REPORT FROM THE COMMISSION JRC ANNUAL REPORT 1999

CONTENTS

Foreword

Introduction

Observations of the Board of Governors

The Joint Research Centre in 1999

- A new Work Programme in support of EU policies

- Working for the Commission services

- Clusters - A new inter-institutional approach

- Non-nuclear research activities

- Nuclear research activities

- Co-ordination of space activities

- Opening up to the pre-accession countries

- International relations

- The JRC as a partner in networks

- Competitive activities

- Technology transfer

- Communications

- The figures

- Scientific audit of the JRC Institutes

- Total Quality Management

- Looking towards the future

Scientific activities of the Institutes in 1999

- Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)

- Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU)

- Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM)

- Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS)

- Environment Institute (EI)

- Space Applications Institute (SAI)

- Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP)

- Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS)

Glossary

The JRC Board of Governors

The JRC Central Organisation

FOREWORD

The Joint Research Centre (JRC), one of the Directorates General of the European Commission, carries out research and provides technical know-how in support of European Union (EU) policies. Its status as a Commission service, which guarantees independence from private or national interests, is crucial for pursuing this role.

JRC implements its mission through specific research programmes decided by the Council upon advice from the European Parliament falling under the European Union Framework Programmes for research and technological development. The work is funded by the Budget of the European Union with additional funding from associated countries. The work of the JRC includes customer-driven scientific and technical services for specific Community policies, such as those on the environment, agriculture or nuclear safety. It is involved in competitive activities in order to validate its expertise and increase its know-how in core competencies. Its guiding line is that of 'adding value' where appropriate, rather than competing directly with establishments in the Member States.

Eight institutes around Europe

The JRC has eight institutes, located on five separate sites, in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain. Each has its own focus of expertise.

The Institutes are:

* The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)

* The Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU)

* The Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM)

* The Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS)

* The Environment Institute (EI)

* The Space Applications Institute (SAI)

* The Institute for Health and Consumer Protection (IHCP)

* The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS)

Controlling programme and quality

The JRC headquarters are in Brussels, with the Programmes Directorate serving as a link between the Institutes and the policy-makers. The Directorate co-ordinates the research performed by the Institutes and helps to ensure its quality by interacting with the international scientific community and industry. An important role of the Directorate is to promote technology transfer of the JRC's own research results both to create industrial added value and to support the Community's policies in science and technology.

The JRC employs about 2500 staff under different schemes and has a budget of about EUR 300 M a year stemming from the research budget under the budget of the European Union and from competitive activity income. Each of the eight Institutes produces its own Annual Report, where readers will find more comprehensive information. The JRC also publishes numerous technical reports and contributes to scientific journals, presents papers frequently to conferences, and organises workshops, seminars and conferences to disseminate its scientific output. Further information can be found on the JRC web site: www.jrc.org. INTRODUCTION

1999 has been a significant year in the evolution of the European Union (EU) with the appointment of a new Commission and, for the Joint Research Centre (JRC), with Mr Philippe Busquin appointed as the Commissioner responsible for Research.

In the first six months of 1999, the JRC launched and pursued a wide range of initiatives to develop its mission as a research centre in support of EU policies. This involved an independent external audit of its scientific skills and resources, the introduction of project management and Total Quality Management, preparation of a new JRC staff policy with a recruitment plan and a training programme, and a specific task force on JRC knowledge management.

New Work Programme established

During 1999, the JRC went through its first year of the European Commission's Fifth Framework Programme (FP5) on RTD (research and technological development). The first half of the year was devoted to defining the JRC Work Programme for the period 1999 to 2002, according to the needs of the Commission services. This involved an intense dialogue with the customer Directorates General (DGs) to determine priorities and tailor JRC activities accordingly.

Adopted on 16 April 1999, the JRC Work Programme allocated resources of EUR 1020 M for more than 100 projects, structured in support of the four main themes:

Serving the citizen;

Enhancing sustainability;

Underpinning European competitiveness; and

The Euratom Work Programme.

The customer/contractor relationship with the various DGs is established through the signing of memoranda of understanding. On the basis on these, the JRC performs services in support of EU legislation and policy through its various laboratories such as the European Laboratory for Air Pollution, the European Chemicals Bureau, and the Major Accident Hazards Bureau. To strengthen communication with its customers, the JRC organised an inter-service workshop with European Commission DGs in October, presenting ten selected areas of current work. Emphasis was given to the progress made so far and to discussions on new priorities and future activities.

As an integral part of its activities, the JRC, whenever feasible, has set firm bases for co-operation with external organisations. The new Work Programme was presented at a seminar held in Ispra in March 1999. More than 100 leading R&D managers from throughout the EU were invited to discuss the content of the programme and to forge links with each other and with the JRC.

More strategic approach adopted

During the year, the JRC has developed a more strategic approach in its role as a partner and initiated several high level agreements with large scientific and industrial communities on new networks and research collaborations.

The JRC also pursued specific activities towards integrating the Central and Eastern European dimension in its work.

New technology transfer activities were added, following up on those that started last year. These exploit the scientific results of the JRC and testify to its innovation potential. A pilot training scheme in entrepreneurship was organised during spring 1999 at the Ispra site for 20 scientists on fixed-term contracts, as a result of which three spin-offs are being developed.

Highlights of the year

All Institutes have participated in various activities to increase the visibility of the JRC to the research community and the general public. JRC staff won several prestigious prizes during the year. Highlights include:

* As part of the implementation of the Air Quality Framework Directive, the Environment Institute (EI) organised two inter-comparison exercises for SO2, NOx, O3 and CO with the participation of 18 national reference laboratories. This was intended to harmonise the calibration procedures in the Member States and to control the accuracy of the national reference standards. Recent knowledge on air pollution and more efficient technical and political strategies for its control were presented during the 'Air Quality 2000 Conference' organised by EI in May in Venice, and attended by 550 participants.

* The Third World Congress on 'Alternatives and animal use in the life sciences' held in Bologna, Italy, and organised by the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), involved 800 scientists from all over the world. In vitro methods are now available for all levels of monoclonal antibody production - e.g. used for vaccine production and in the quality assessment of immunobiologicals and hormones. They have been endorsed by the ECVAM scientific committee (ESAC) as a replacement for animal production systems.

* Simplified methods have been developed to determine the presence of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), in support of the Belgian laboratories' efforts to address the dioxins problem and the recent contamination of Belgian food and foodstuff.

* Activities on migrations during food processing focused on the assessment of nickel and chromium releases from steels, which are used in the large-scale production of glucose syrups, by means of an electrochemical thin-layer activation facility (ETLAF).

* IRMM produced the world's first reference materials for the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in 1999 and continues to provide reference materials for the different types of GMOs that are fully released and used for food production.

* A patent has been applied for to cover an innovative model based on genetically-engineered neuronal cell lines for pharmaco-toxicological testing, which will permit the elucidation of mechanisms on neurological disorders or neuromuscular diseases.

* A software repository to archive the products supported by the Commission's initiative on multimedia in education. The Prometheus Information Services was set up to promote education and training throughout European society.

* The Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) facility at the High Flux Reactor (HFR) in Petten has been upgraded with the purchase and installation of components for the liquid argon system. Newly drafted standard operating procedures guarantee smoother and more reliable operation of the facility, improving thus overall performance.

* The first on-site laboratory for nuclear safeguard analysis at the reprocessing plant in Sellafield (UK) was inaugurated in October 1999. A high degree of automation was required to achieve a throughput of 1000 samples per year.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS

The year 1999 has been a year of change for the JRC. First of all a new Commission has been installed and the JRC especially welcomed the new Commissioner for Research, Mr. Busquin. The new mission of the JRC was approved as were the JRC specific programmes and its multi-annual work programme. The Board notes the efforts carried out by the JRC management to fulfil its new mission and to adapt the new programme activities according to the needs of its main customers, i.e. the various Commission services. The Board further appreciates the initiative of the Director General to carry out a scientific audit to ensure that the JRC scientific resources match the new objectives. The Board further acknowledges the managerial measures put in place over the year to improve the efficiency of the JRC.

The JRC Specific Programmes 1999-2003 were approved by the Council on 25 January 1999.

The objectives of the JRC activities were detailed in a multi-annual work programme, the development of which the Board has closely followed, and it was formally approved by the Commission on 16 April 1999. The Board is pleased to express its satisfaction with the efforts carried out by the JRC management to assure, following a systematic consultation process with the Directorates General of the Commission, the efficient use of JRC resources in support of EU policies, and the appropriate flexibility of its programme to be able to adjust to new priorities and needs of the Union Policies. The Board equally notes the efforts to reassure a good collaboration with industry and research organisations leading to the signature of several Memoranda of Understanding.

The Scientific Audit exercise was carried out to evaluate the JRC scientific resources, the strengths and weaknesses, and the scientific feasibility to implement the new JRC multi-annual work programme plans. The Board expects that the results of this audit will provide adequate input to the JRC 5-Year Assessment exercise. The Board further expects that necessary measures will be taken to implement the recommendations of the Audit and will follow the process with interest. This evaluation should help the JRC in facing the challenges of the new century in support of the policy-making process and contribute to the design of a longer term JRC scientific strategy.

The Board notes the development of the JRC technology transfer initiatives, welcomes the implementation of a training course in entrepreneurship and endorses the plans for an incubator at ISPRA and for a TT fund.

The Board notes the managerial efforts in relation to better external communication. It further welcomes the introduction of quality systems, Total Quality Management (TQM) for the whole of the JRC. The Board encourages the TQM initiative and emphasizes the importance of a systematic long-term approach for its implementation.

