 
IAEA inspectors in non-destructive assay, mass/volume determination and sealing/identification 
techniques. 
ISIS supported DGXI through the running of the Major Accidents Hazards Bureau (MAHB), for the 
implementation of the new "Seveso II" Directive (96/82/EC). 
ISIS continued to support the service performance of the Commission's antifraud service (SG/UCLAF) 
through the introduction, of new information technology, data analysis and risk analysis methods into anti-
fraud work. 
The Institute's expertise in information technology was used to support the Information Technologies 
programme of DG III. Specific areas of work were: workshops on survivability and dependability of 
software; support to European pharmaceutical regulatory policy through the European Medicine Evaluation 
Agency (EMEA); European high performance computing and image processing and synthesis (pre-
industrial software). 
BIOTECHNOLOGY REGULATION AND RISK EVALUATION 
In 1997, ISIS has been particularly active in the field of biotechnology regulation in industry and the 
understanding of the potential risks. 
On behalf of the Forward Studies Unit, which is directly associated with the President of the Commission, 
ISIS analysed the current procedures in biotechnological risk assessment for transgenic plants: the aim 
was to determine whether current scientific knowledge allows comparative environmental risks to be 
calculated and risk assessment procedures to be harmonised. The conclusions and recommendations of 
the study dealt with the limitations of quantitative risk assessment for genetically modified organisms and 
with problems in identifying hazards. 
ISIS provided scientific support to DG XI on the Implementation of the Biotechnology Directives 
(90/219/EEC on the contained use of genetically modified microorganisms and 90/220/EEC on the 
deliberate release and the placing on the market of genetically modified organisms). Priority was given to 
projects dealing with implementation in the EU Member States (plus Norway and Iceland) of an electronic 
system enabling the exchange of information among Member States and the Commission on deliberate 
field trials. 
B. COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
Shared-Cost Actions 
During 1997, ISIS was involved in 3 Training and Mobility for Researchers (TMR) networks, 5 concerted 
actions and 36 shared-cost action projects. 
• In the RESOLV project, a prototype of an Autonomous mobile platform with an Environment Sensor for 
Telepresence (AEST) was built to reconstruct real environments using images from a JRC-developed 
fast high resolution three-dimensional scanner. Further research on reconstruction of a three-
dimensional environment is being undertaken in the framework of a Training and Mobility for 
Researchers (TMR) network linking seven of the most active European laboratories in the field. 
• In the field of nuclear safety, ISIS coordinated two projects, aimed at improving the performance of 
computer codes used in analysing the safety of nuclear power plants. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
• 38 
ISIS expertise in combustion modelling is being used in the nuclear reactor safety project, Combustion 
in Severe Accidents and in the Explosion Models Evaluation project which aims to assess vapour 
cloud explosions. 
The ROBERTINO heavy robotics facility, coupled with the TELEMAC CAD/CAE laboratory, is being 
applied for the automation and control of Laser welding technology applied to heavy section 
components in the LASEROBOT project. 
In the ADAMS project, ISIS has analysed different methodologies for aircaft dispatch and 
maintenance, with a view to reducing human-factor related accidents. 
Competitive Support for Community Policies 
Complementary to its institutional work, ISIS was successful in a number of calls for tender issued by 
Commission services in areas related to its main competences. A selection of these projects, classified per 
customer DG, is mentioned below. 
For DG III (Industry): Two full-size three-storey buildings were tested pseudodynamically at ELSA. A joint 
project with the Space Applications Institute on benchmarking of European neural network systems on 
remote sensing applications was completed; in the field of pharmaceutical regulation, the testing phase of 
the EudraTrack project for the procedure of Mutual Recognition between Member State health authorities 
was completed. The Eudra Mat database of pharmaceutical products marketed in the European Union was 
distributed on CD-ROM to health authorities. 
For DG VII (Transport): As part of the ongoing effort to prepare the ground for a harmonization of the 
regulatory framework governing Europe's aviation the European Coordination Centre for Aircraft Incident 
Reporting Systems (ECCAIRS) is being prepared for production. The software has been industrialised, the 
central office has been setup, and data exchange procedures, with the six EU aviation authorities initially 
involved, have been put in place. 
For DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection): The JRC has produced a synthesis 
report of an international benchmark aimed at harmonising the different methodologies used in calculating 
the radioactive release to the atmosphere in the case of an accident in the auxiliary building of a nuclear 
power plant. The report highlighted areas of agreement, and identified areas where further research is 
needed. Commissioning work has started, with preliminary work on a small incineration oven for the 
investigation of advanced waste treatment processes. A study on an overall strategy for Environmental 
Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment (SEIA) research in the 
European Union, taking into account the views of acknowledged experts from the Member States, has 
been completed. A Community Information System on Natural Disasters is being established. Priority in 
the pilot phase has been given to a limited number of types of disasters: floods, earthquakes, and 
accidents of any kind causing significant environmental consequences. Eight Member States, as well as 
Iceland and Norway, are contributing to the project. The design of the prototype information system is now 
completed. 
For EUROSTAT (Statistical Office): A study on environmental pressure indicator modelling has been 
completed. The study defined a generalised layout to summarise pressure indicator models, identified 
modelling activities in the Member States, and produced a model sheet for each of the twenty-five models 
identified. 
As part of its mission, ISIS has transferred to industry some technologies it has developed. In 1997, 10 
projects funded by DG XIII were completed and another 12 have started. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
39 
12 NEW PROJECTS FOR TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TO INDUSTRY 
• Testing and demonstration of an automotive crash energy absorber based on high speed liquid jet 
formation 
Fibre optic based acoustic emission sensor system 
Industrialisation of a holographic flat display 
Industrialisation of an ESPI based device for deformation measurements and mechanical 
characterisation of building materials 
Integrated fixture for punch and bulge testing of small specimens 
A WARE (Advanced Warning Against Runaway Events) 
Exploitation of STARS industrial reliability software. 
VASAT-3D: extension of JRC finite element simulators to model three dimensional water flow and 
contaminant transport in variably saturated soils 
Implementation of W-SDI: a Windows tool for safety design improvement 
Large scale testing of vibration sensor and micro-seismic monitoring 
Integrated system for shape and condition monitoring of composite elements used in civil and 
aeronautical engineering 
Validation of uncertainty and sensitivity analysis software 
Activities Under Contract 
Third party work at the JRC is offered to clients who take advantage of products and techniques developed 
through research in ISIS and pay for these products to be customised to operational requirements. During 
1997 more than 30 contracts were signed. Examples of some of the larger contracts: a full-size replica of 
a portion of the Sao Vicente de Fora Monastery in Lisbon has been constructed by reproducing the original 
materials and workmanship, and is being tested at ELSA under a contract with the Portuguese 
Government; an integrated system for monitoring and preventing pollution and risks associated with 
industrial areas and movements of dangerous substances in Sicily, as well as for the on-line management 
of related emergencies, was installed on behalf of the Italian Ministry of Environment. Another contract was 
signed allowing the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission access to results from FARO 
quenching tests. 
Exploratory Research 
ISIS made a special internal effort to explore some complementary research areas which might turn out to 
be important for its future institutional contributions; a total of 65 proposals were presented within the 
Institute and 12 of them were funded. At the end of 1997, 10 of these were allowed to continue for a 
second year, and a further 5 projects were added. The projects covered a wide range of subjects, including 
non-linear time series analysis, brain-actuated control systems for the disabled, voice to text conversion, 
regional flood vulnerability, remote measurement of water levels in environmentally sensitive areas, 
innovative accelerator driven nuclear reactors, simulating energy-environment interactions in cities, 
determining how citizens can participate in environmental decisions, modelling particle gas flows, smart 
materials, protein folding, measuring the performance of artificial joint implants, seismic monitoring, 
earthquake prediction, and stress-wave release from fracturing rocks. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
40 
SAFEGUARDS PLANTAT OBNINSK 
The European Commission, through the TACIS Programme, is supporting efforts in the Russian 
Federation to improve nuclear material accountancy and control. As part of this work, a Safeguards 
Methodological and Training Centre (RMTC) is being set up at the Institute of Physics and Power 
Engineering (IPPE) at Obninsk, in the Kaluga region of Russia. ISIS, together with IPPE, has been given 
the task of designing and implementing the Centre. The principal tasks of the RMTC are the training of the 
Ministry of Atomic Energy (MINATOM) plant operators as well as of the domestic inspectors at the Russian 
Authority for Nuclear Security (GOSATOMNADZOR) in fields such as development and implementation of 
upgraded approaches for accounting and safeguarding fissile materials. It uses existing premises, already 
licensed for the use of bulk quantities of nuclear materials. So fan 
• 15 Russian instructors and 70 Russian inspectors and operators have been trained 
• 8 specialist courses have been held in Ispra and 5 in Obninsk 
• seminars on fuel fabrication safeguards and reprocessing plant safeguards have been held in Obninsk 
2.5 THE ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE (El) 
The Environment Institute (El) contributed to the Fourth Framework Programme, mainly in the lines 
Environment and Climate and Life Sciences and Technologies. Through various competitive actions, the 
Institute also addressed Programme lines such as Measurements and Testing and Nuclear Fission Safety. 
