Source: EURLEX
Language: en
Format: md

**COMMISSION** **OF THE** **EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES**

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Brussels, 03.04.1997
COM(97) 137 final

#### **JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE** **_1996 ANNUAL REPORT_** (Presented by the Commission)

**FOREWORD**

Every year the Commission presents an Annual Report for the Joint Research Centre (JRC),
describing the entire spectrum of JRC activities during the year and giving information on the
human and financial resources which have been available for the execution of the work.

The Annual Report, accompanied by the Observations of the Board of Governors, of the JRC, is
transmitted by the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament and the Economic and
Social Committee.

The present report covers activities in 1996 and is issued in fulfilment of the reporting
requirements set out in the Council decisions on the JRC specific programmes (1995-1998) for
the EC (European Community) [1] and the EAEC (European Atomic Energy Communities) [2],
respectively and the supplementary High Flux Reactor programme 1996-1999 for the EAEC [3] .

At the same time the 1996 Annual Report constitutes a contribution to the reporting on
Community RTD (Research and Technological Development) activities which is required by
Article 130P of the EC Treaty.

JO. I 361/114 3I.12.I994

J.O. 1.361/132 31.12.1994

JO. 1 172/23 11.7.1996

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

#### **o>** **JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE** **_1996 ANNUAL REPORT_** Report of the Commission

_JRC Annual Report_ _1996_

#### **`THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE`**

The Joint Research Centre exists to serve the European Union. Its mission is to provide the European
Union with a scientific and technical capability, directly attached to the Commission, contributing to the
formulation and implementation of Union policies. The JRC is the _"corporate research laboratory_ of
the European Commission. It is established by the European Commission with headquarters in
Brussels. Five separate sites, located in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, house
seven different institutes, each with its own focus of expertise.

These institutes are:

**IRMM** The Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements **GEEL** (B)

**ITU** The Institute for Transuranium Elements **KARLSRUHE** (D)

**1AM** The Institute for Advanced Materials **PETTEN (NL)** and **ISPRA** **(I)**

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

**El** The Environment Institute **ISPRA** (I)

**SAI** The Space Applications Institute **ISPRA** **(I)**

**IPTS** The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies **SEVILLE** (E)

and through them the JRC promotes and carries out customer-driven research of the highest quality
and integrity in support of Community policies.

The Joint Research Centre is an integral part of the Community research and technological
development system and, increasingly, a driving force in European R&D in favour of both industry and
consumers. It has developed over the years special skills, unique tools, and a reliable, neutral
scientific expertise adapted to its triple mission: carrying out the specific Community research
programmes, decided upon by the Council and funded by the European Union budget; providing
customer-driven research as scientific and technical support for other community policies, such as the
environment, agriculture or nuclear safety; and engaging itself ever more successfully in competitive
activities, i.e. participating on a par with industry, research organisations and universities of the
Member States or associated countries in Community programmes, including shared-cost actions
under the Framework Programmes, or providing paid services to private and public customers.

The statutory staff, comprising officials and temporary agents of the JRC, was 1,746 at the end of
1996. To this number one must add 186 scientists who were active in the Centre and were paid by the
JRC under various hosting schemes. A further 200 scientists and trainees worked at the JRC under
other arrangements.

The global credits committed by the JRC in 1996 were around 273 Mioecu.

This Annual Report is intended to give a general overview of JRC activities in 1996.

Readers may find more details in the Annual Reports of the seven institutes. The JRC also publishes
numerous scientific reports, presents papers to conferences and in scientific journals, and organises
workshops, seminars and conferences to disseminate its scientific output.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**TABLE OF CONTENTS**

OBSERVATIONS OF THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS 6

HIGHLIGHTS OF 1996 8

1. THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE IN 1996 11

1.1 CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT,

EUROPEAN INDUSTRY AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE EUROPEAN

POPULATION 11

1.2 COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES 18

1.3 JRC INFORMATION DAYS, PUBLICATIONS, AND CONFERENCES 20

1.4 HUMAN RESOURCES 22

1.5 FINANCES 24

2. ACTIVITIES OF THE JRC INSTITUTES IN 1996 26

2.1 THE INSTITUTE FOR REFERENCE MATERIALS AND MEASUREMENTS 26

2.2 THE INSTITUTE FOR TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS 28

2.3 THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS 31

2.4 THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS, INFORMATICS AND SAFETY 33

2.5 THE ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE 38

2.6 THE SPACE APPLICATIONS INSTITUTE 41

2.7 THE INSTITUTE FOR PROSPECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES 43

Annex 47

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

#### **`OBSERVATIONS BY THE BOARD OF GOVERNORS`** **`ON THE JRC ANNUAL REPORT 1996`**

**1996** **- A Year of Successful Challenge for the JRC**

1. 1996 was a year of successful challenge for the JRC, due to its efforts to comply with the demands for
more customer driven research and competitivity while maintaining its Community character. These
demands were put to the Centre by the Community Institutions back in 1994, with implementation to be
initiated in 1995. A first progress report was requested by the Council and issued by the Commission in
1996, covering the first one and a half years of the new programme period. The Board assisted the
JRC in its preparation and accompanied the report with an opinion. This opinion recorded satisfaction
with progress made to sustain the initiatives taken, while commenting also on room for further
improvement. The Board has been pleased to learn of the endorsement this report has received from
the Council and the European Parliament.

2. The Annual Report 1996 bears witness to these sustained developments. Highlighted activities from
the large JRC portfolio of ongoing projects amply illustrate how the Centre is contributing to the Union's
objectives, including the sustainable growth in the Member States and its service to the European
citizen. The numerous network arrangements aim at ensuring the interaction between the JRC's
activities and those of industry, national research laboratories and universities.

3. The full spectrum of competitive activities opened up for the JRC in 1995 was a new challenge and
called for a reorientation of the Centre's modes of operation. The results of the first year were
encouraging. The 1996 Annual Report records the progress made and illustrates that all seven
institutes of the JRC have engaged themselves in every facet of the new opportunities laid out for the
JRC. The challenge for the JRC - as for all knowledge producers in the Community - is how to
accelerate the rate of exploiting the knowledge resource for the benefit of European industry and
citizens - how to improve their economic position and well-being. The record shows that the JRC has
responded positively to this challenge. As one of the key European S&T players it recognises the
responsibility placed upon it and will continue to respond positively to the trust placed in it by Member
States in the 1994 Council Conclusions.

**Evaluations of the JRC**

4. 1996 again saw an evaluation of the JRC activities performed by outside experts in conformity with the
Council decisions on the JRC specific programmes and carried out upon consultation with the Board.
Visiting Groups were selected for each of the JRC institutes and Professor J.M. Rojo, former Secretary
of State for Research in Spain, provided an overall evaluation and analysis of the reports from the
Visiting Groups which was discussed with the Board in December 1996.