The Board acknowledges the JRC's performance in competitive activities and looks forward to continuous updating on this matter, especially regarding the use of competitive activities as strategic tools to validate, enhance and extend the JRC skills and competencies in areas related to its Work Programme.

In line with its opinion and with the outcome of the Council (Research) of 2nd December 1999, the Board welcomes the initiative taken by the Commission and supports their position that immediate action should be taken on decommissioning of obsolete nuclear installations. In this respect it welcomes the Commission's undertaking to develop a properly funded and structured long-term plan for decommissioning.

With respect to the High Flux Reactor in Petten, the Board notes the new HFR Supplementary Programme, approved by the Council for the years 2000-2003. The HFR plays an important role in some of the technologies of European research, notably with regard to medical research, materials and nuclear safety.

Finally, the Board wishes to encourage the inclusion, in further JRC management reports, of how the JRC complies with the Council Resolution on "Women and Science", of 20 May 1999 and with the European Parliament Resolution on the integration of equal opportunities in the Community policies, of 9 March 1999.

The Board wishes to express its thanks to the Commissioner, Mr. Philippe Busquin, for the efforts made since he took on the challenging responsibility for Research as a Member of the new Commission.

THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE IN 1999

A new work programme in support of EU policies

Mission

The mission of the Joint Research Centre is to provide customer-driven scientific and technical support for the conception, implementation and monitoring of European Union policies. As a service of the European Commission, the JRC functions as a centre of science and technology reference for the EU. Close to the policy-making process, it serves the common interest of the Member States, while being independent of special interests, private or national.

To carry out its mission, the JRC has a unique combination of facilities and expertise transcending national boundaries. Moreover, through its networks, it stimulates collaborative research and broadens its knowledge base.

The Council of Ministers and the European Parliament endorsed the mission of the Joint Research Centre with the adoption in January 1999 of two specific programmes under the Fifth Framework Programme (FP5):

I. The specific 1998 to 2002 programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, to be carried out by means of direct actions for the European Community; and

II. The specific 1998 to 2002 programme for research and training, to be carried out by means of direct actions for the European Atomic Energy Community

[Council Decisions 1999/174/EC and 1999/176/EURATOM.]

these decisions stipulate that the Commission draws up a multi-annual Work Programme for the next four-year period detailing the objectives, priorities and execution plans for the implementation of the two specific programmes. The Work Programme was adopted with a Commission decision on 16 April 1999. It is organised according to the scientific and technical objectives of the JRC's specific programmes and operates within their resources: EUR 739 M for the European Commission programme and EUR 281 M for the Euratom programme. The Work Programme is project-oriented and is based on detailed project plans for a total of 101 projects.

The preparation of the project plans followed a thorough consultation process inside the European Commission. Each project was presented to the user DGs in a workshop held in 1998. This was followed during early 1999 by high-level exchanges between the JRC and Commission services. User feedback on specific RTD priorities, project deliverables and timetables was thus incorporated into the programme. The process culminated in a formal inter-service consultation and the adoption of the programme by the Commission.

JRC Work Programme projects were structured to support the main themes of FP5:

I. Serving the Citizen

I.1 Consumer protection

I.2 Medical and Health Protection

I.3 Benefiting from the Information Society

I.4 Safety of the Citizen: Man-Made Hazards and Natural Hazards

II. Enhancing sustainability

II.1 Integration of Environmental Protection in other EU policies

II.2 Pollution

II.3 Global Change

II.4 Energy and Transport

II.5 Agriculture, Rural Development and Fisheries

III. Underpinning European competitiveness

III.1 Employment, Technology and Industrial Competitiveness

III.2 Normative Support to the International Trading System

III.3 Innovation and Technology Transfer

III.4 Enlargement, Pre-Accession and International Co-operation

IV. Euratom Work Programme

IV.1 Nuclear Fission Safety

IV.2 Control of Nuclear Materials and Nuclear Safeguards

IV.3 Decommissioning and Waste Management

A considerable part of the programme is devoted to direct services of EU regulations, such as the activities carried out by the European Chemicals Bureau (ECB), the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau (IPPCB) and the European Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP).

Two horizontal characteristics are present in the JRC Work Programme:

* Forward-looking insights into modern technology trends (such as life sciences and the information society) and socio-economic issues - including employment, EU enlargement and the Mediterranean area;

* Networking with other RTD actors in the EU to produce standard references (methods, data, materials and measurements) and guarantee the transparency of the internal market and international trade.

The format of the Work Programme and the procedure chosen for a close interaction with the Commission services constitute major changes from previous practice. The programme is set up in a matrix form to show how it supports various policies, and to promote inter-disciplinary activities and collaboration between the various JRC Institutes.

To make it more flexible, the multi-annual Work Programme is translated into 'annual' work programmes that are revised by the JRC and the Commission DGs once a year, based on evolving needs and new priorities.

Table 1 presents the institutional research activities carried out by the eight JRC Institutes within the Work Programme.

Table 1: JRC institutional research activities

>TABLE POSITION>

* Working for Commission services

The JRC Work Programme is structured according to the priorities of the Commission DGs. The interactions with the customer DGs were ensured through several bilateral meetings and formalised via co-operation agreements in the form of Memoranda of Understanding. These MoUs provide a framework for the operational interfaces between the two services, the mutual obligations for consultation and sharing of information, and for monitoring and reporting on progress and deliverables of the JRC projects.

In 1999, the JRC signed MoUs with DG Enterprise, DG Environment and DG Education and Culture. Negotiations are well advanced for a MoU with DG Health and Consumer Protection.

* Clusters - A new inter-institutional approach

Interdisciplinary attitude

The JRC has established a series of programme clusters to group projects that contribute to a well-identified scientific, technological or social issue. The aim is to foster an interdisciplinary approach by bringing together research teams from the various JRC Institutes, raise the profile of the JRC and strengthen the interface with its customers. Clusters can act as the point of reference on the issues under consideration. So far, clusters have no budgetary implications.

The following clusters have been established at the JRC during the first part of 1999:

* Electronic commerce: focus on dependability and consumers' aspects in electronic commerce (IHCP, ISIS and IPTS).

* Emissions and related impacts on human and environmental health: focus on emission processes, clean technologies in transport and for waste incineration, emission characteristics in relation to health effects (EI, IAM, IHCP and IPTS).

* Global change: modelling carbon sinks and monitoring carbon in the atmosphere and biosphere, clean technologies, and implications for energy policy (SAI, IPTS, EI, IAM).

* Food: focus on food safety, antifraud measures, support to biotechnology directives and development of standards for reinforcing industrial competitiveness (IHCP, IRMM, IPTS).

* Agri-environment: geospatial information, integrated assessments and verification of agri-environment measures (SAI, EI, ISIS, IPTS).

* Management of ageing reactor life: safety of nuclear power plants, implications of enlargement, enhancing industrial competitiveness (IAM and ISIS).

The cluster experiment will be pursued during the coming year and an internal evaluation of its performance and impact will be produced by the end of 2000.

* Non-nuclear research activities

The non-nuclear part of the JRC programme is steadily growing, and now constitutes about 73% of the overall activities.

In accordance with the JRC mission, the work is focused on research topics relevant to important policy drivers, namely the concerns of the citizen for health and safety, sustainability and competitiveness.

Details of the work are given in the sections dealing with the work of the JRC institutes.

* Nuclear research activities

Institutional programme

The JRC has its origin in the Euratom Treaty, though the portion of the budget devoted to nuclear energy has now fallen to 27%. In response to the changed political and industrial context for nuclear energy in Europe, a strategy for the JRC Euratom Programme has developed emphasising the following issues:

* Safeguards activities, which involve equipment development and qualification, elaboration of reference materials and methods, and training of inspectors; and

* Research for operational safety of ageing nuclear plants; research on actinides, in view of fuel cycle safety studies.

The corresponding projects are conducted in four of the JRC Institutes, namely in the IRMM, ITU, IAM and ISIS-the ITU is the main institute responsible for JRC nuclear activities.

The High Flux Reactor (HFR)

Implementing a Euratom agreement

The Commission operates the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten in accordance with the 1961 Euratom/Netherlands agreement. The JRC carries out research at the HFR for the European Atomic Energy Community on the basis of four-year supplementary research programmes.

The HFR reactor is regulated between the Netherlands, Germany and France, with each partner guaranteeing a percentage of the finance required. A new four-year programme (2000 to 2003) was approved by the Council of Ministers (Research) on 2 December 1999.

The HFR programme remains active in the area of the safety of the existing reactors as well as for the development of safer reactors and of new fuels.

HFR is also being increasingly used to support medical activities. The HFR produces isotopes for more than 60% of the ten million medical diagnoses executed each year in Europe. The quality and reliability of its operation make HFR indispensable for the European pharmaceutical companies in this field. And the reactor's location allows its medical products to be rapidly directed to European medical centres - which is vital given the short life of most currently used isotopes.

An association of European centres working on a new treatment for encephalic cancers based on the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) techniques is also using HFR. The HFR also supports other medical-related research such as production of new isotopes, development of other technical BNCT-applications and new alpha-immunotherapy products, and studies on the materials for medical prosthesis.

Decommissioning of nuclear installations

Dealing with obsolete facilities

Within the Euratom Treaty, site agreements concerning nuclear plants were signed during 1960-62 between the Community, Germany, Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands. In the two latter cases, national nuclear installations were transferred to the Community and infrastructures for nuclear development were put in place. Some of these installations are still in use today. Others have been stopped, in some instances more than 20 years ago, and have mostly become obsolete.