In 1997 the El dedicated 70 % of its Institutional activities to providing scientific and technical support to 
other Directorates General of the Commission in the preparation and implementation of EC sectoral 
Policies in the fields of the Environment and Consumer Protection. 
The Environment-Water Task Force, headed by the Institute director, has concluded its final report, based 
on more than 450 "ideas-proposals" and on the position papers prepared by the national contact points and 
professional task forces. The proposed action plan will be used in defining the specific programmes of the 
Fifth Framework Programme on water-related activities. 
A. INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES 
An adequate balance between research and direct support activities has allowed the Institute to provide 
effective support while maintaining its scientific and technical competence. 
Institutional Research Activities 
In accordance with the European Union's research objectives laid out in the Fourth Framework 
Programme, the Institute set up and coordinated European research projects which contributed to major 
international environmental programmes such as IGBP (International Geosphere Biosphere Programme), 
IGAC (International Global Atmospheric Chemistry), and EUREKA. 
In the field of atmospheric processes, activities have mainly been focused on tropospheric ozone, a 
harmful, globally increasing greenhouse gas, which affects human health, crops and vegetation, and on 
atmospheric aerosols which are of paramount importance in evaluating and predicting climate trends. 
BIOGENIC EMISSIONS FROM VEGETATION AND OZONE FORMATION IN THE 
MEDITERRANEAN AREA 
The aim of the Biogenic Emissions in the Mediterranean Area (BEMA) project developed by the Institute is 
to assess the contribution of biogenic emissions from vegetation to tropospheric ozone formation in the 
Mediterranean area, in relation to the contribution from anthropogenic sources. The last year of BEMA 
phase II was focused on modelling/up-scaling activities. A large mesoscale experiment, involving 17 
European laboratories, was jointly organised by El and Centro de Estudios Medioambientales del 
Mediterraneo (CEAM) in May/June 1997 in the Castellon area near Valencia in Spain, to test the 
multidimensional meteorological/chemical model developed already. The experiment included ground 
measurements (emission rates, canopy fluxes, concentrations), as well as measurements from aircraft and 
tethered balloons, to characterise transport and chemistry in the boundary layer of an 80km corridor in the 
land-seabreeze direction. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
41 
The Aerosol and Climate project contributed to assessing the impact of the aerosol burden on Earth 
radiation. The Aerosols Characterisation Experiment (ACE-2) was during 1997 the main focus of the 
activity. The project was carried out in collaboration with 25 European laboratories and included 
preparation of logistics together with coordination of 250 scientists, 6 aircraft, 1 ship and 6 ground based 
stations. The JRC also participated successfully in the ACE-2 project by performing a series of gas 
measurements and aerosol physical and chemical characterisations in Tenerife, Madeira, the Azores and 
Portugal. The modelling activity thus provides a more realistic description of aerosols in global models, and 
should improve the estimates of radiative forcing by those aerosols. The results of this project are relevant 
to assess the impact of atmospheric aerosols on the global change and the extent to which this impact 
varies as a result of human activities and natural phenomena. 
Institutional research activities in the water and soil areas included the use of AMAL (Advanced Mobile 
Laboratory) to assess industrial sites and landfill contamination. Samples from different estuaries have 
been analysed to establish the relationships between toxic element concentrations and flow variations, as 
well as identification of sources. Four in situ campaigns were performed in the subalpine ecoregion, to 
contribute to the setting up of algorithms describing lake water quality, and for comparison of different 
methods for the determination of phytoplankton pigments. 
Several reports were published on lake restoration/safeguarding projects and on drinking water quality. 
Collaborative data and uncertainty assessment studies continued within the AQUACON (Analytical Quality 
Control) project. 
A new Unit, Environmental Toxicology and Human Health, which included the former Indoor Air and Life 
Science units was set up with the aim of reorienting activities in view of the 5th Framework Programme. 
The Institute's work in this area is being intensified and will be focused on: the impact of microbial and 
chemical pollution of water on aquatic life, and the consequent relevance to human health; the health risks 
of indoor air pollution, especially those related to volatile organic compounds; health effects resulting from 
food contamination; and age-related neurodegenerative disorders. 