5. The findings of these reports largely confirm satisfactory further progress which has taken place in the
JRC since the previous evaluations in 1993-1994. The many detailed recommendations will provide a
stimulus for the way forward. Amongst the more cHtiosI remarks the Board agrees that there is still
room for improvement in the operation of the Centre and notably in the boundary conditions which
govern - and Wmtt  - Its acKvfties.

**Evolution of** _**JRC**_ **Status**

6. As foreseen, in 1996 the Commission decided to give the JRC the status of an autonomous Directorate
General - a welcome step, which in the repeatedly stated view of the Board should be followed by
further moves to aNow the JRC to fully achieve the change in working methods envisaged by the
Council Conclusions of April 1994 and indeed, in order to wholly fulfil its mission. To facilitate this, the
possibility of endowing the JRC with legal personality has been considered.

_JRC Annual Report_ _1996_

**Commercialisation of the JRC, Dissemination of Information**

7. 1996 called for new initiatives on the commercialisation of JRC activities and research results. A closer
attention to goals and performance parameters has raised the awareness of these essential issues
within the JRC institutes and has borne fruit, as evidenced by the 1996 Annual Report. The Board
welcomes the fact that new imaginative initiatives are under way, including pooling of commercial
contracts and increasing awareness of the intellectual property. Amongst those the Board has agreed
to the initiation of a feasibility study to be launched in early 1997 on creating a Technology Park at the
JRC Ispra site.

8. Meanwhile, the JRC has intensified the dissemination of information on its activities at national level.
As a contribution to this, in 1996 Members of the Board together with the JRC, again arranged for a
series of presentations of the JRC throughout the Member States, gathering representatives from
industry, national research and universities together with JRC representatives in order to foster further
collaboration with the Centre.

**High Flux Reactor**

9. 1996 brought a Council decision on a supplementary programme for the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at
Petten (NL) for the period 1996-1999. This implied a complete overhaul of the management of the
facility and an intensive drive towards a more direct commercial use of a considerable part of its
capacity with the ensuing improvement in efficiency and economy, as already planned in 1995.
Preliminary results give the basis for optimism.

**Towards the Fifth Framework Programme**

10.The Board has noted with keen interest the policy documents issued by the Commission in 1996
towards the Fifth Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development which should
begin in 1999 and the views on the JRC contained in these documents. It has also noted discussions
on these documents which have already taken place. Further discussions on this will no doubt follow in
early 1997. The JRC may be called to face new challenges, but the Board is convinced that full benefit
will be drawn from the contribution of the JRC to the major objectives of the European Union. This will
comprise not only its ability to act as a European wide resource to build efforts around infrastructural
critical mass but also its ability to improve neutral and independent expertise at the European level.

**Staff Issues**

11 The evaluation reports have underlined the need for changes in present procedures concerning staff
management and notably for recruitment. These views are fully shared by the Board. The problem will
become even more acute in the near future as the age structure of JRC staff will result in many
vacancies, whose timely filling is of paramount importance for the future of the JRC. Stimulated by the
evaluation reports, the Board intends once again to address the issues concerning the staff policy and
its implementation at the JRC.

12.At senior level, the Board has welcomed the appointment of Mr. Hugh Richardson to the new post of
Deputy Director General in 1996 and noted the progress of the four new Directors appointed in 1995. It
has also advised the Commission on the appointment of Professor Grasserbauer, who takes up his
post as Director of IRMM in early 1997. Mr. H. Allgeier, the first Director of IPTS in Seville was
transferred by the Commission at the end of the year to another function within the Commission and is
thanked for setting this Institute well under way.

The Board congratulates Mr. Hans Jorgen Helms, formerly Director of Programmes, who retired in
1996 and who was nominated to the rank of Honorary Director General in recognition of his dedication
and continuous service to the Joint Research Centre.

JRC _Annual Report 1996_

Acknowlodgemonts

_^'^_ I ho Board acknowledges Commissioner Cresson's continued interest in the JRC, as evidenced by the
reports from her visits to the JRC sites during the year. The Board reiterates its appreciation of the
hard work and devotion of the Director General, his senior collaborators, and indeed the entire JRC
staff in addressing the challenges facing them.

**HIGHLIGHTS OF 1996**

The JRC scientific and technical work is mostly interdisciplinary and covers a large number of projects.

The following few examples illustrate differing areas of activity and varied funding arrangements for the
JRC work in 1996.

_The_ _**MARS project {Monitoring Agriculture**_ **wflfr** _**Remote Sensing)**_ carried out by the JRC's Space
Applications Institute (SA!) provides constantly updated agrometeotologlcal information enabling accurate
monitoring and extrapolation of crop development in Europe and beyond, The approach is based on an
agrometeorologlcal model drawing on weather data {rainfall, temperature, radiation evaporation...) and
agronomic data (growth state, water content biomass produced, grain weight, etc,}, The advantage of the
system is that It provides homogeneous information In real time covering a wfdfc geographical area. It is
also useful as an early warning system (e*g> identification of of abnormalities in crop patterns of
development).

In September 1996 the Council of the EU adopted the Directive on _Integrated_ _Pollution Prevention and_
_Control_ _(IPCC)_ which marks a new era in environmental legislation. In contrast to the traditional approach
of setting emission standards of general applicability, the IPPC directive integrates the different pollution
media (e.g. air and water or land) and takes into account both the sensitivity of the local environment and
the technological progress. It covers large installations of the most polluting industrial sectors such as the
chemical, metal and energy industries. The Best Available Techniques (SAT) in these sectors will be
identified by the _'IPPC_ _Bureau'_ through a process involving representatives from the fifteen Member
States of the Union and the relevant industrial and environmental organisations. These BAT documents
will constitute the main reference once issuing local permits. The IPPC Bureau is established at the JRC
Institute for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS) which holds responsibility for technology watch at
European level. IPTS has acquired significant expertise on BAT studies (an analysis of the sectors of
ammonia and nitric acid has just been completed) and has won the contract to manage the IPPC Bureau.
IPTS will promote the exchange of information end ensure neutrality in the process of finding consensus
among all the concerned parties.