The JRC has established a long-term action plan for decommissioning its nuclear facilities. The plan is divided into three parts:

1. Management of waste resulting from the JRC's activities since 1960 to the present-day; this phase also includes the safe conservation of obsolete installations and the improvement of facilities needed for the manipulation, decontamination, treatment and storage of solid and liquid wastes.

2. Dismantling of shut-down facilities, such as reactors and laboratories; this procedure will generate new waste which also needs to be processed.

3. Evaluation of the resources necessary for the future dismantling of nuclear facilities still in operation, such as the cyclotron at Ispra, the hot cells at the ITU in Karlsruhe, and the HFR at Petten.

This programme was noted by the Council on 20 May 1999 and formally approved on 2 December 1999 (COM(1999) 114 final).

* Co-ordination of space activities

Since 1997, the European Commission has undertaken specific actions to co-ordinate Europe's space efforts and the policies of the EU. In view of this, the Director General of the JRC has been mandated to streamline the activities and the contacts of the Commission services internally as well as externally, notably in relations with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The Co-ordination of Space Activities Unit, reporting directly to the JRC Director General, organises, runs and supports the inter-service Space Co-ordination Group (SCG) as well as the Commission's Space Advisory Group (SAG), which brings together the Commission Services, Member States' space experts, the ESA, Eumetsat and WEU (Western European Union). The SAG is the consultative body to facilitate the political debate and reach consensus on the way forward. The unit stimulates the debate through studies and policy papers.

In June 1999, the Commission adopted the working document 'Towards a coherent European approach for Space' [SEC(1999)789], prepared by the Co-ordination of Space Activities Unit under supervision of the Director General and with the help of the Space Co-ordination Group. As a direct result of this Commission paper, 'space' was put on the agenda of an EU Council of Ministers for the first time - at the 2 December 1999 Research Council.

The Co-ordination of Space Activities Unit also issued the following documents in 1999:

* Joint Report on the Synergy between the European Community and the European Space Agency (SAG/99/1);

* Global Monitoring for Environment and Security (SAG/99/3);

* Compendium of Space-technology application Projects in the 4th Framework Programme (EUR 18971);

* Conclusions of the Industry High-Level Panel Space (May 1999).

Opening up to the pre-accession countries

An ad-hoc meeting with delegates from the 11 pre-accession countries held in Ispra on 19 March 1999 endorsed a JRC strategy in the context of these countries' recent association with FP5. The strategy consists of five elements:

1. Setting-up joint research projects and thematic networks, with particular reference to the EU programme calls;

2. Promoting the transfer of the JRC share of 'acquis communautaire', which is available in its various bureaux and networks implementing EU legislation - particularly in the environment field;

3. Providing access to JRC experimental facilities, which, in many cases, are unique in Europe;

4. Hosting visits by scientists and grant-holders from pre-accession countries; and

5. Organising conferences, visits and information days in the pre-accession countries and disseminating information on the JRC.

In line with this strategy, the JRC has set up several research consortia with organisations from pre-accession countries in specific areas and has organised specific workshops on enlargement-related issues.

International Relations

In March 1999, the JRC made a presentation to the Council on the consequences of its new mission on its international relations. The Research Group welcomed unanimously the new strategy according to which JRC will focus its international activities on the priority areas of the Workprogramme and on a limited number of countries, in particular CIS, USA and Japan.

In this context, the Director General conducted missions in Japan and Korea in the spring and visited USA in the fall. During the latter, an agreement was signed with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on nuclear safety. It was also decided to formalise the existing co-operation between the JRC and US/FDA through an implementing arrangement with the Joint Institute for Food SAfety and Nutrition (JIFSAN) and to enlarge the scope of the present collaboration on nuclear safeguards with the US/DoE to include nuclear technologies through a separate new agreement. A similar decision was taken in Tokyo with JAERI.

Further to the signature of the Argentina/Euratom agreement, the JRC signed an agreement with the Argentina- Brazil Agency for Accounting and Control of Nuclear Materials (ABACC) in the field of nuclear safeguards, which covers all possible co-operation between the two unique safeguards systems.

With Russia, in the framework of the TACIS programme, the implementation of on going projects on nuclear safeguards continued, but with a new emphasis on plutonium management. In the field of nuclear safety, JRC involvement increased significantly when the "Service Commun Relex" (SCR) requested a complete review of the 14 large « on-site projects » and the organisation in Ispra of the first TACIS Technical Workshop between the Commission, the Russian authorities and the industrial partners from both Russian and European sides. The success of this Technical Workshop (TTW), which took place in June, confirmed the role of the JRC as was also stressed by the Russian Authorities during the 99 TACIS Supervisory Group.

The JRC as a partner in networks

Maintaining quality and independence

Community policies are complex and multi-faceted, covering an increasing range of issues. The resources and skills required for knowledge support are greater than those the JRC has or may have in future. Therefore, to provide independent scientific and technical expertise, the JRC should be in a position to tap into external 'competence pools' and still make sure that the results comply with the required standards of quality and independence.

The JRC will increasingly share the responsibilities of providing knowledge with the Member States. Several agreements along these lines are already being negotiated with national research organisations such as TNO (the Netherlands organisation for applied scientific research) and DERA (the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency).

Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) have also been signed with the European organisations such as the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMEA). The EEA agreement covers scientific and technical co-operation on the environment, with particular emphasis on issues such as climate change, the monitoring of chemicals and their effects on the environment, and the protection of Europe's natural resources, space and land. The EMEA agreement is for the development and improved use of various telematics initiatives in support of the pharmaceuticals regulatory policy.

In its relations with industry, the JRC approach is to favour representative groupings of industries rather than individual companies so as to preserve its independence in support of European competitiveness. In 1999, negotiations started with European industrial networks such as EUCAR (car industry) and CONCAWE (oil industry) for joint work on emissions from vehicles.

During the year, the JRC carried out a review of all its projects relevant to standardisation in support of the co-operation agreement signed in 1998 with the European standards committee CEN. A special issue of the IPTS Report was also dedicated to standardisation. A joint seminar on life cycle analysis with the CEN technical committees responsible was held in June and there was also a JRC-CEN workshop on environmental standards

In co-operation with Mediterranean Partner Countries, several JRC projects address critical issues for the socio-economic development of the Euro-Mediterranean region - such as water, energy, and land use and food resources. The work is carried out as direct support to the Euro-Med intergovernmental committees for science and technology, and industrial co-operation through the responsible Commission services. Among the concerns addressed in a first batch of expert workshops held in 1999 are the development of human resources, diabetes mellitus, food production (with IHCP) and technology and remote sensing for agriculture (with SAI).

Competitive activities

Target set at 15%

The Council decision on the specific programme of the JRC indicates that, under FP5, the JRC will continue its efforts to develop competitive activities. The Board of Governors has tentatively fixed a target of 15 % for the years 1999 to 2002. This is somewhat less than in the previous programme and consistent with the alignment of the core business of the JRC in support of EU policies.

Competitive activities include competitive work linked to the European Commission, shared cost actions with external research organisations and third party work for European industry. The aim of JRC participation is primarily to maintain a high level of professionalism through exposure to demanding clients, benchmarking with external partners, or to acquire new competencies through collaboration. Project selection is based on the criteria of coherence (complementing institutional activities) and added value - providing specific expertise or 'European scope'.

The JRC only contributes if the requested project or service is linked to its mission. It respects the subsidiarity principle and therefore will not offer services that are better supplied at a national level.

During the first year of implementation of FP5, all Institutes participated in the first calls for proposals for shared cost actions and were present in more than 250 submitted projects. As of 1 November 1999, results were not fully available, but there were indications that more than 80 proposals will be successful.

Technology transfer

Measures undertaken within the European Technology Transfer Initiative (ETTI), and funded outside the JRC institutional budget, include a curriculum in entrepreneurship, an 'extended incubator' to foster the growth of spin-off companies and facilitate access to JRC laboratories, and the implementation of a seed capital fund - the Technology Transfer Fund.

The entrepreneurship training was designed for JRC researchers on short-term contracts. It was tested in a pilot programme with 20 researchers selected from 35 applicants. 18 workshops (200 hours of training delivered by professionals from Member States) taught basic management skills and covered all phases of business planning, from feasibility studies via financing to practical steps for start-up. Three of the participants are currently preparing business plans for spin-off projects.

Successful exploitation of technology involves protection of the intellectual property of results, assessment of a technology's potential and identification of interested partners. In 1999, 11 patent applications were filed and a further 12 were prepared. The technology transfer portfolio, which includes about 50 documented technologies, has been maintained and updated. Contacts and discussions to sign several licence agreements have been actively pursued.

Private finance for seed funding

The concept of private finance investing 50% of its capital as seed funding to exploit projects stemming from the JRC was developed in 1999. The capital of the fund (target EUR 20 M) is to be invested not only in the creation of new companies but also in technology transfer to existing companies. Several expressions of interest were received following an extensive consultation with more than 100 fund operators. Negotiations have been started with a candidate company selected through an open call.

A project plan was completed for a facility for 'incubation' and 'technology transfer' - the European Centre for Innovation and Spin-Offs (ECIS). The incubation function helps selected spin-off projects from the JRC with consultancy and training in writing a business plan and in preparing the practical steps for start-up before legally creating a new company. The technology transfer function serves to identify, host and consult innovative SMEs (small and medium-size enterprises) in Member States for technology transfer from the JRC. Funding for ECIS was agreed with DG Regional Policy at the end of 1999, with the centre to be operational by mid 2000.