Within the European Collaborative Action, Indoor Air Quality & Its Impact on Man (ECA-IAQ), an essential 
part of the institutional indoor pollution activity, two new reports have been published: Evaluation of VOC 
Emissions from building products-solid flooring materials, offering a labelling procedure for flooring 
materials awaited by industry, and Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) in indoor air quality 
investigations. An automatic air pollution analyser developed at El for indoor and workplace applications 
has been extended to diisocyanates. Within the scope of competitive support activities, a contract has 
been granted from DG XIII for the construction of a commercial version of the analyser. Research was 
continued within the EURO TERVITH (Trace-Element Reference Values in Human Tissues) project on 
basic levels of trace metals in the European population. 
Institutional Support Activities 
The Environment Institute's activities have been mainly devoted to providing scientific and technical 
support to the Commission Services in the design and implementation of European Union policies in the 
fields of environment and consumer protection. 
The European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) acted as a focal point for the implementation of the EC directives 
in the field of chemicals control (DG XI Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection). The work of the 
ECB included risk assessment in relation to existing or new chemicals in close cooperation with competent 
national authorities and other international bodies, such as the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and 
Development (OECD), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agricultural 
Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). 
The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), in support of DG III, DG XI and 
DG XXIV, worked on the validation of alternative, non-animal, toxicity testing procedures, in support of 
Commission regulatory actions on industrial chemicals, pesticides, cosmetics, and other products, for the 
protection of consumers, of the environment, and for the benefit of European industries. 
The well established work of ERLAP (European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution,) and REM 
(Radioactive Environment Monitoring) provided DG XI with scientific and technical support for the EC 
legislation on air quality. The work will be extended to take account of growing concern about the causes 
and health effects of urban air pollution in relation to small aerosol particles and the use of alternative fuels. 
The activities in support of the Alpine Convention for the sustainable development of the Alps have been 
maintained by coordinating the Alpine Observation and Information System (Alpine Observatory). 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
42 
The Institute has managed the Technical Support Group for Urban and Regional Modelling in the project 
Auto-Oil 2. This support group provided expert advice and assistance for the impact assessment on the 10 
cities selected. The methodology has been reviewed and the key parameters of reference have been 
analysed for assessing the current levels of air quality. The criteria for identifying the main stationary 
(industrial) and traffic sources of pollution have been also established. 
Support was also offered to the European Environment Agency in the fields of measuring methods, 
intercalibration instruments, and the development of new methods and new environmental measuring 
devices. 
CONSUMER PROTECTION AND FOOD SAFETY 
Consumer protection has been one of the priorities of the El, with activities on food safety, origin and 
quality, including the well established European Office for Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks (BEVABS), 
which was created at the Environment Institute of the JRC in Ispra in 1993, as a community body with a 
high level of scientific expertise and specialised high-performance equipment, to provide Member States 
with the assurance that scientific cooperation between official laboratories Is organised efficiently and that 
disputes between Member States over the interpretation of analytical results are handled objectively in true 
community spirit. 
The main objectives of this office can be briefly summarised as follows: establishment of an analytical 
database for wine sector products, for the coordinated and uniform application of analysis methods, in 
particular those based on nuclear magnetic resonance; analysis of wine or alcohol samples taken by 
commission control agents; preparation for the acceptance of new isotopic methods based on mass 
spectrometry as future official methods of improving the fight against fraud; performance of measurements 
for Member States not yet equipped with isotopic techniques; the handling of possible disputes concerning 
Member States. ' interpretation of analyses of the same product. 
The European Office for Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks works in close collaboration with the specialised 
departments responsible for the wine sector within DGVI (Agriculture). The scientific and technical work 
carried out by this office complements the activities of the Commission's agents, who are responsible for 
cooperating with the fraud prevention and control authorities in the Member States. The European Office 
for Wine, Alcohol and Spirits collaborates with the official bodies and 15 official laboratories of the wine 
producing Member States for the collection and the validation of the data to be used for the establishment 
of the database and a multilingual software has been developed for this aim. So far the Data Bank contains 
the deuterium isotope ratios of ethanol from more than 10 000 authentic wines taken from the wine 
producing countries in the European Union and covers the six vintages from 1991 until 1996. 
B. COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
Shared- Cost A ctions 
The El has won 25 new shared-cost action projects within the programmes Environment and Climate, 
Standards, Measurements and Testing, and Nuclear Fission Safety and within the scope of Joule (Joint 
Opportunities for Unconventional or Long-term Energy supply) and INCO (International Cooperation). 