_BIOMEDICAL_ _REFERENCE_ _MA_ _TERIAIS_

Biomedical Reference Materials, which are needed for the development and verification of the accuracy
and correctness ôf diagnostic test kits (e.g. pregnancy, hepatitis, diabetes, certain cancers), sre now)
| certified by the JRC (Institute for Reference? Mariais and Measurements (1RMM)). !
A" _en\-\_ _'_ _\<A_ ' V- '. ti'. : Sniernatloru-! Federation of Clinical Chemistry (iFCC), signed in October 1996 by j

\, >ir [i] [ r] !*i«<r r -nli| CRF.3SON, j.^rr-vide,. for reference materials produced _o\-_ ihc hnsl;; of orojects
I _<_,( ;,o" _-_ _[f]_ _:_, srec to bo tested _*r\0_ ec-rtiflad by ths> lnsitiU;t-:\ Revenue -OiTi L-.'>C-S O
s -, -*, -!*• _._ c shared _ly_ IFCC and tha Institute.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**The** _**Futomdav,**_ **are design standards** **adopted** **by the European construction industry.** _**Eurocode 8**_
**specify** **standards that buildings should adhere to if they are to withstand vibration, whether caused by**
**road or rail traffic or even by earthquakes. The standards** **are** **checked** **by** **a** **consortium** **of** **European**
**laboratories** **using** **a variety of** **methods including computational analysis ar& shaking** **fcfctes>** **The** **JRC**
**(institute** **for** **Systems,** **Informatics and Safety** **(ISIS)) Is** **part of** **this** **consortium;** **its** **main contribution is** **the**
**development and operation of the reaction wall facility {unique in** **Europe)** _**{Ewtoptmn Laboratory**_ _**for**_
_**Structural**_ _**Assessment**_ _**ELSA)**_ **which utilises the** **pseudodynamlc** **test** **method** **to test** **fu8«sca!e** **structures.**
**The validity of Eurocode** **3** **has** **been** **confirmed for bare** **frame reinforced** **concrete structures** **thanks** **to the**
**testing of** **3-storey** **concrete frames** **In** **the facility.** **In** **addition,** **tie code** **has been modified to take into**
**account infilling of the** **building** **frames** **with** **mw^fucferetmôlensls,**

**ELSA** **Is** **also used to check** **methods** **for retrofitting** **In** **order to protect existing** **buildings,** **particularly** **those**
**of great historic** **interest,** **from** **damage** **d^ejo** **vibration,**

_**Collaborative**_ _**research**_ **on** **a commercial basis is carried** **out** **by** **the** **JRC** **(Institute** **for Advanced Materials**
**(1AM))** **in the area of materials requirements for improved** **design** **and operation of** **high temperature**
**components tor power generation** **plants.** **Evaluating** **the work carried** **out** **T** **Professor Regis of ENEL** **{the**
**Italian electricity utility - the customer) recently** **wrote;**
_"Ail the_ _individual suborojects hâve carried_ _out_ _excellent expérimental_ _investigations,_ _according_ _to the state_
_of the_ _art,_ _some of which have been anticipated in specific papers. The_ _findings am_ _generally in good_
_agreement with the most advanced conclusions reached by large manufacturera or_ _wHh_ _the practices_
_under_ _testing_ _by other_ _utilities._ _These résulte_ _are highly_ _valuable_ since _inay would_ «flow _extended scientific_
_exchanges_ _of_ _information_ _and know how with other_ _international_ _kbomtorks_ _T_ _with_ _other end_ _users,_ _with the_
_Original Equipments Manufacturers_ _(OEM}_ _and their subsidiary companies_ _m_ _charge of material and_
_coating_ _processing"._

**The European Agency for the Evaluation of** **Medicinal** **Products {EMEA}, set up at Canary** **Wharf,** **London**
**m** **1995,** **relies for its drug approval and registration activities on the expertise of the JRC. The** _**European**_
_Technical_ _**Office for**_ _**Medicinal**_ _**Products**_ _**(ETOMEP)**_ (a brandsof the JRC's Environment Institute)
**develops and supports the technical systems needed for the market authorisation procedures and**
**maintains staff in the EMA's premises. The help end support provided by the** **JRC** **have been widely**
**acknowledged by the Agency itself** _**and**_ **the Member** **States.**

_**VAGABONDING**_ _**FISSILE MATERIALS**_

**In** **cooperation with the Commission's Safeguards Directorate, Luxembourg, and** **following Member** **States'**
**requests, the JRC** **(Institute** **for Transuranium Elements** **{ITU}** **has analysed further** **confiscated** **fissile**
**materials** _**>**_
**The diversity and the** **high** **accuracy of the analyses enable a** **"fingerprint'** **of the seized material to be**
**obtained This enables the previous history of the material to be understood** _**and**_ **provides clues as to its**
**origin with the aid of a data bank.**
**The role of the JRC in this** **field,** **already recognised** **at the** **Essen** **Summit,** **has led to several prelects in the**
**frame of the** **TACIS** **(Technical Assistance to the CIS Countries)** **and** **PHARE programmes {PHARE is the**
**EU programme to assist Poland, Hungary, Armenia» Bulgaria, Slovenia, Albania, Estonia, Latvia and**
**Lithuania).** **ITU** **staff also frequently appear as expert witnesses** **In** **the courts or parliamentary** **inquiry**
**committees of Member States concerning** **so-called** **vagabonding nuclear** **materials.** **The Institute is**
**actively involved** **m** **the work of the** **P~8** **International Technical Working Croup on Illicit Trafficking of**
**Nuclear Materials.**

_JRC Annual_ _Report_ _1996_

**10**

_COMPETITIVE_ _**ACTIVITIES,**_ _**MARKETING**_

In 1996, the JRC won a number of important research contracts, such as the substantial PHARE contract
on agricultural information systems, including satellite based applications of remote sensing for six PHARE
countries.

Work for outside third parties progressed and new customers were found to take advantage of JRC
scientific competence and experimental installations, some of which _are_ unique In Europe.

At the initiative of Commissioner Edith Cresson, a new approach to the marketing, valorisation and
commercialisation of the JRC was initiated; the Commission decided to launch a feasibility study on
creating a European technology park at the largest JRC site r Ispra, in northern Italy. The objectives are; to
make fuller use of the competence and installations of the JRC, create synergy between the JRC, industry
and other research centres, promote the creation of innovative ftrms, in particular SMFs, and encourage
innovation in existing companies,

Particular measures include increased attention to quality management The first certification, by an
accredited outside body of the implementation of quality standards was made during the year. Clear
definition of performance indicators to be used by management at all levels was given, while new steps
were taken to extend industry and other user involvement through User Advisory Groups for the JRC
institutes. Marketing efforts have been focused with the aid of clearly defined marketing plans for the JRC
as a whole and each Institute.

_ORGANISATIONAL_ _MEASURES,_ _STAFF_ _POLICY_

The 1995-1998 guidelines for the JRC called for flexible and dynamic operation of the Centre and
underlined the need to ensure a gradual transition and an adaptation of existing rules and regulations. The
Commission decided to establish the JRC as an autonomous Directorate General in January, 1996 and
reorganised the lepra Site by merging two of its institutes, 1ST and ISEI, into the Institute for Systems,
Informatics and Safety (ISIS), thereby strengthening JRC research on technological risk evaluation and
safety issues.

1996 saw the implementation of the Commission's policy for all Commission research sail The concept of
a 25% contingent of short term staff has already added flexibility and enabled the constant renewal of
scientific competence.

_HIGH FLUX_ _REACTOR_ _AT_ _PETTEN_

In June 1996, the Council approved a new supplementary EURATOM programme for the High Flux
Reactor (HFR) at Petten (NL), covering the period 1996-1999. The new programme, in which Germany,
France and the Netherlands take part, has Involved a complete overhaul of the management of the facility
and an intensive drive towards a more direct commercial use of a considerable part of its capacity,
involving the production of radio-isotopes for medical use. In 1996 an estimated 7 million patients were
diagnosed or treated using radio-isotopes produced at Petten.