The JRC also co-ordinates the European Technology Transfer Network (ETTN), a pilot project for the former DGs III, XIII and XXIII on using information and communication technologies to promote technology transfer to SMEs in geographically remote locations. Its objectives are to speed up trans-national technology transfer and to make SMEs more competitive through facilitating access to pools of expertise. Intermediary organisations play a key role in identifying the demands of SMEs. More than 300 SMEs are involved and trans-national technology transfer actions have started. Detailed information is available on the ETTN site at http://ettn.jrc.it.

Public research spin-offs

The JRC was part of a consortium selected in a new FP5 proposal to promote spin-offs from public research. Approximately 60,000 European researchers are represented with partners including CEA (the French atomic energy commission), CERN (the European laboratory for particle physics), CNRS (the French national centre for scientific research), CSIC-CNM (the Spanish national centre for microelectronics), and DERA (the UK Defence Evaluation and Research Agency). The objectives are to apply the partners' expertise and international networks to support spin-off projects and to assist in creating a showcase of excellence.

Communications

The JRC communication strategy, initiated in 1998, was pursued in 1999 to raise the profile of JRC activities throughout the media and among important target audiences, as well as the general public. The extensive coverage of the JRC by different media, and especially in the written press and radio/TV broadcasts, produced significant and positive results.

Specialist Information and Public Relations Unit created

Integration of communications activities into mainstream JRC policy and scientific work has been achieved by the creation of a specialist Information and Public Relations Unit, responsible for the overall co-ordination of the JRC's communication strategy.

Increasing visibility

In the past year, the JRC both organised and participated in a number of events - including conferences, seminars and scientific workshops. Such activity has helped to increase the visibility of the JRC to international scientific audiences and the general and specialist press. This visibility has been helped by the several prizes won during the year by JRC staff.

The JRC had a large information stand at the European Commission 'FP5 Launch Event' at Essen in Germany in February 1999. The event was used to initiate press action at different levels.

The JRC was present at the '2nd World Conference for Science Journalism' in Budapest, in July. Over 146 science writers from 29 countries met to discuss the role of science journalists in reporting on science. The JRC had an exhibit where information material, posters and press information files were displayed.

More than 550 people from industry, research organisations, and national and international authorities took part in the 'Air Quality 2000 Conference' in May. This was jointly organised by the JRC, DG Environment and the Fondazione Mangeri in Venice.

Another important international event, which gathered about 800 scientists, was organised by ECVAM and held in Bologna, Italy between 29 August and 2 September 1999. The 3rd World Congress dealt with 'Alternatives and animal use in the life sciences'.

The JRC presented its FP5 Work Programme to research partners, authorities and Commission colleagues during the 'Science and Technology Support to European Policies - Toward a New Partnership' international seminar, in March at the JRC Ispra site. A specific event linked to the seminar targeted the associated countries and enabled the representatives of the PECO (central and eastern European) countries to learn more about JRC activities.

JRC staff won several prestigious prizes in 1999. These included:

* Elke Anklam and Joerg Stroka (IHCP), who were named as Associate Referee of the year by the Association of Official Analytical Chemists;

* Aloïs Sieber (SAI), who was made an IEEE Fellow for contributions and leadership in microwave remote sensing; and

* Maurice Whelan and Colin Forno (ISIS), who won the Metrology for World Class Manufacturing Award 1999 - Innovative Metrology in the UK for work on optical interferometry.

Range of publications

Several new publications, both general and scientific and aimed at different target audiences, were launched during the year, including:

* Letter from the JRC, sent to European policy makers.

* JRC in (month), internal monthly newsletter for JRC staff on all sites.

* The Joint Research Centre brochure provides a general overview of JRC activities

* The Serving the citizen brochure focuses on JRC activities directly serving European citizens

* A corporate video on the JRC, including a general presentation and individual pieces featuring each Institute.

* A new electronic publication called 'viewcard' (a CD-ROM) featuring the JRC's activities.

Large number of visits

The different JRC sites received many visitors, including leading personalities from the political and scientific communities. The visit of the Philippe Busquin to the Ispra site in October 1999, just after he took on responsibility for DG Research and the JRC, was the starting point for the Commissioner's tour of all the JRC sites - the next being a visit to the IAM in Petten in December.

Many journalists visited the JRC to interview personnel and film various projects. About 60 TV programmes and news magazines in Member States ran features about JRC projects. Ten press conferences and briefings for the media were organised.

The JRC received more than 10,000 visitors at its different sites for various events, including meetings, conferences or visits to laboratories by industry, universities and other interested parties.

The JRC in figures

* Staff

The Staff of the JRC (M-male, F-female) is composed of the following categories:

>TABLE POSITION>

Of the above-mentioned total, about 1600 staff members can be considered as scientific staff out of which about 400 are employed on short term contracts (1-3 years).

As the needs in qualified personnel of the JRC have evolved during the years, the budgetary authority has increased the number of the senior scientific staff (A- grade) in order to increase staff having qualifications at University level. This modification which was implemented in early 1999 permitted the recruitment of A- grade temporary staff. In 1999 the implementation of the new Commission staff policy for staff financed on the research budget (NPPR) was continued. In this policy a flexible portion of temporary agents (35% of the statutory staff on 5-year contracts, 25% on 3-year contracts) complements a stable foundation of officials (40% of the statutory staff). During the year the number of statutory staff members who left the JRC (retirement or end of contract) was considerably increased (up to 172). This tendency will continue during the years to come. Staff recruited at the early stages of the JRC life, arrive at the age of retirement and will be replaced by high level scientists. In 1999, 92 new statutory staff members were recruited.

* Equal Opportunities

In 1999, the JRC continued implementing the Commission's equal opportunities policy with the aim of encouraging the recruitment and promotion of a greater number of women, taking account also of the Commission's "women in science" initiative. Responsibility for promoting this policy at the JRC was entrusted to an official directly attached to the Director General.

Staff Distribution*

>TABLE POSITION>

* Officials and temporary agents.

** Combined administration and Ispra site infrastructure.

* Visiting scientists, seconded experts, trainees, grantholders

>TABLE POSITION>

* Budget

Budget and expenses - institutional activities

The available credits to the JRC are sub-divided in staff expenses, means of execution (maintenance of buildings and equipment, electricity, insurance, consumables, etc.) and operational credits (scientific acquisitions). The credits come from the institutional budget, made available directly form the European budget to the JRC, from associated countries and from competitive activities. On the institutional budget the following sums were committed:

>TABLE POSITION>

The increase in commitments in 1999 is explained by an extraordinary investment of 8 Mioeuro for a new installation at Ispra. 3.8 Mioeuro were engaged for decommissioning.

* Competitive activities

In early 1999, each JRC institute developed a business plan for competitive activities throughout FP5. Efforts were focused on strategic participation in the indirect actions of FP5 and in response to the first calls for proposals the JRC submitted some 270 proposals, of which more than a third were selected for funding. The 2.8 MEUR figure for shared-cost actions reflects income from previous FP4 contracts rather than new activity.

The 'competitive support' budget line, which enabled other Directorates-General to financially support competitive activities is no longer continued under FP5. The income of 4.3 MEUR thus refers to on-going projects from the Fourth Framework Programme. Third Party Work to a value of 26,4 MEUR was carried for a range of clients in 1999 and other competitive activities resulted in 5 MEUR.

// Inscribed in

1999 accounts

Shared-Cost Actions // 2.8*

Competitive Support // 4.3

Competitive Activities outside the FWP // 5.0**

Third Party Work // 26.4

TOTALS // 38.5

* The figures for shared cost actions only indicate the additional external funds obtained, "Matching funds" from the JRC's budget are not included.

** Not including the activities related to the HFR reactor.

Publications

>TABLE POSITION>

* Conferences include oral and poster presentations and proceedings

* * Articles include also conference papers published in periodicals

Scientific audit of the JRC institutes

With the approval of the 1999 to 2002 JRC Work Programme, the Director General launched a special, forward-looking evaluation exercise - called the Scientific Audit - to ensure an effective scientific framework for execution.

The purpose of the audit was to find out whether the JRC was sufficiently well equipped, materially and intellectually, to tackle the tasks assigned to it in FP5. Independent external experts of high repute, covering a broad range of the JRC competencies and activities, were to perform the exercise. Advice was to be given on areas where the JRC's present scientific resources appear to be adequate, need to be strengthened, or are of lower priority for the new programme. Views on the JRC's longer-term scientific strategy were also to be addressed.

The Scientific Audit took place over the June to October period using the model of Visiting Groups, one for each Institute, and including 30 external experts overall. The forward-looking nature of the exercise has resulted in a series of recommendations, which the management of each Institute has incorporated in its medium and long-term plans.

Preliminary overall conclusions of this exercise, common to the JRC as a whole, can be summarised as follows:

* The new JRC mission has been well received and is supported by management and staff. Networking with Member States' laboratories, an essential element linked to the mission, is strongly encouraged.

* The science base underpinning the mission is vital and must be kept strong. Attention is needed to the balance between services and research.

* A modest but significant participation in joint actions with industry is encouraged, as well as technology transfer efforts.

* The importance of clusters for inter-institute collaboration is emphasised. Efforts should be made to strengthen their operation.

* The JRC's effort in supporting nuclear technology is recognised and encouraged; however its sustainability depends on maintaining the current level of funding.