The main topics addressed in these projects were: particles and photo-oxidants in chemistry: formation 
processes and role; climate change effects on freshwater resources in Europe; air quality and effects of 
pollutants on the European population; development of analytical methods for food control; environmental 
risk assessment; endocrine disrupting chemicals. 
Competitive Support for Community Policies 
The El has signed new contracts to provide support to other community services on a competitive 
basis, mainly in the fields of food and consumer protection. 
Research has been carried out in support of DGIII (Industry) and DG XXI ( Customs and Indirect Taxation) 
on the development and validation of methods of assessing compliance with food legislation on chocolate, 
honey and olive oil. 
DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research) funded the development 
of a compact, portable and economic prototype version of an automatic laboratory analyser of indoor air 
pollutants. A patent has been obtained in 1997 from the European Patent Office. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
43 
Activities Under Contract 
The institute has also carried out research under contract to characterise industrial contaminated sites and 
has performed environmental impact assessment for regional authorities. In the Lombardia region in Italy, 
work has been carried out on soil pollution, on water resources management, and on air quality control. 
2.6. THE SPACE APPLICATIONS INSTITUTE (SAI) 
The Space Applications Institute (SAI) carries out research leading to provision of up-to-date information 
on events and trends affecting the Earth's resources and environment. SAI plays an important role in the 
development of European Earth Observation, and its activities are crucial to the exploitation of the 
investments made by Member States, particularly in the European Space Agency. 
Its work within the Environment and Climate research programme addressed issues related to quality of 
human life, to sustainable resource management, and to promotion of a sustainable Earth Observation 
industry in Europe. 
A. INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES 
Institutional Research Activities 
In 1997, the Space Applications Institute used a full range of earth observation space techniques for the 
study of our environment and climate, and began new work integrating these with space-based 
telecommunications and navigation systems. 
The work of the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) at SAI continued to encourage and strengthen the 
European Earth observation industry. European companies, with CEO guidance, carried out studies 
particularly focused on the customer requirements for five new earth observation markets : travel/tourism, 
environmental organisations, town/city authorities, insurance companies, and civil engineering 
organisations. Each study produced an information brochure to which all new markets reacted positively. 
The Enabling Services prototype, consisting of an INTERNET site and the European Wide Service 
Exchange (EWSE), saw a dramatic increase in use with up to 2 000 registered users. CEO pilot projects 
demonstrating the potential operational use of information derived from Earth Observation data for the 
Services of the Commission, concentrated on coastal zones, European forestry, agricultural production in 
South East Asia, and an atlas of major European urban areas. 
PROGRESS TOWARDS STANDARDS FOR ANTI-PERSONNEL MINE DETECTION 
SYSTEMS AND STRATEGIES 
The SAI gained recognition as a focal point for mine detection and identification and is working in close 
collaboration with national groups from Member States as well as with Non-Governmental Organisations 
(NGOs), representatives from mine infected countries, and mine clearance teams. 
The Institute established an outdoor test range for validating the performance of mine detection sensors 
(metal detectors, ground penetrating radars and thermal infrared sensors). This facility has been used by 
different producers of mine detection sensors as well as for testing the feasibility of a multi-sensor system 
for Anti-Personnel Mine detection and identification. 
This 'benchmarking" action began in October 1997 with a workshop, attended by the United Nations 
Department of Peace Keeping Operations (UNDPKO), NGOs, mine clearance organisations, mine detector 
producers, national research organisations and Universities, as well as from other Commission services 
charged with mine clearance actions. The standards will be applied to subsequent SAI tests, as well as to 
mine clearance projects in mine infected countries supported by the European Commission. 
Research activities at the European Microwave Signature Laboratory included the development of 
sequential radar imaging techniques for the monitoring of mechanical stress and deformation in structural 
elements, such as beams and girders. Such methods will be a major new tool for monitoring the safety of 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
44 
key civil engineering structures such as deformation of water reservoir dams. 
Coastal Zone management systems, using data from new ocean colour sensors, are now being 
developed, to be used in areas such as aquaculture and coastal erosion defences. Work of this nature 
calls for well calibrated data and validated products. Work on sensor calibration and validation, in full 
collaboration with the international and national space agencies, development of bespoke geographical 
information systems, and modelling underpin this. Ocean colour and sea surface temperature data sets 
are also used for global change research. 