_JRC Annual Report_ _1996_

11

#### **1. THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE IN 1996**

**1.1** **CONTRIBUTIONS TO SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT,**

**EUROPEAN INDUSTRY AND THE WELL-BEING OF THE EUROPEAN POPULATION**

The JRC research activities contribute to several lines of the Community Framework Programmes through
the JRC specific programmes 1995-1998:

- The _Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies_ programme was carried out by the Institute for
Advanced Materials (IAM) and encompassed research projects on advanced materials, on surface
engineering, on new ecofriendly materials and on non-destructive evaluation techniques for the
inspection of industrial structural components.

- The _Measurements_ _and_ _Testing_ programme encompassed research projects on reference
measurements and materials - carried out by the Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements
(IRMM)  - and on the assessment of the reliability of structures, carried out by the Institute for Systems,
Informatics and Safety (ISIS).

 - The _Environment and Climate_ programme consisted of: research projects on atmosphere, soil, water
and waste pollution, executed by the Environment Institute (El); the setting up of the Centre for Earth
Observation (CEO), a decentralised European data management and information system; applications
of remote sensing techniques, carried out by the Space Applications Institute (SAI); and industrial
hazards studies carried out by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS).

 - The _Non-Nuclear_ _Energy_ programme consisted of research projects related to materials for clean
technologies and to the standardisation of photovoltaic devices - carried out by the Institute for
Advanced Materials (IAM).

 - The _Targeted_ _Socio-Economic_ _Research_ programme included the Science and Technology
Observatory function and prospective work carried out by the Institute for Prospective Technological
Studies (IPTS). The essential role of the Institute is to harvest the available contributions from experts,
consultants, research organisations and institutes in Member States, and when possible in third
countries, in order to analyse, process and integrate them impartially and in depth and, more importantly,
to distil clear trends or needs for action in a usable form for decision makers.

 - The _Nuclear_ _Fission Safety_ programme encompassed a number of research activities ranging from
studies on reactor safety - carried out by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) and the
Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM) - to research activities on nuclear safeguards and fissile materials
management, executed by the Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) and the Institute for
Transuranium Elements (ITU). ITU carried out research on the safety of nuclear fuels and actinides.

 - The _Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion_ programme (Technology and Safety) was carried out by the
Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS) and the Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM).

This research is executed in the seven JRC Institutes as shown in Table 1 and it amounted to 68% of the

JRC programme activities in 1996.

_JRC Annual Report_ _1996_

12

**Table** **1** **- JRC Research Activities**

ITU

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

IAM

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

L ISIS

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

SAI

X

X

X

X

X

El

X

X

IPTS

X

FRAMEWORK PROGRAMME LINES

Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies

Advanced Materials and Standards for Industrial Innovation

Surface Engin, for Improved Properties and for New Industrial

Applications

Recycling and Materials Eco-Technology

Non-Destructive Evaluation, Testing and Inspection of Industrial

Structural Components

Measurements and Testing

Prenormative Research in Support of Construction Norms and

Standards, including Seismic Design Codes (Eurocodes)

Car Safety

Reference Materials

Reference Measurements

Environment and Climate

- _Global_ _Change_

Centre for Earth Observation (CEO)

Atmospheric Processes over European Regions

Remote Sensing for Terrestrial Biosphere (Land Degradation in

the Mediterranean Region, Forest Monitoring)

Remote Sensing for Marine Biosphere (North Atlantic Ocean,

Mediterranean Sea)

Advanced Earth Observation Techniques (Environment and

Road Conditions Monitoring and Land Mine Detection)

- _Environmental_ _Quality_

Techniques & Equipment for Environmental Quality Monitoring

- _Innovative_ _Environmental_ _Technologies_

Industrial Reliability (Experimental Activities)

High Performance Information Tech. for Environm. Protection

Natural Hazards / Seismic Research

Natural Hazards / Flooding, Droughts

Non-Nuclear Energy

Photovoltaic Energy and Electricity Storage

Materials for Clean Technologies

Targeted Socio-Economic Research

Technology Watch / Technology-Employment-Competitiveness

Nuclear Safety and Safeguards

- _Reactor_ _Safety_

European Networks on Component Ageing, Inspect. Techn. &

Struct. Integrity

Severe Accidents including Probabilistic Studies

- _Fuel Cycle_ _Safety_

Basic Actinide Research

Safety of Nuclear Fuels

Mitigation of Long-lived Actinides and Fission Products

Spent Fuel Characterisation in view of Long-Term Storage

- _Safeguards_ _and Fissile Materials_ _Management_

Safeguards R&D

Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion

Fluid Separation and Structural Analysis

Fusion Materials

Remote Handling

Tritium-Materials Interaction

IRMM

**X**

**X**

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

13

Pari Two of this document provides a more detailed description of these research activities in 1996,
institute by institute. However, some significant results have been highlighted in this chapter: they illustrate
how research has enabled the JRC to contribute to the advancement of science and technology for the
benefit of European industry and the well-being of the European population.

A new co-operation agreement signed by Commissioner Edith Cresson, between the **Institute for**
**Reference Materials and Measurements (IRMM)** and the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry
(IFCC). will enable the IRMM to push forward its work on _good quality health care,_ by developing
biomedical certified reference materials (CRMs). These are increasingly important instruments for the
promotion of human health: they increase the reliability and accuracy of diagnosis in the laboratory, thus
significantly reducing the risk of diagnostic errors, and they improve the quality of patient treatment.

Under the agreement, laboratories and scientists around the world will be involved in providing reference
materials needed by industry and clinical laboratories.

Certified reference materials of foodstuffs are also prepared at IRMM for food quality control, to assist
enforcement of European legislation on food.

The **Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU)** is intent on further reducing radiotoxicity in highly active
wastes through collaborative work carried out with leading national laboratories in the area of mitigation of
long-lived actinides and fission products.

Fabrication and characterisation of fuel targets for irradiation experiments and post-irradiation examination
to compare the results with theoretical predictions was another major task of ITU. New extraction
processes for the effective separation of long-lived actinides were also tested under realistic conditions.

The ITU's contribution to the study of medical applications of actinide research (treatment techniques for
different cancers) was enhanced. Several batches of [ 225] Actinium - [ 213] Bismuth produced by ITU using new
processes were delivered to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York for use in
experimental treatments on patients.

The **Institute for Advanced Materials (IAM)** developed three novel activities in 1996 of potential benefit
to _European industry:_

- The concept of a new pressure vessel for the petro-refinery industry, designed to avoid hydrogen attack
of the vessel walls and to provide increased vessel life, enhanced safety for workers, and decreased
wall thickness.

- A fibre tow transport system for continuous coating of endless fibres.

- A chemical vapour deposition process for 3-dimensional shaped micro-structural coatings.