* A JRC recruitment strategy should be further developed to support the long-term scientific strength and viability of the organisation.

In implementing the new mission, this Scientific Audit will strengthen the quality of the JRC's output at the outset of the present Work Programme period. It will also facilitate the performance of the statutory 1996 to 2000 Five-year Assessment - a more traditional evaluation exercise needed to support the planning of the next Framework Programme, FP6. Plans for the organisation of this evaluation, with a final report due by the end of June 2000, were well under way towards the end of 1999.

Total Quality Management

In 1999, the JRC began work on a structured programme for quality improvement, designed to implicate staff members at all levels. This involved a series of initiatives, including a Project Management Manual, a total quality strategy, a business plan and implementation of a reporting system and new administrative procedures.

The basis of the JRC Total Quality Management approach is the use of self-assessment. The new quality initiative requires comprehensive, systematic and regular review of JRC activities and results, identifying strengths and areas for improvement and the implementation of relevant actions to stimulate a continuous improvement process for enhanced performance and higher staff satisfaction.

At the heart of the JRC approach is the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) model. This is based on best practice, supports sustainable growth, and uses nine criteria - leadership, people, policy and strategy, partnership and resources, processes and the results in terms of people, customers, society and key performance.

Looking towards the future

In 1999, the JRC initiated a process of reflection to set up a strategic plan for its future activities. This process will focus on the JRC scientific profile, modes of operation, relations with customers, financing and internal organisation, and involves an internal dialogue as well as consultations with external partners. The 'building blocks' resulting from this action will be integrated into an overall strategic plan for the JRC to guide its operation beyond the implementation of the current Framework Programme.

The plan addressed four main questions:

1. What should the future scientific profile of the JRC be-

2. What type of relations should it have with its main customers, the Commission services and the European Parliament-

3. Which partnerships should it foster-

4. What type of organisation should it develop to ensure flexibility and efficiency-

During the final part of the year, the scientific element of the strategic plan involved the JRC in internal brainstorming sessions, complemented by the external Scientific Audit. The aim was to present the main orientations for the JRC's future scientific profile by the end of 1999. Eight areas were identified as likely to receive increased attention by policy-makers in terms of science and technological support:

* Global change;

* Water;

* Food safety and quality;

* GMOs;

* Emissions and health effects;

* E-commerce and dependability of information technology systems;

* Environment and security; and

* Nuclear safety and safeguards.

Early in 2000, a series of external consultations will be set up to discuss these orientations with selected partners from the research community and industry. A final document on the future profile of the JRC, including both scientific and management aspects, will be drawn up before the summer 2000.

Parallel to the internal strategy exercise an external process was launched. In November 1999, Commissioner Busquin decided to set up an external panel, the so-called High Level Panel. It is chaired by the Viscount E. Davignon, former Vice President of the European Commission and it has the mandate to reflect on the following issues and formulate recommendations:

In which areas should the JRC concentrate its activities, taking into account areas in which it has achieved scientific excellence and credibility, as well as the policy priorities and responsibilities of the Commission -

What consequences would this entail in terms of work organisation and staffing priorities - How should human and financial resources be adapted in response to changing policy priorities -

The JRC mission is to support the policy making process of the EU while maintaining its scientific integrity. What are the operational consequences- What impact will this have on its relationship with the European Parliament, the various Agencies or Scientific Committees-

What are the needs, conditions and methodologies of setting up partnerships or networks with Centres of Excellence in the Member States, including possibly international co-operation -

The JRC is currently advised by a Board of Governors. How should current arrangements be adapted to take account of changing relationships with Centres in Member States, stakeholders and the EU institutions, taking into account the status of JRC as a Commission Directorate General -

On which basis should the financing of JRC's activities be organised- (Research Framework Program, relations with DG's, own financing, revenue from "commercial activities")

The Panel is furthermore asked to make recommendations designed to integrate the JRC in the Commission's Initiation towards a European Research Area.

SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES OF THE INSTITUTES IN 1999

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM) (Geel)

Institute Director // Manfred GRASSERBAUER

1. Management support // Michael-Francis FAHY

2. Reference materials // Jean PAUWELS

3. Analytical chemistry // Adela RODRIGUEZ FERNANDEZ

4. Isotope measurements // Philip TAYLOR

5. Neutron physics // Hermann WEIGMANN

6. Informatics and electronics // Richard ROSS

7. Commercialisation of materials and reference methods and scientific liaison // Doris FLORIAN

Mission

The IRMM mission is to promote a common European measurement system in support of EU policies, especially internal market, environment, health and consumer-protection standards. IRMM's prime objectives are to develop and perform specific reference measurements, to produce certified reference materials, to organise international measurement evaluation programmes, to establish trans-national databases, and to carry out pre-normative research.

The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements is the measurement institute of the European Commission - analogous to the national measurement institutes of the Member States. In this function, it directly supports the Member States by providing reference materials and measurements. The activities of the IRMM are structured around two main areas:

* Reference materials for quality assurance in production of foodstuffs and environmental monitoring; and

* Reference measurements and neutron dosimetry in support of food safety, to determine trace nuclear impurities in food materials and to provide experimental data for the improvement of the neutron database.

World first in GMO detection

The IRMM produced the world's first reference materials for the detection of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in 1999 and continues to provide reference materials for the different types of GMOs that are fully released and used for food production.

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

In the area of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or 'mad cow disease'), the IRMM prepared over 14,000 samples and evaluated the results of four candidate BSE diagnostic tests. It was found that three of these tests could identify animals clinically affected with BSE.

Throughout 1999, the IRMM continued to provide support to EU policies in areas such as food safety, environmental and health protection, nuclear safeguards, neutron measurements and specialised training in measurement sciences.

Expanded network agreements

The IRMM collaboration network was expanded with new collaboration agreements signed with the Laboratory of the Government Chemist (GB), the Slovak Institute of Metrology, the Central Science Laboratory (GB) and the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) (FR). The official representation of the European Commission in the European Organisation of Metrology (EUROMET) was transferred to the IRMM.

The infrastructure at the IRMM was improved through restructuring the Analytical Chemistry unit, overhauling the 7MV Van de Graaff accelerator, constructing new laboratory and office space in the Isotopic Measurements unit, revamping the Management Support Unit and expanding the unit for Commercialisation and Scientific Liaison. Nuclear decommissioning at IRMM commenced and made substantial progress, project management was introduced and implemented, a new staff training procedure was implemented as well as significant headway towards the implementation of Total Quality Management (TQM).

* Reference materials

The IRMM further extended its tasks and responsibilities for the storage, stability control, distribution, sales administration and re-certification for Bureau Communautaire de Référence (BCR) certified reference materials. At present, the IRMM holds 500,000 samples in storage and the revenue from reference materials sales exceeded EUR 1 M in 1999.

Fighting BSE

An important step forward was made in the fight against BSE [Decision 96/49/EEC]. Co-ordinated by the Health and Consumer Protection DG [Contract No. 14366] and in collaboration with expert institutes in the Member States, the IRMM prepared over 14,000 samples for and evaluated the results of, four candidate BSE diagnostic tests. The resulting statement from the Commission's scientific steering committee speaks for itself: 'three of these tests can identify animals clinically affected with BSE'.

Further projects address the issues of heat-treatment procedures for BSE decontamination and the detection of animal meal in vegetarian feeding, the evaluation of newly developed post-mortem tests (e.g. prions in blood), the set-up of a sample bank for BSE negative samples, the production of reference materials to calibrate BSE post-mortem tests and the evaluation of tests to detect and distinguish between BSE in cattle and scrapie in sheep.

Dioxin, furane and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) [EC Directive 26/94 and requested by CEN-TC 264W61]

In light of this year's dioxin episode, sales for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and dioxin reference materials increased dramatically - in some cases by over 200%; more than 120 units of the PCB Certified Reference Material (CRM) 350 were sold in 1999 compared with a mere 17 in 1998. In collaboration with the Belgian ministries, the IRMM has also initiated a proficiency testing campaign for laboratories engaged in analysis of PCBs in food. Preparation of a new range of reference materials for detecting PCBs in pork fat was initiated in order to have the certifications completed by the end of 1999. Additionally, it is planned to provide new reference materials for animal feed, egg yolk powder, milk powder and pork meat.

New Charpy CRMs for impact toughness [Research DG/EN 10045-2/ASTM E-23]

The Charpy impact test is widely used to measure the resistance of a material to brittle fracture - crucial in determining the performance of any type of mechanical structure, from pressure vessels to bridges. The IRMM is a major supplier of certified reference materials essential for calibrating test machines. Four orders were placed for Charpy specimens and as a result, new 30 Joule, 80 Joule and 120 Joule master batches were certified. Sales of Charpy specimen reference materials approached some 1,000 units in 1999. Additionally, the IRMM successfully participated in an international evaluation exercise and negotiations are presently ongoing on how to achieve international harmonisation for these important measurements.

Preparation of feasibility samples

20 samples of MURST-ISS-A3 PCBs in Antarctic krill were dispatched to the Istituto Superiore de Sanità (ISS), Rome for work on the detection of PCBs in krill. For fish bile, 190 ampoules of plaice fish bile and 121 ampoule of flounder fish bile were prepared and dispatched. Two series of diluted honey samples were produced (about 1200 ampoules) and also dispatched to ISS.

Clinical reference materials

Multi-enzyme reference materials are used as markers for various disorders such as brain damage, cardiac and/or hepatic diseases. The IRMM and the International Federation for Clinical Chemistry (IFCC) have established a new set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the certifications of four enzyme materials at 37oC were completed successfully.