Techniques developed with data from low-resolution sensors were then used to map soil and vegetation 
changes throughout the year, first for the Iberian peninsula and then extended to the entire Mediterranean 
Basin: this work will be the basis for a land degradation monitoring system as part of an emerging 
Mediterranean Observatory. 
As input to the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme of climate change research, the SAI 
completed a data set showing the occurrence of wild-fires throughout the globe. Such monitoring 
responds to concerns espressed in Agenda 21 and the 5th Environmental Action Plan. These data are 
important to research and environmental management alike, as evidenced by the huge impact of the 1997 
fires in Indonesia. Environmental studies concerning fire scars and forest resources in the tropics 
continued to benefit from the development of Radar based mapping, in collaboration with North American 
(NASA) and Japanese (NASDA) partners. 
The analysis of data from new sensors benefited from studies of the bidirectional reflectance properties of 
the Earth's surface, made using advanced models of surface radiation interactions. 
Institutional Support Activities 
The Monitoring of Agriculture with Remote Sensing (MARS) project provided support to DG VI 
(Agriculture), EUROSTAT ( Statistical Office) and the Member States through the Institute's advanced 
Agricultural Information System (AIS). The AIS provided production forecasts and identified regional 
anomalies for 14 major EU crops. In 1997, new crop types (olive trees and wine-grapes) were studied: 
qualitative information and estimation of their potential yield will be further improved. Information on the 
EU's neighbours in Central Europe, the Baltic States, CIS, the Maghreb countries and Turkey was also 
provided. 
As in previous years, control by remote sensing of farmers' area aid declarations continued. The quality 
control of the work, done by private companies under contract from national administrations, was carried 
out, and technical support and advice was provided in direct interaction with the Member States' 
administrations. 
The Soil Geographical Database of Europe at Scale 1: 1 000 000, supporting the Agricultural Information 
System, has been extended to Norway, Finland, former Yugoslavia, Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, 
Slovakia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Austria, Romania and the Baltic states. This data supports the 
agrometeorological modelling of crop field. 
B. COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
Shared-Cost Actions 
The Space Applications Institute submitted 18 proposals in a range of thematic areas including Agriculture, 
Telematics, and Environment and Climate. 13 of those projects, ranging from the marine environment to 
desertification and landslide monitoring, are being funded. 
Competitive Support for Community policies 
DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) awarded a contract for the third phase of the 
operational tropical forest monitoring project started in 1995. This work will, on completion, provide an 
Earth Observation based system for tropical forest mapping, for management of diverse tropical forest 
data sets and for provision of an "alarm" system, highlighting areas of extreme deforestation. A portable 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
45 
satellite receiving station for fire detection was tested in Vietnam in this context. The overall objective is to 
provide a forest information system tuned to the needs of the Directorate General for Environment, Nuclear 
Safety and Civil Protection, notably to determine the effectiveness of EC funded projects in these regions. 
Activities Under Contract 
Contract research, linked to the Institute's research programme, was performed for external clients, 
notably European and Japanese Space Agencies. SAI was a sub-contractor in a consortium testing a rain 
simulator to support development of a rainfall-mapping mission, and staff were also involved in the 
development of new algorithms to handle information from Japan's planned Global Imager (GLI) 
instrument, and Europe's MERIS and VEGETATION instruments. The first instrument will be used to 
measure a range of atmospheric, terrestrial and marine parameters. The MEdium Resolution Imaging 
Spectrometer is a primary instrument in Europe's next major satellite ENV Sat 1 (Environment Satellite). 
Through these contracts the JRC recognised expertise, helps to maximise the returns on the investments 
made in Europe on these new sensors. 
Other Competitive Activities 
The MERA project (MARS and Environmental Related Applications) covering the 12 PHARE countries, 
entirely funded by DGIA (External Affairs), continued and concentrated mainly on forest issues such as 
mapping and monitoring. The techniques developed for remote sensing monitoring of agriculture projects 
in the Union will be transferred to neighbouring Eastern European countries where there is a strong 
emphasis on forest resource management and on environmental impact assessment. The SAI's role as 
provider of technical support management to the DGs also saw the continuation of a coastal zone 
management programme in Thailand for DGIB. 
2.7 THE INSTITUTE FOR PROSPECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES (IPTS) 
The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies supported the European Union (EU) policy making 
processes by "collecting", "interpreting" and "communicating" Science & Technology (S&T) developments 
(events, trends and impacts). Therefore, most of IPTS' work is undertaken in reply to specific requests of 
assistance to the European Union institutions, mainly the European Commission and the European 
Parliament services, as well as to third party organisations, in the framework of the competitive mandate 
given to the Joint Research Centre. 