Benefitting the consumer, a method for monitoring the release of metals in the food processing industry,
using a thin layer activation technique developed at Ispra's cyclotron will be applicable in particular to baby
food and in the pharmaceutical industry.
A spin-off from the cyclotron activities will allow development of new diagnostics and therapeutics
techniques using Positron Emission Tomography (PET). A new PET project was launched at Ispra, for a
European network hosting research medical staff from all over Europe, which will transfer the techniques
to their respective home institutions.

At the **Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety (ISIS)** several activities focused on _safety for_
_industry and the_ _population,_ particularly nuclear safety and the safeguarding of nuclear materials, industrial

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

14

and transport safety, the seismic protection of buildings and civil engineering works, the preservation of
cultural heritage, and architecture.
As for nuclear safety, the FARO and KROTOS facilities at Ispra carried out experiments leading to a better
understanding of the progression of severe accidents and to an improvement of codes used to analyse
how best to mitigate the consequences.
Progress in car safety was fostered by the design and development of a new precision impact testing
method. The use of a new stress wave transducer in the Large Dynamic Testing Facility (LDTF) allows
load, displacement and energy flow to be measured in any part of **a** vehicle body, so that numerical models
of vehicles can be calibrated and validated.

The facilities of the European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) continued to provide a unique
test bed for the application of the pseudodynamic test method for checking the seismic resistance of
structures, in particular irregular bridges. The method confirmed that bridges which we would have
expected from previous tests to suffer severe damage, remained practically intact. It is expected that the
concept of seismic isolation will become more common, both for the construction of new bridges and for
the retrofitting of existing structures.

The **Environment Institute** **(El)** is directly contributing to a _better quality of life_ with its specific research in
the area of climate and the environment. Global change studies encompass Biogenic Emission in the
Mediterranean Area (BEMA Project) and the role of aerosols in climate regulation.
The BEMA project, particularly focused on tropospheric ozone, aims at understanding the role of the
Mediterranean vegetation in atmospheric chemistry and ozone formation.
El also focuses on the study of natural risks, in particular in aquatic systems, at the request of the
Commission and the Member States: the study of "red tides" in the Mediterranean Sea (MITO project),
and a variety of water management, water quality and recovery projects (e.g. AMAL, AQUACON,
SALMON). An Environment Water Task Force was established in 1996, at the initiative of the
Commission, to contribute to a European strategy for sustainable management and rational use of water;
its aim is to make European enterprises more competitive in this area and to refocus scientific and
technological co-operation on priority projects.

_Human health_ was also the concern of the indoor pollution group, whose unique facility for the monitoring
of indoor air quality (INDOORTRON) is being used for exposure studies, measurements of pollutant
emission from materials and equipment, and for the testing of air cleaning devices.

The Space **Applications Institute** **(SAI)** concentrated on applications of remote earth observation,
sensing and detection. SAI's institutional research on environment and climate embraced the terrestrial
and marine biospheres, the lithosphère and the atmosphere, resulting in a comprehensive approach to the
uses of earth observation.

The study of primary production in the ocean can benefit from satellite derived colour data in identifying
bio-geo-chemical processes. Applications based on data from new ocean colour sensors are now being
developed for the study of the Mediterranean basin.
Among other activities, a new natural hazards project is aimed at improving existing disaster management

practices, specifically in the cases of forest fires, floods and droughts. The contribution to a project on the
remote detection of antipersonnel land mines is being continued. The measurement of surface water
storage in networks of drainage ditches is being developed.

Together, **SAI and** **ISIS** continued to provide support for the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) project
whose objective is to promote the use of satellite-based earth observation data.

Contributions to the CEO project focused mainly on its design and implementation phase, with work on all
four CEO components: User and Applications Support, Enabling Services, Monitoring, and Co-ordination.

The **Institute** **for Prospective Technological Studies (IPTS)** pursued its observation of all relevant
scientific and technological events and trends in Europe, and its following of technical change in order to
get a better understanding of the links between technology, the economy, and society.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

15

The European Science and Technology Observatory (ESTO) was officially established in 1996, with the
task of collecting and processing information. Responsibility in these Technology Watch activities is shared
with other partners at the national level. The main themes are: assessment of C02-related technologies;
technology transfer and advanced materials; human genome analysis, genetic screening and gene
therapy; multimedia information society.
On the Technology, Employment and Competitiveness theme, economic and social sustainability is being
studied, with a special focus on competitiveness, employment and the role of innovation in regional
development and resources management.

**Support for Community Policies**

These activities falling under the Community Framework Programmes are necessary for the formulation
and implementation of Community policies and accounted for 32% of the JRC's programme activities in
1996 and were related to the following Framework Programme lines: _Information Technologies,_
_Environment and Climate, Agriculture and Fisheries, Targeted_ _Socio-Economic_ _Research_ and _Nuclear_
_Safety_ _and_ _Safeguards_ through the JRC specific programmes 1995-1998.

The support activities are customer driven, in fulfillment of impartial and neutral scientific and technical
requirements arising from EU directives, decisions of the Commission and the Council, or obligations
stemming from the Euratom Treaty. The work executed in the JRC Institutes is illustrated in Table 2.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

16

**Table 2 - JRC Support Activities**

IPTS

X

ITU

**X**

**X**

IAM

**X**

ISIS

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

El

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

SAI

X

X

Framework Programme Lines

Information Technologies
Safety and Reliability of Systems

Software systems

High Performance Computing and Networks

Environment and Climate

European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP)

European Chemical Bureau (ECB)

European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods
(ECVAM)
Support to the European Environment Agency (EEA)

Quality Control of Consumer Products (Consumer Protection)

Alpine Observatory

Industrial Reliability: Major Accidents Hazards Bureau
Biotechnology Safety
Foodstuff Analysis in Support of Industrial Policy

European Technical Office for Medicinal Products (ETOMEP)

Methodologies for UCLAF

Agriculture and Fisheries

Remote Sensing for Agriculture

Animal Identification

European Office for Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks
(BEVABS)
Reference Measurements and Materials for Quality Control of
Foodstuffs

Targeted Socio-Economic Research

Prospective Technological Studies

Nuclear Fission Safety
European Networks on Component Ageing and Inspection
Techniques
Euratom Safeguards Support: General

Euratom Safeguards Support: On-Site laboratories and
ECSAM

IAEA Safeguards Support

IRMM

**X**

**X**

**X**

**X**

In 1996, the three main lines of JRC support activities were:

**1.** **JRC Support for the Environmental Policy,** which accounted for 43% of the scientific and technical
support budget. It provided DG XI with scientific and technical assistance for the implementation of the
legislation on chemical pollutants, atmospheric pollution, water quality, chemical waste, industrial risks,
and nuclear safety. This work is part of the 5th EC Action Programme in the field of the environment,
and includes:

 - The European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution (ERLAP), which was particularly active in the
preparation and implementation of EC Directives on ambient air quality, with emphasis on the urban
environment and industrial emissions and the harmonisation of measurements in the EU air quality
monitoring networks.