Selected certifications

Certifications were completed for major and trace elements in bovine liver [Directive 83/90/EEC and Regulation (EC)194/97] with significant progress being made on reference materials for wholemeal and for sulphur and total glucosinolate [Regulation 1470/68 and 1864/90] in rape seed. For trace elements in sediment, four materials were re-certified in March 1999. Homogeneity control studies are continuous and the certification of Aflatoxin in whole milk powder made significant progress [Council Directive 74/63/EEC and Commission Directives 91/126/EEC and 97/8/EC].

Reference materials for GMOs

Following EC Directive 258/97 on novel foods, the IRMM has produced the world's first reference materials for the detection of GMOs. At present, 10,000 certified reference materials for the detection of GMOs in soya and maize are being produced and certified at the IRMM. In collaboration with the IHCP in Ispra, two evaluation tests - a DNA polymerase chain reaction (DNA/PCR) test and an enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) test - have been successfully completed.

The IRMM is continuing to provide reference materials for different types of GMOs that are fully released and used, either directly or indirectly, for food production. For example, the production of reference materials containing different GMOs for Bt-11 and PMON 810 maize is underway. Additionally, the IRMM and the IHCP have the expertise and means to create the first ever specimen bank for GM materials - a strategy that is presently under discussion.

Isotopic reference materials (IRMs)

An Iron spike isotopic reference material (IRM) was prepared and ampouled, 'mother' solutions were prepared for the Boron IRM, and isotope ratios were checked. For the 50Cr IRM and natCr spikes, three solutions were prepared and ampouled, measurements were finalised and the certificates were written. The preparation and ampouling of a 202Hg spike IRM was completed and for the Cl spike IRMs, both 37Cl and natCl solutions were prepared and ampouled. Additionally, two new tasks were launched for the production of S and Zn spike IRMs. Work on Primary Isotopic Gas Standards (PIGS) made significant progress with tasks completed for sulphur, krypton, carbon via CF4, normal carbon and oxygen.

Nuclear safeguards

A range of spike isotopic reference materials was produced and certified for the Energy DG, including a natural uranium spike material, a new plutonium-240 spike and a uranium-235 spike. A series of uranium hexafluoride starting materials was purchased and characterised for future mixing requests. A series of uranium oxides was produced which will be used for the production of uranium-doped glasses for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) support programme. Parallel to these activities, a month's training for four Russian technicians from the metrology laboratory of the Bochvar Institute, Moscow, took place at the IRMM (under the Tacis programme). Swipe samples for DG Energy were received, and selected samples were analysed in the HADES underground laboratory.

Neutron dosimetry

Materials were produced for the nuclear energy industry and research institutions operating test reactors. These dosimeters are used for neutron fluence rate measurements in the reactor, for safety surveillance purposes and for optimising reactor performance. 62 units were sold in the first half of 1999.

* Reference measurements

Achieving international equivalence

Addressing the issue of achieving international equivalence of chemical measurements in support of international trading systems, the first ever BIPM Key Comparison in the area of chemical measurements has been successfully completed with the IRMM as the co-ordinating laboratory. IMEP (International Measurement Evaluation Programme) rounds -9 (trace elements in water) and -11 (metals in car exhaust catalysts) were completed with over 235 participant laboratories from over 40 countries. New IMEP rounds were launched - IMEP-13 (metals in polymer) and IMEP-14 (metals in sediment). The latter was requested by the Consultative Committee on Amount of Substance (CCQM) of the BIPM (the international weights and measures institute) to be used in an inter-comparison study.

Primary isotopic measurements

Carbon and oxygen isotope ratio measurements are a particularly cost-effective means to identify food adulteration and examine environmental issues. The CEN European prestandards ENV12141 (oxygen-18/oxygen-16 ratios in water from fruit juice), ENV12140 (carbon-13/carbon-12 ratios in sugars from fruit juice), the EC Regulation EC/822/97 (oxygen-18/oxygen-16 ratios in water from wine) and the forthcoming legislation specifying the carbon-13/carbon-12 ratio in pulp and sugars, would benefit from absolute reference values for their proper enactment. The IRMM has integrated this need into the eighth round of its International Measurement Evaluation Programme (IMEP) and, as such, this round is being used as a pilot project for the European Accreditation of laboratories (EA). Results have been obtained from participating laboratories and it has already been demonstrated that the worldwide reference values for carbon used until now have had a bias/error of some 1.5 %.

Antibiotics in food

This year, the IRMM embarked on a new project in support of food safety and in fulfilment of the EC Directive 70/524/CEE (and Regulation 2821/98), which involves the development of reference methods for two families of antibiotics, namely macrolides and quinolones. All commercially available standards have been ordered and the experimental work is about to commence in collaboration with the Department of Veterinary Medicine at Liège University.

Radionuclides in food

The IRMM is developing a reference method to determine trace nuclear impurities in food materials using an ICP-MS (inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer), following a separation by extraction chromatography. Matrix effects, column capacity and elution profiles have been examined closely and a new separation method based upon extraction chromatography has been developed. Alpha spectrometry analysis and a detailed study of the sorption selectivities of thorium, uranium, plutonium and americium from water (to start with a simple matrix) followed.

Metal-binding proteins in food

For the authentication of milk, the ability to analyse the presence and quantities of metal-binding proteins is of importance. In March 1999, the IRMM, in collaboration with DG Agriculture and DG Health and Consumer Protection, was asked to develop such a method. Eight caseins and whey proteins have already been identified.

Avogadro project

New differential isotopic measurements for silicon tetrafluoride demonstrated and confirmed that the IRMM molar mass measurements on the Japanese Shin-Etsu material were, without doubt, measurements of the highest quality.

Neutron reference measurements

Neutron reference measurements are performed to provide experimental data for the improvement of the neutron database according to the demands specified in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) high priority request list. New neutron reference measurements were completed using the IRMM's two versatile neutron sources - the 150 MeV Linear and 7 MV Van de Graaff accelerators.

In the context of the development of accelerator-driven systems, measurements were completed for 207,208Pb and Bi(n,(), 208Pb(n,n'), 99Tc(n,p) and (n,() cross sections. For waste transmutation studies measurements were completed for 99Tc(n,T), (n,() and 237Np(n,T), (n,() cross sections. For Doppler broadening at low temperature, measurements were completed for U(metal), UO2, NpO2 and Hg2Cl2. Activation cross sections for 30 short-lived products were measured at 16-21 MeV and additional measurements were carried out for actinides as well as cross section measurements for neutron absorbing materials. For shielding applications progress was made for measurements of the fission fragment properties of 238U(n, f), 56Fe(n,n') and Al(n,n') cross sections. Finally for Neutron data standards, measurements were completed for the fission fragment properties of 238U(n, f) and data analysis completed for the 10B(n, () branching ratio.

Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) (Karlsruhe)

Institute Director // Roland SCHENKEL*

1. Management support // Jean-Pierre MICHEL

2. Hot cell technology // Jean-Paul GLATZ

3. Materials research // Hans-Joachim MATZKE

4. Nuclear fuels // Didier HAAS

5. Nuclear chemistry // Lothar KOCH

6. Actinides research // Gerard LANDER

7. Nuclear safety and infrastructure // Werner WAGNER

* Appointed in 2000.

Mission

The mission of the ITU is to protect the European citizen against risks associated with the handling and storage of highly radioactive elements. ITU's prime objectives are to serve as a reference centre for basic actinide research, to contribute to an effective safety and safeguards system for the nuclear fuel cycle, and to study technological and medical applications of transuranium elements.

There was a considerable change of emphasis in that all the Institute for Transuranium Elements research projects were thoroughly discussed with the European Commission DGs in charge of the conception, monitoring or implementation of EU policies. The 'Radioactivity in the Environment' project is a direct result of this in-depth consultation and co-operation process. The new ITU research and development programme (1999 to 2002) now comprises seven research projects:

* Alpha-immunotherapy

* Basic actinide research

* Safety of nuclear fuel

* Spent fuel characterisation

* Partitioning and transmutation

* Radioactivity in the environment

* Nuclear safeguards

The ITU continued to carry out contractual work at the request of its various customers - including SIEMENS, British Nuclear Fuels, COGEMA, the Commissariat à l' Energie Atomique, Swedish Nuclear Fuel and Waste Management Co, and the Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry (CRIEPI).

During March 1999, the review audit for the ISO 9001 certificate was successfully concluded. A so-called 'Delta-audit' took place simultaneously in order to check the conformity with the new ISO 9001-2000, which is under preparation. The conclusions of the Delta-audit were translated in measures to improve and expand the ITU quality management system.

* Alpha-immunotherapy

The objective of this project is to develop, test and validate a new type of drug against different cancers. This new concept is based on a suitable alpha-emitter, a cancer-specific carrier such as an antibody or a peptide, and a chelator to combine the nuclide with the carrier.

A major objective of this project was the establishment of a large production capability for actinium-225.

Generators for clinical trials

For large-scale production of actinium-225 from radium-226, one of the ITU hot cells was refurbished for the preparation of radium targets at the Curie level, for the handling of irradiated targets from the FZK cyclotron and to perform the subsequent separation of actinium. This new facility permits the production and distribution of sufficient amounts of actinium/bismuth generators for clinical trials in the EU and elsewhere.

About 1gram of antibodies, sufficient for planned phase 1 trials of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, were chelated with bismuth-213 at the ITU. These conjugates are used for the pre-clinical experiments at the German Cancer Research Centre at Heidelberg and the clinical trials are expected to start early in 2000.