IPTS addressed various technological matters, where it is important to ensure a neutral and Europe-wide 
assessment of scientific and technological change, and to gain a better understanding of technology in the 
socio-economic environment. For this purpose, the Institute combines two perspectives in its work: a 
focus on emerging technologies, and a focus on socio-economic, policy relevant, options which involve 
technology. This unique combination of approach provides added insight, not only through empirical 
analysis of available data, but prospective exploration of the future. This characterises the specificity of the 
Institute's mission with respect to other research institutions. 
Prospective studies are carried out by IPTS in major research areas of relevance, exploiting synergies and 
crossbreeding between those areas. IPTS' work has been developed in the following fields during 1997: 
Energy; Environment; Mobility and Transport; Information and Communication Technologies; Life Sciences 
and Bio-technology; Regulatory Frameworks for Emerging Technologies; Technology, Knowledge and 
Organisational Change; Innovation, Diffusion and Growth; Regional Development; Resource Management 
(both mainly focused on the Mediterranean region); and Perspectives for Europe. 
In order to secure a direct access on a large network of specialists, IPTS has set up the European Science 
and Technology Observatory (ESTO). ESTO is a network of 14 European national S&T organisations 
which share the responsibility of providing timely access to information on scientific and technological 
change of socio-economic relevance. It contributes to IPTS studies and the "IPTS Report", which is the 
Technology Watch bulletin of IPTS, directed towards European decision makers. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
46 
A. INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITIES 
Institutional Research Activities 
Institutional research activities focused in 1997 on areas highly relevant for EU policies such as Energy; 
Environment; Mobility and Transport Research: Technology Employment and Competitiveness. The most 
important projects per scientific area are mentioned here below: 
Projects on Energy ranged from technology assessment to the understanding of the complex system of 
energy, natural resources and economy. Particular attention was paid to the interactions between the 
energy system and the environment on a global scale, as well as to regional energy markets. 
Two examples of specific projects are the Climate Change Research and Policy, and the Socio-economic 
Impact of Renewable Energy Projects in Southern Mediterranean Countries: Definitions and 
Methodologies. 
The Environment projects focused on the following three lines of action: consequences of the gradual 
introduction of clean technologies in the areas of innovation, competitivity and employment; technology 
responses to environmental problems; new frameworks for environmental policy making. 
Some examples of specific projects in this field are: The Dynamics of Innovation in Bio-Engineering 
Catalysis: Cases and Analysis; Biotechnology as a Cleaner Production Technology in Pulp and Paper; 
Waste Definitions and Impact on Waste Handling. 
Research into Mobility and Transport aimed at supporting policy development concerning future trends in 
urban mobility, including social and economic factors. A special IPTS Report on "Urban Mobility" 
highlighted the importance of this evolving issue. 
Projects referred to the Future of Individual Transport: Towards the Integration of Social, Technological, 
Economic and Political Driving Forces of Change; Future Analysis of Vehicle Technologies in Urban 
Environments. 
On the basis of specific studies and technology watch, IPTS explored implications for the interface 
between Technology, Employment and Competitiveness, in order to improve the understanding of this 
trilateral relationship. Some examples of projects in this field are: 'The role of networks or economic webs 
in the creation of employment"; "Evaluation of present water resources policy in the Mediterranean", "The 
potential of S&T and Innovation for Regional development" and "Made in Europe". 
Institutional Support Activities 
Most of IPTS' work responds to direct requests from its main customers, the European Commission (EC) 
and the European Parliament (EP). During 1997 a new agreement has been signed between JRC-IPTS 
and DG III of the European Commission, which comes to enlarge the list of agreements IPTS has with the 
following specific EC services: Forward Studies Unit, DG XI and DG XVI. Further support activities have 
been carried out, outside of any bilateral institutional agreements. With regard to EP, the IPTS has 
supported the work of the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection, 
Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, and STOA (Scientific and 
Technological Option Assessments). 
IPTS supported the European Industrial Policy under DG III (Industry) with projects on industrial innovation 
systems and technology foresight such as: trends in academia-industry technology transfer; benchmarking, 
diffusion of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and organisation practices; impact of 
regulation on innovation; profile of water industry in southern EU countries; and biotechnology and the 
greening of industry. 