 - The European Chemicals Bureau (ECB), which is now handling all the technical and scientific tasks
required for the classification and labelling of dangerous substances, the implementation of the
notification scheme for new substances, testing methods for chemicals and export/import control of
dangerous substances.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

17

- The European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM), which was created in 1991 to
provide; S/T support for the regulatory work of the Commission on various chemicals and products. In
particular, it co-ordinates efforts to promote orderly scientific and regulatory acceptance of alternative
methods which can reduce, refine, or replace the use of animals in laboratory procedures. Its activities
included pre-validation of non-animal test protocols, vaccine potency and safety testing, and integrated
alternative approaches in toxicity testing studies.

- The European Technical Office for Medicinal Products (ETOMEP). This office, which forms part of a
unit at El, is established both in London, at the European Medicine Evaluation Agency, and in Ispra, at
the Environment Institute. It is dedicated to the development of technical systems necessary for the
implementation of European Union legislation on medicinal products. Its work is of direct and immediate
use to the European Medicine Evaluation Agency, the Member States, and pharmaceutical regulatory
bodies.

- Support for the elaboration of methodologies for the EU antifraud policy (UCLAF), via the effective
development, introduction and use of new information technologies and data and risk analysis methods.

- Support services related to the Alpine Observatory (Alpine Convention), with the aim of producing
and/or collecting data, indicators and information characterising the environmental and socio-economic
status of the Alpine region. These data will be useful to the National Communication Centres, for
distribution at national level.

- The Major Accident Hazards Bureau, which supports the "Seveso" Directive on industrial hazards by
operating the Major Accidents Reporting System (MARS) and the Community Documentation Centre
on Industrial Risk. End users include all the actors in the legislative and regulatory process concerned
with plant safety, such as national and local authorities, industry and safety practitioners.

- The JRC also provides institutional support to the European Environment Agency (EEA-Council
Regulation 1210/90).

**2.** **JRC Support for the Common Agricultural Policy (DG VI),** which accounted for 17% of the

Scientific and Technical Support budget. Work is carried out mainly in the following research areas:

- Research and development of new verification methods and instruments for verification for improved
animal identification, in order to prevent fraud. An identification system was under preparation,
including electronic identifiers, readers, data acquisition systems, control strategy, data base and data
transmission techniques with headquarters evaluation.
The technical features of a large scale pilot project, IDEA, for electronic animal tagging with passive
transponders, were prepared. The tagging of one million animals in various countries of the EU is
contemplated.

Quality control of foodstuffs, by supplying certified reference materials, providing suitable analytical
procedures, and supplying and/or coordinating laboratory intercomparisons for evaluation and
improvement of existing methods and development of new methods of analysis.

- Application of remote sensing to agricultural statistics, with the aim of developing and demonstrating
methodologies which can integrate remote sensing data into the collection of statistics for the
monitoring of crop acreage and agricultural production in the EC.

- Monitoring and control of the Common Agricultural Policy: research and development of new remote
sensing techniques allowing improved monitoring and control of the Common Agricultural Policy.

- Implementation of Community wine sector legislation through the operation of the "European Office for
Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks" (BEVABS). The work focuses on the control of adulteration and of the
origins of wine, using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques,

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

18

with the aim of setting up a European Union Wine Data Bank. Some 4000 EU NMR wine data have
been validated to be stored in the relevant data bank.

3. **JRC Support for Nuclear Safeguards** (Euratom Safeguards DG XVII, IAEA Safeguards support
programme DG I) accounted for 32% of the scientific and technical support budget.

Most of the work undertaken dealt with the following tasks:

- Training of inspectors, harmonisation of in-service nuclear safeguards inspection practices, providing
state of the art equipment and reference analyses of nuclear materials samples.

- Design of on-site laboratories for safeguards analysis at reprocessing plants such as Sellafield and La
Hague; routine analysis of nuclear materials samples; examination of the purchase and testing of
major equipment, including the construction of two analytical boxes, and the training of analysts.

- Work on non-destructive assay, sealing and identification techniques, surveillance techniques, testing
of safeguards equipment, data information treatment, health physics and training.

**Other Institutional Scientific and Technical Support activities** deal with:

- Safety and reliability of informatics systems, for DG III.

- Foodstuff analysis in support of the industrial policy, for DG III.

- Quality control of consumer products (consumer protection), for DG XXIV.

- Techniques for inspecting ageing nuclear components, in support of DG XI and DG XVII.

**1.2** **COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES**

In the past, the JRC carried out research on a competitive contractual basis for external clients, the socalled "work for third parties". The discussions in the Council and the European Parliament leading to
decisions on the EC Fourth Framework Programme as well as the EURATOM Framework Programme
emphasised the need for the JRC to thoroughly reinforce its move towards a competitive approach, on the
basis of a genuine customer/contractor relationship, as stated in the Council Conclusions of April 1994 on
the role of the JRC.

The full spectrum of competitive activities, as given in the guidelines of the Council Conclusions, were, for

1996:

_**Under the Framework**_ _**Programmes:**_

- Participation of the JRC in Shared-Cost Actions :

The JRC, in association with partners in the Member States, submitted proposals in the context of calls for
proposals issued by the Commission.

- Competitive support actions:

"Shared Cost Actions" are specific programmes under the Framework Programmes where accepted projects are
financed partly by the programme resources and partly by the own resources of the proposers.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

19

Scientific and technical support activities requiring a competitive approach, where the JRC responded to
requests from the Commission's other Directorates General. These activities were allocated on a
competitive basis in the context of invitations to tender.

_**Outside the Framework**_ _**Programmes:**_

_•_ Activities under contract:

The conduct of research and supply of services under contract to third parties, including contracts secured
in the context of the of Member States' RTD Programmes.

- Other Community Activities:

JRC's participation in Community actions (e.g. PHARE, TACIS, co-operation with developing countries,
etc.) where Community funding is obtained in the context of a competitive approach.

The Council conclusions stated that the shift towards competitive activities should average 22% for the EC
Framework Programme and 10% for the EAEC Framework Programme from 1995 to 1998, and that this
transition should be a gradual and progressive process over the four year-period. Accordingly, the Council
in its conclusions invited the Commission to amend its internal rules as needed and to propose to the
Council all necessary decisions. The Commission reported during 1996 on progress to the Council and
European Parliament . A further report is foreseen at the end of 1997.

Participation in shared-cost actions continued in 1996. In response to further calls for proposals, the JRC
and its partners presented 210 proposals. In its review for 1996, the JRC noted fewer calls for proposals
than were issued in 1995 or at the end of 1994.

It is noteworthy that the JRC, associated with partners in shared-cost actions, has made applications, and
has had applications accepted, both in Framework Programme themes corresponding to JRC institutional
activities, and in other themes, e.g. telematics, advanced communication technologies and services, or
marine sciences and technologies.
This illustrates the fact that the JRC is now a fully multi-disciplinary research centre, which can develop
scientific disciplines outside the prescribed Framework Programme themes and can be successful in the
competitive arena.