For certain evaluations and assessments of the effectiveness of alpha-immunotherapy, the short half-life of bismuth-213 (45 minutes) is a great disadvantage. This concerns parameters such as the stability of the conjugate, its behaviour under certain conditions and bio-distribution studies. With the support of the cyclotron at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (FZK), a production capability of an isotopic mixture of bismuth-205 and -206 (half-lives 14 and 7 days respectively) was developed. This mixture has already been used in bio-distribution experiments at the Heidelberg Cancer Centre.

* Basic actinide research

The management of highly active wastes is an issue of major public concern. Important programmes in this field are in progress in the Member States including new and innovative fuel cycles - such as partitioning and transmutation. A prerequisite for such fuel cycle activities is the availability of the basic physical, chemical and material science reference data on actinides and new actinide-containing fuels, products and waste streams.

Some activities in basic actinide research are aimed at developing understanding of the electronic structure of elements and compounds of actinides. This approach includes actions ranging from the preparation and purification of the elements to the study of single crystals by sophisticated physical techniques, some of which involve the use of intense synchrotron, neutron, or muon beams. Theory plays an important role in interacting with experiment to explain results and suggest new avenues of investigation. The effort has two other notable characteristics:

* It involves much collaboration with universities and other research institutions, with some personnel coming to Karlsruhe to perform experiments in the ITU multi-user facility, and

* The group has a large number (12 in 1999) of students and postdoctoral grantees who spend two to three years with the Basic Actinide Group.

Single crystals

Single crystals of materials are necessary to measure many important properties. The mixed oxides containing uranium and plutonium are of considerable interest in actinide science. A vapour transport method has been perfected recently at the ITU to allow the growth of single crystals of these mixed oxides, such as the fuels used in reactors. Previously, such crystals haven been grown of neptunium dioxide (NpO2).

New crystal phase

Americium (Am) shows an unusual - and new - crystal structure between 7 and 16 GPa (1 GPa = 10kbar of pressure, i. e., 10,000 times the atmospheric pressure). In collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the USA and using the unique capabilities at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility in Grenoble (FR), this new structure has been established on a sample of less than 5 micrograms of high-purity americium metal. A volume collapse of around 7% occurs at 16 GPa where the overall volume is only 65% of its ambient volume. These results are critical in understanding the equation-of-state of americium, and in making comparisons to the latest theories that attempt to predict the cohesive energies and atomic volumes of the actinide elements.

New results of synchrotron experiments to examine the magnetism of neptunium dioxide have resolved a long-standing puzzle in actinide science.

* Safety of nuclear fuel

The safety of nuclear fuel is of prime concern for operators of nuclear power reactors and fuel-fabrication plants, for national and international regulatory authorities and, of course, the citizen. The ITU undertakes vital research into factors that limit higher burn-up, such as mechanical and chemical fuel/cladding interaction and enhanced fission gas release. Studying the phenomena occurring during the irradiation of nuclear fuel improves both the safety and efficiency of the nuclear fuel cycle.

Final reports were established on the reactor meltdown examinations under the PHEBUS project, specifically on the examination of the molten bundle and the behaviour of aerosol deposits in the primary circuits. A new decontamination cell was commissioned. This is an important achievement in view of the refurbishment of the infrastructure of the ITU.

Faster measurement methods

A new instrument was constructed consisting of a miniature integrated array photodiode and a diffraction grating. A full thermal spectrum can be recorded in a few milliseconds. The spectrum can then be analysed to obtain the temperature of the emitting surface. The method of temperature evaluation is very accurate and can be extended to coloured materials with pronounced absorption bands. The instrument is very compact and easy to operate and allows accurate measurements under difficult conditions, e. g., for materials with a high evaporation rate.

Volatile plutonium trioxide

During Knudsen-cell effusion measurements on plutonium dioxide, a trioxide molecule was observed. This molecule, which is very volatile, is formed after adsorption of oxygen and is released at temperatures above 1800 K. A laboratory experiment showed that oxidation of plutonium dioxide produces amounts of plutonium trioxide which may be relevant for airborne dispersion of plutonium in reactor or fuel-fabrication accidents.

* Spent fuel characterisation for long-term storage

Safety-related data on the corrosion and dissolution behaviour of fuel under realistic conditions are of utmost importance for long-term storage of irradiated fuel. After about 500 years of storage (i. e., the guaranteed lifetime of the containers), the fuel's radioactivity will be largely due to alpha-decay. Alpha-radiolysis will therefore be a key parameter in determining the dissolution behaviour of the fuel.

The studies on the effects of alpha-radiolysis on the dissolution behaviour of spent fuel continued, and were extended to the case of higher fuel surface areas exposed to water. In parallel, the property changes caused by the accumulation of alpha-decay damage in the structure of the fuel were also investigated. For both activities, uranium oxide samples containing different concentrations of short-lived actinides were used. At present, new specimens are fabricated with uranium-233 as source of alpha-radiolysis.

The influence of plutonium oxide rich agglomerates on the dissolution mechanisms of mixed oxide fuels was also investigated.

* Partitioning and transmutation

The ITU is participating in a European effort to study ways of reducing the potential long-term hazard of highly active nuclear waste, and is exploring alternative waste management options. The ITU's contribution to this European collaboration is essentially in the area of partitioning, i.e., the effective separation of long-lived radionuclides, and the fabrication of fuels for 'transmutation' or 'incineration' of these long-lived actinides and fission products.

Experimental data gathered is compared with theoretical predictions and serves to establish reference information to evaluate the potential benefits/drawbacks of such a waste management concept.

Separating actinides from lanthanides

The improvement of the separation of actinides from lanthanides was a major achievement in the area of partitioning. A first hot demonstration took place of a new actinide/lanthanide separation scheme using genuine effluents from the DIAMEX process (i. e., the separation of actinides and lanthanides from fission products). In a continuous counter-current arrangement, high actinide recovery and good separation factors from lanthanides (larger than 100) were achieved.

The melting point of the candidate inert matrix magnesium oxide was determined. New accurate measurements using well-controlled laser pulses show clearly a much higher value of 3220 ± 10 K compared with the literature value of 3100 K.

Improved understanding of fission products

New cross-sectional electron microscopy has yielded a threshold energy loss value of fission products for amorphisation of spinel. Subsequent electron irradiation in the electron microscope induces recrystallisation and produces a nanocrystalline structure. These results present a basis for understanding the behaviour of spinel/americium dioxide fuel during reactor irradiation.

The construction of the Minor Actinide Laboratory proceeded with the installation of water walls, the delivery of major equipment and termination of construction of the first of ten glove boxes. For the fabrication of americium targets, preparatory work using the sol-gel process was performed with cerium substituting americium.

* Radioactivity in the environment

Health protection in the EU is governed by Chapter III of the Euratom Treaty. A particular aspect is related to the control of radioactive emissions and discharges from nuclear installations. A new requirement is control of the implementation of commitments undertaken in the framework of the OSPAR Convention to protect the marine environment.

A joint development programme has been defined and started in response to the needs expressed by the Environment DG. In view of this work and similar activities in the area of safeguards, a micromanipulator was successfully used in a new scanning electron microscope to select and separate minute actinide-containing particles for chemical analysis.

* Nuclear safeguards

Nuclear safeguards are a set of activities by which the Euratom Safeguards Directorate of the Commission in Luxembourg and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seek to verify that states or plant operators are not using nuclear material or equipment to develop or produce nuclear weapons.

High test throughput

The first on-site laboratory was inaugurated in October 1999 at the Sellafield reprocessing plant in the UK. The construction and commissioning of this laboratory was a challenge in three major aspects:

1. Throughput: A high degree of automation was required to achieve a throughput of 1000 samples per year with the need to have only 4 analysts on site.

2. Accuracy: The re-measurement of basic nuclear physics parameters (spontaneous fission rate of even-numbered plutonium isotopes) was required for one method to achieve the limits of accuracy specified by the customer.

3. Cost: As waste handling and treatment turned out to be an important factor in the operational costs, new techniques were used to minimise waste production.

The work related to the on-site laboratory at La Hague in France proceeded on schedule.

In the area of nuclear forensics, the ITU participated successfully in a 'round robin' test organised by the P-8 International Technical Working Group to identify the origin of an unknown plutonium sample. Also in the framework of this co-operation, a 'model action plan' was developed and demonstrated in Ukraine related to a seizure of nuclear material.

Analytical techniques were developed to determine the age of plutonium by the rate of the in-grown uranium nuclides. The nuclear material data bank was extended by provision of data from EU industry.

In the area of environmental monitoring, the method of particle searching for SIMS analysis has been investigated in detail and a proposal for software to automate this process has been developed. The prototype for automation of the sample loading was tested and first trials will start soon.

Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM) (Petten)

Institute Director // Kari TÖRRÖNEN

1. Management support // Michael CUNDY

2. Energy production and conversion // Johan BRESSERS

3. Safety of industrial components // Roger HURST

4. Clean technologies // Juha-Pekka HIRVONEN

5. High flux reactor // Joël GUIDEZ

6. Scientific and technical support // Edward BULLOCK

Mission

The mission of IAM is to support the sustainable development and competitiveness of European industry through research on the structural integrity and performance of materials in components and processes in areas of concern to the public. The prime applications are in the sectors of energy, transport, and chemical processes. The IAM manages the High Flux Reactor (HFR) for the benefit of the European nuclear industry and supports nuclear and radiation applications in medicine.