Major support to DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) was provided for setting new 
frameworks for environmental policy making. 
Support to DG XVI (Regional Policies and Cohesion) was offered through the project "Towards sustainable 
management of water resources in the Mediterranean countries". 
JRC Annual Report 1997 
47 
In support of the Forward Studies Unit (FSU) of the Commission, the Institute offered work in the 
following areas: micro-economic case studies, green accounting, climate change, risk assessment aYid 
regulations, risk assessment and governance, information society and governance. 
Common support to various EC services : In addition to the above mentioned activities, support which 
encompassed several customer DGs was offered with the following projects: supervision of a feasibility 
study for a solar thermal power plant in Morocco (together with the World Bank) (DG IB, DG XII, DG XVII); 
biomass energy strategy (DG XII, DG XVII, DG VI); solar-thermal energy strategy (DG XII, DG XVII, DG 
IB); S&T support to the Euro-Mediterranean Monitoring Committee (DGIB, DG XII); environmental futures 
(DG XI, FSU); new initiatives in ETAN-support to ageing technologies and global climate change (DGXII, 
DGV, DGXI); Technology foresight-watch and socio-economic studies for industrial materials and 
technologies (DG XII, DG III, DG XIII, JRC); Discussion paper on "Competitive and Sustainable Growth: 
Products, Processes and Organisation anticipating FPV" (DGXII.C)^ input to the Green Paper on 
Innovation (DGXIII); the Management of Intellectual Property Rights in the Public-Funded Research 
Organisation: 6 case studies of self-management. 
Work for the EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT, and particularly its Committee on the Environment, Public 
Health and Consumer Protection, focused on: climate change: causes, impacts and options; recycling 
industries: impediments and prospects; green accounting; environment and employment; legal definitions 
of waste; prospective analysis of the pharmaceutical industry. 
• For the Committee on Research, Technological Development and Energy (CERT), projects 
referred to the following subjects: research and sustainability; research in the XXI century; state of the 
art in gerontotechnology. 
• For the Scientific and Technological Options Assessment (STOA), two projects were carried out: 
The future of the car, the car of the future; Prospective analysis of the pharmaceutical industry. 
• For the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs and Industrial Policy, support was offered 
on a "Public Hearing at the European Parliament, on the status quo and the perspectives of four mature 
industries in Europe, textile, steel, automotive and aeronautics". 
B. COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 
IPTS' two integrated research approaches, focused on emerging technologies, and on socio-economic, 
policy relevant, options which involve technology, provide an added value and hence a competitive 
advantage to the Institute. 
The Institute has submitted 41 competitive activities proposals during 1997. By the end of that year, the 
success rate of approved proposals had reached a level of approximately 60%. 
The setting up of the European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau, within the IPTS, on 
behalf of DG XI is an example of a mixed project, sharing its financial resources between Competitive 
Activities 60% and Institutional Support Activities 40% (see also highlight on page 10). 
Shared-Cost Actions 
The IPTS has under way in 1997 thirteen shared-cost actions among which the following projects: 
Relationship between demand for freight transport and industrial effects, and Forecasting and Assessment 
of New Technological and Transport Systems and Their Impacts on the Environment; Mediterranean 
Energy Markets Appraisal: trends and prospects for new technologies, Prefeasibility study for the 
introduction of renewable energies in the South Mediterranean area. 
Competitive Support for Community Policies 
Competitive activities in support of Commission policies dealt with the identification of a cluster of 
technologies, owned by the Community, which may have a major innovative impact on European 
enterprises. Moreover, a feasibility study was undertaken aimed at the mobilisation of resources for the 
utilisation of RTD results for the use of biomass as an energy source in Soria (Spain). 
JRC Annual Report 1997 4 
48 
Work Under Contract 
In this context, the following studies were carried out: the peer review of the German Life Cycle 
Assessment (LCA) study; the assessment of the external costs of energy, and their taking into account at 
the national level; the assessment of the effects of the reform of the Common Agriculture Policy on the 
environmental pollution level in southern countries of the European Union; stock-taking and analysis of the 
present technical and legal situation of renewable energy sources in Europe - phase I of the integral 
renewable energy research and promotion programme; technic-juridical european forum on renewable 
energies I. 
JRC Annual Report 1997 



ISSN 0254-1475 
COM(98) 483 final 
DOCUMENTS 
EN 15 17 12 01 
Catalogue number : CB-CO-98-500-EN-C 
ISBN 92-78-38694-4 
Office for Official Publications of the European Communities 
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