Competitive activities in support of Commission services continued, while a part of the contracts gained by
the JRC in 1995 were signed in 1996 only and work started later in the year. New contracts gained in 1996
amount to 10,6 Mioecu but, as for last year, signature of a large part of these contracts will only take place
in 1997.

Examples of S/T support activities where the JRC successfully bid in response to Commission services
calls for tenders can be found in the following areas:

- Information management systems and general Information Technologies support work;

- Systems support to environmental problems as well as to non-nuclear energies;

- Remote sensing applications in support to the Common Agriculture Policy;

- Support for efforts to transfer technology arising from EC research.

Outside the Framework Programmes, the JRC has gained contracts in other actions introduced by the
Community, namely from the PHARE and TACIS programmes. These total some 4,2 Mioecu and include:

- A major PHARE project on agricultural information systems, including applications of remote sensing
for six PHARE countries. Extensions are foreseen for five more PHARE countries, and the project may
be extended in following years.

COM(96) 436 final, 6.9.1996

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

20

Alongside these new types of activity, the JRC continued to work under contract. New contracts in 1996
lolallod 13,6 Mioecu. Recent contracts being carried out include:

- Continuing work for the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission on a major experimental installation in
Ispra.

- Establishment in a Member State region of a Centre for the prevention of pollution and risks associated
with the handling and transportation of toxic substances.

- Nuclear instrument development for a large nuclear industrial firm in a Member State.

- Development of numerical methods for the simulation of the behaviour of concrete structures for a
national electricity utility.

- Development of ultrasonic systems for monitoring liquid circuits for an industrial company in a Member
State.

**Table 3 - Competitive Activities (Mioecu)**

Inscribed in 1995 accounts Inscribed in 1996 accounts

Shared-Cost Actions = = = 3.9 9.8

Competitive Support 4^8 10.6
Competitive Activities outside the FWP 1J3 _42_
Third Party work 18j> 13J>
TOTAL [ 28.5 | 38.2

The figures are apart from the activities related to the HFR reactor at Petten (NL). In 1995 a particularly
large contract was signed for third party work in a Member State region over a number of years.

**HFR Supplementary Programme**

The High Flux Reactor (HFR) at Petten is operated by the Commission in accordance with the
Euratom/Netherlands agreement of 25 July 1961. On 27 June 1996, the Council adopted a four-year
supplementary research programme to be implemented by the Joint Research Centre for the European
Atomic Energy Community (1996-1999) concerning the operation of the High Flux Reactor (HFR) at
Petten. Under previous supplementary programmes, the activities of the HFR were essentially the
outcome of co-operation between two partners, Germany and the Netherlands. The new supplementary
programme introduced two major changes. On the one hand, the co-operation was enlarged to include
France, which decided to support the HFR. On the other hand, besides traditional work for the nuclear
R&D and industry, it was decided to dedicate a large part of HFR activities to medical applications. On the
basis of contractual relationships, the reactor will be a major contributor to the production of medical
radioisotopes for the needs of the European radio pharmaceutical industry. Furthermore, it was planned to
use the unique possibilities offered by the HFR for the treatment of glioma, a highly malignant cancer of the
brain.

**1** .3 **JRC INFORMATION DAYS, PUBLICATIONS, AND CONFERENCES**

The new approach to JRC activities calls for closer collaboration with industry, research centres and
universities in the Member States. Therefore, to promote better awareness of the JRC, Information Days
were organised at the initiative of Members of the Board of Governors in Dublin, Ireland and Espoo,
Finland Similar Information Days had been held in other Member States in previous years. JRC staff
presented the Centre and, in parallel, workshops representing the Institutes established the basis for new
collaborations. An Information Day more targeted to nuclear applications took place in Stockholm,
Sweden, and another one on environmental and remote sensing activities took place in Reykjavik,
Iceland. Following a day of presentations and discussions at each of the above events, the JRC
participants had meetings and contacts with industry, research centres and universities. These

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

21

Information Days thus supplemented the numerous presentations of the JRC given to visitors on the sites,
visits made to national laboratories, presentations of the JRC at specialised fairs and exhibitions, and
distribution of JRC literature.

The JRC offers a vast array of publications on scientific matters, ranging from papers and articles
published in scientific magazines, to conference papers, EUR reports, reviews, and information about the
JRC posted on INTERNET.

In 1996 the JRC published in total around 1,180 papers, and their distribution by Institute is shown in

Table 4.

The detailed list of JRC publications is published each year in the "Publications Bulletin". The last issue,
No. 16, published in March 1996, lists all publications issued in 1995.

**Table 4** **-** **JRC Publications in 1996**

Total

10

108

133

153

269

311

155

48

1,187

Articles

Published

    

19

42

6

34

60

29

    

**190**

Confer.

Papers

   

87

89

121

177

200

85

6

**765**

Special
publications

8

     

     

11

22

15

20

9

85

Institute

General Management

Institute for Reference

Materials and Measurements

Institute for Transuranium

Elements

Institute for Advanced Materials

Institute for Systems, Informatics
and Safety

Environment Institute

Space Applications Institute

Institute for Prospective
Technological Studies

TOTAL

EUR

Reports

2

2

2

15

36

36

21

33

**147**

Most of these publications are available upon request from the Public Relations Unit, Ispra.

In addition to publications, the above mentioned Bulletin lists all patents obtained by the JRC. There were
9 patents granted in 1996.

Each year, the JRC organises a number of conferences, workshops and seminars at its five sites in
Europe. In 1996 there were 9 conferences, 138 international workshops and meetings, and 130 visits to

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

22

the various sites. The resulting total of about 11,000 visitors shows the constant interest of the scientific
community in the contributions to research and development made by the JRC.

**1.4** **HUMAN RESOURCES**

The JRC's statutory staff is made up of officials and temporary agents, including both scientific-technical
and administrative staff.

By the end of December 1996, the statutory staff numbered 1,746 agents, as compared with 1,786 in
December 1995. Table 5 gives the distribution of statutory staff in 1996. Beside normal mobility, a number
of staff members retired in 1996, having reached the statutory age limit. Recruitment for replacements was
in progress at the end of the year.

**Table 5 - Distribution of statutory staff as of December** **1996**

Institute Staff

Directorate General 34

Programmes Directorate 8

Resources Coordination - Scientific & Technical Support Ispra 428

Institute for Reference Materials and Measurements 181

Institute for Transuranium Elements 186

Institute for Advanced Materials 267

Institute for Systems, Informatics and Safety 276

Environment Institute 222

Space Applications Institute 100

Institute for Prospective Technological Studies 35

JRC staff seconded to national bodies 9

TOTAL 1,746

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

23

In addition to statutory staff, 186 scientists were also active in the JRC under various hosting schemes:

- senior scientists hosted as visiting scientists;

- national experts seconded to the JRC by Member States, to participate in selected scientific work;

- post-doctoral scientists and post-graduate students trained through a programme of fellowships.

Table 6 gives the distribution, by Institute, of these scientists working at the JRC at the end of December
1996.