The Institute for Advanced Materials continued research on the structural integrity and performance of materials in components and processes in sectors such as energy, transport and chemical industry. It contributed expertise on emission reduction technology for transport and increased efficiency in energy production. Further work was carried out on nuclear and radiation applications in medicine, and the Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) facility at the High Flux Reactor (HFR) was upgraded with the purchase and installation of components for the liquid argon system.

Research activities funded from the EU research programme are carried out in 12 projects, grouped in three main clusters:

* Structural integrity of industrial components;

* Emission reduction technologies and increased efficiency in energy and transport; and

* Nuclear and radiation applications in medicine.

This clustering was designed to steer the development of IAM competence towards issues and areas of public interest that have been identified as needing support, both in the definition of EU policymaking and in the promotion of industrial competitiveness.

* Structural integrity of industrial components

All projects in the Structural Integrity cluster combine experimental and theoretical research actions with the co-ordination, management and operation of European networks. The networks include the establishment and maintenance of European Reference laboratories and are primarily targeted at providing an international platform for achieving consensus on technical and safety matters and developing accredited testing methodologies for lifetime assessment of components used in critical industrial applications. Three projects and their related networks focus on issues related to nuclear power plants (namely AMES, ENIQ and NESC) whereas the two other projects (namely EPERC and HYDANET) focus on issues more of relevance to the petro-chemical sector. Further to an internal management decision, activities related to pressure equipment (EPERC) and hydrogen damage (HYDANET) will be carried out and reported under one project as of January 2000.

Highlights of activities from the five projects within this cluster include:

* The European Pressure Equipment Research Council (EPERC). Milestones achieved in 1999 include the launching of a European 'Service Integrity and Life Extension' task force, the publication of a bulletin 'A European Approach to Pressure Equipment Inspection' and the organisation of a workshop on 'Inspection Qualification'.

* Hydrogen Damage Prevention and Networking (HYDANET). A new venture, this network, which focuses on identifying and combating high temperature hydrogen damage in structural steels, was prepared for launch in early 2000 with many industrial companies, research organisations and international federations. The IAM has established a Reference Laboratory of unique European competence to support the network. Scientific achievements in 1999 include specific targeting of various techniques to the analysis of hydrogen attacked materials and consequent progress in understanding mechanisms involved.

* The European Network for Inspection Qualification (ENIQ) has formulated and published two 'Recommended Practices', entitled 'Qualification Dossier' and 'How to Conduct Test Piece Trials'. The network is particularly concerned to ensure that internationally approved inspection procedures are mandatory in all relevant countries and to this end, the Network section concerning Eastern Europe (ENDEF) has issued guidelines for detailed project proposals to improve in-service inspection in Russian-type WWER and RBMK reactors.

* The Network for the Evaluation of Steel Components (NESC). The first round project NESC I has now been completed and final reports are being published. A second generation (NESC II) project was launched in 1998; a network partner has already conducted two large pressurised thermal shock tests and the results are now the subject of critical evaluation.

* The IAM Reference Laboratory for the Ageing Materials Evaluation and Studies (AMES) has carried out a successful irradiation of model alloys in the High Flux Reactor (HFR) (LYRA-03 project). A conception and initiation of a key action study on the influence of the chemical composition on irradiation embrittlement was undertaken. A matrix of 33 different model alloys, with controlled variation of copper, nickel and phosphorus content, is currently being investigated. Additionally, a specialist meeting was organised jointly with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) in Petten on 'Non-Destructive Methods for Monitoring Degradation'. The meeting attracted about 90 participants from 25 countries.

Support for Tacis/Phare programmes

An Administrative Framework Agreement signed in 1998 between the JRC and the External Relations DG defined a programme of technical support to the External Relations DG for the Tacis/Phare programmes on Nuclear Safety, which is now detailed in annual Work Plans.

In 1999, an agreement was signed to provide technical expertise for on-site assistance to the Tacis Nuclear Power Plants in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia and Kazakhstan for the next three years. The agreements involve the participation of IAM experts in all procurement processes for safety-related equipment. Finally, the IAM prepared an agreement with DG Common Service for External Relations (SCR) for the execution of a project on dissemination of Tacis project results.

These actions allow the JRC to assist the European Commission services during all preparation and implementation phases of the Tacis/Phare programmes in nuclear safety, as well as to assess the results of the individual projects for the beneficiaries.

* Emission reduction technologies and increased efficiency in energy and transport

The Emission Reduction Technologies cluster encompasses over 50% of IAM activities and is composed of two projects related to energy production, two related to transport and one related to waste treatment.

To supplement the specialist facilities for assessing materials behaviour under closely simulated plant conditions, a rig for subjecting pipes to bending loads and a facility for assessing the combined action of creep and thermal fatigue on notched tubular components have been constructed and are being commissioned.

An integrated lifetime prediction model has been developed and will be validated using data from thermal fatigue crack growth of cracked 316 stainless steel components and multiaxial creep behaviour of welded ferritic alloy tubes.

Thermal barrier coatings

The IAM has launched a 'Thermal Barrier Coatings-in-Service' network, which groups representatives of EU gas turbine manufacturers and users and is targeted at pooling European R&D resources to improve thermal barrier coatings performance and reliability. The Network contract terms have been agreed and the network is scheduled to start in January 2000. The IAM will contribute experimental facilities for mechanical testing, corrosion, residual stress measurement, thermal properties and structural analysis. Theoretical analysis will use a finite-element computer model of interfaced material which calculates the stress fields in thermal-barrier-coated systems that evolve during thermal-mechanical loading typical of gas turbine components.

The IAM contributes extensively to the development of standard test methodologies. A recently developed High-Temperature Ceramic Fibre Bundle Test facility has been submitted for patent application and the corresponding testing procedure drafted for scrutiny by CEN for adoption as a standard.

Engine-testing laboratory

The 'European Reference Vehicle and Engine Testing Laboratory on emission Reduction Technologies' at IAM is in the final design phase. The engine-testing laboratory for wear-measurement on engine components by thin layer activation has been transferred from Ispra to the IAM's Petten site. This laboratory will be the first to function in the facility which will finally include a full-size light duty vehicle testing and a fully equipped engine rest bench with state-of-the-art emission measuring capabilities.

A European network on 'Performance Reliability and Emission Reduction in Waste Incinerators' (PREWIN) has been set up. Following a period of consultancy, a preliminary report of literature on waste incineration conditions and materials has been issued, leading to the identification of key materials to be used in laboratory studies. The laboratory autoclaves have been adapted and re-commissioned for use with simulated waste incineration atmospheres including sulphur, carbon and chlorine-containing species.

* Nuclear and radiation applications in medicine

This cluster, accounting for some 10% of IAM's effort, includes two projects:

* The Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) facility at the HFR, which was upgraded in 1999. Newly drafted standard operating procedures guarantee smoother and more reliable operation of the facility. Software for treatment planning is now more user-friendly, producing data and results more efficiently, and especially allowing the performance of self-checks routinely to enhance the reliability of the results. Studies, primarily theoretical, have been made to assess the use of BNCT to combat other diseases (e.g. diabetes). One new collaborative project with medical partners entitled 'Therapeutic Strategies for BNCT with Boron Imaging' has been approved within the FP5 'Quality of Life' programme.

* A state-of-the-art review in medical x-ray was carried out and relevant x-ray equipment has been purchased. The major preparatory steps to launch a European Network on Medical Radiographic Equipment Characterisation (MERECH) have been undertaken, including identification of partners. Further to the scientific audit carried out in the JRC in July 1999, a recommendation was issued to phase down this project because of its remoteness from the core activities of the institute. Agreeing with this evaluation, the management decided that this project will be phased down and terminated in course of 2000.

* Management aspects

The audit for certification according to ISO 9001 in July was a major milestone in the IAM's global effort towards TQM development. The certification was granted in November. Efforts are now concentrating on the implementation of the EFQM (European Foundation for Quality Management) Excellence Model within the IAM.

Improvements in organisation and transparency of the IAM's project management have been implemented. A project management portfolio was established. A new regime of regular project reviews has improved organisation of project monitoring.

* Competitive activities

The projects grouped into the three 'Institutional Programme' clusters account for approximately 85% of the IAM's budget. 49 other projects supported by competitive funding have been proposed this year. These competitive activities take the form of direct contract work for third parties, partnerships in shared-cost actions and other competitive actions. Shared-cost actions were continued under the FP5 'Quality of Life', 'Nuclear Fission', 'Growth', 'Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development', and 'Copernicus' programmes. Other competitive actions mainly cover work for DGs in response to a direct request or call for tender outside the frame of the research programme.

Only competitive activities that are relevant to the institutional projects or to the future evolution of the IAM are taken on. Most competitive actions complement or supplement on-going institutional research.

* High Flux Reactor - Supplementary programme

The Commission operates the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten in accordance with the Euratom/Netherlands agreement of 25 July 1961. On 27 June 1996, the Council adopted a four-year (1996 to 1999) supplementary research programme at the High Flux Reactor to be implemented by the JRC for the European Atomic Energy Community. Three countries support the supplementary programme: Germany, the Netherlands and France.

Besides traditional work for nuclear research and industry, it was decided to dedicate a large part of the High Flux Reactor 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.

A major highlight in the operation of the High Flux Reactor throughout 1999 was the large number of operational days - more than 280 - and a high occupancy rate for the reactor. An important decision was the commitment taken to convert the reactor from the use of highly enriched uranium to the use of low-enriched