In addition, about 21 scientists each year come from a third country, assisted by a grant within the
framework of a Commission agreement with their countries or with the International Atomic Energy Agency
(IAEA).

Besides the above mentioned scientists, several senior scientists and about 183 trainees work at the JRC
Institutes at no cost to the EU budget, in general for short periods of time.

**Table 6** **-** **Visiting scientists, seconded experts, grantholders as of December** **1996**

Post
Graduate

Students

    

20

6

14

11

26

15

7

99

Post
Doctoral

Scientists

**-**

**10**

**7**

**12**

**11**

**8**

**9**

**6**

**63**

TOTAL

   

32

13

28

28

38

31

16

186

Seconded

Experts

**-**

**1**

**-**

**-**

**2**

**1**

**5**

**-**

**9**

Institutes

Resources

Coordination

Institute for Reference

Materials and

Measurements

Institute for

Transuranium Elements

Institute for Advanced

Materials

Institute for Systems,
Informatics and Safety

Environment Institute

Space Applications
Institute

Institute lor Prospective
Technological Studies

TOTAL

Visiting
Scientists

**-**

**1**

**-**

**2**

**4**

**3**

**2**

**3**

**15**

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

24

**1.5** **FINANCES**

The budget (commitments credits) as implemented by the JRC in 1996, is given in Table 7.

**Table 7** **-1996** **Budget implementation in Mioecu (Commitment Credits)**

Institutional activities

Information and Comm. Technologies 2.946
Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies 21.534
Measurements and Testing 26.722
Environment and Climate 74.451

Agriculture and Fisheries 10.849
Non Nuclear Energy 3.838
Targeted Socio-Economlc Research 7.728
_Subtotal EC Specific_ _Programmes}_ _148.068_
Nuclear Safety and Safeguards 63.229
Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion, _ „ _ _ _ „ 10.310
_Subtotal EAEC Specific_ _Programmés]_ _73.539_
SCA EC Programmes 3.013
SCA EAEC Programmes 0.411

_Subtotal SCA_ _3.424_

_ _ „ Total specific Programmes [ 225.031

Competitive Activities

Participation to shared-cost actions (SCA) 4.011
Competitive Scientific and Technical Support activities 10.191
Participation to Community activities outside the FWP 1.879
Work for third parties 16.561

_Subtotal_ _32.642_

HFR Reactor 8.088
HFR Completion of previous programmes 6.262
_Subtotal_ I 14.350

TOTAL | 272.023

To these commitment credits one must add 0.800 Mioecu of credits carried over from the 1995 Budget
(related to completion of previous programmes).

Total JRC committed financial resources amounted to 273 Mioecu:

- for the execution of the JRC specific programmes (Research and Institutional support activities for the
services of the Commission)

- for the execution of JRC competitive activities within the framework of the EU budget (participation in
shared-cost actions, competitive support activities for the services of the Commission, JRC participation
in other Community activities, contributions from the Dutch and German governments for the operation
of the HFR and from JRC customers for the execution of work at their request.

_JRC Annual Report_ _1996_

25

The financial resources tor the specific programmes were provided by the JRC part of the General Budget
for the European Union 1996 and the contributions from the EEA (European Economic Area) countries:
Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for the EC programmes. In addition, there is a contribution from 1996
onwards to the EC programmes from Israel.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**26**

#### **2. ACTIVITIES OF THE JRC INSTITUTES IN 1996**

**2.1** **THE INSTITUTE FOR REFERENCE MATERIALS AND MEASUREMENTS (IRMM)**

The IRMM promotes and harmonises the use of European standards, reference materials and
methodologies at the European level. In 1996, the Institute pursued its specific programme under the
heading of Measurements and Testing and contributed to the Framework Programme line "Industrial
Technologies and Materials Technologies". IRMM consolidated its responsibility for managing the BCR's
(Bureau Communautaire de Référence) reference materials.

IRMM is also engaged in support activities for Community policies related to nuclear safeguards, the safety
and quality control of consumer products, and reference measurements and materials for quality control of
foodstuffs. It provides services and reference materials to various customers from the European Member
States.

**A. Institutional Activities**

_**Institutional Research Activities**_

As in the previous years, the measurement expertise and refined analytical techniques of the Institute have
been applied to prepare, characterise and certify high quality reference materials in both the nuclear and
non-nuclear fields, in order to establish a co-ordinated analytical measurement system at European level.
Within this framework, IRMM is now responsible for storage, stability control, distribution, sales
administration and recertification of BCR certified reference materials.

_**BIOMEDICAL**_ _**CBRTtFtEU REFERENCEMATERIALS**_
_A major route into the field of reference materials has been opened_ _with a_ _new_ _co-operation_ _agreement_
_between_ _IRMM_ _and the International_ _Federation_ _of_ _CMcat_ _Chemistry_ _(IFCC)_ _for the production of certified_
_reference materials of biomedical_ _relevance._ _This_ _agreement,_ _signed by Mme Edith Cresson, the_
_European Commissioner for Science, Research and Development will significantly enhance the_
_Commission's role in the_ _development_ _of_ _biomedical_ _certified_ _reference_ _materials._ _These_ _ere crucia_ _tor_
_carrying_ _out repidfy_ _and_ _reSebty_ _accurate diagnoses in_ _laboratories_ - _an essential starting_ _point_ _ioi_ (, _-od_
_Qi'atfty Malth_ _care By significantly_ _rariucmg_ _the risks of_ _diagnostic_ _errors,_ _certified_ _mfemnce_ _n^_ _:- ••:_
_s_ «tee _[ f]_ _t'i-_ c*î.'< '/:y _ofp&tis if treaimeri -.vhih also hoping_ _to_ _curb heafciQe-e_ _co_ _[>y]_ _:s,_

_\hder_ _v-e_ _aiinemem krboratorhs_ -»:i? _scientists around the world wilt be_ _iuvoîveû m_ _providing_ _fv'^vtit--_
_T.v.teriafs_ _nçedeo*_ _by_ _njustry_ _and_ _zhniçai_ _laboratories._ _They_ _win_ _be produced_ _en_ _the_ _oasis_ _c-_ _[:]_ _C'~%-<_ **• V t .**
_propositi_ _by iFCC and_ _tmir_ _validity will be certified by_ _ifre_ _IRMM._

Research on biological and environmental materials was carried out with the isolation and stabilisation of
chloroplasts suitable for the bio-assay of pesticide traces in drinking water control.
An effort was made to increase significantly the capabilities for production of reference materials, from
powder to liquid samples, basically with the aim of producing certified solutions containing dioxins and
furans. Analytical research was pursued on metallothionein characterisation by electrochemistry and liquid
chromatography, and on heavy metal traces of environmental or bio-medical relevance, with the aim of
producing new reference materials.

The neutron activation analysis facility set up in collaboration with the SCK/CEN at Mol (B) is now
operational for quality control during the preparation and certification of reference materials.

The IRMM continued to use the two strong neutron sources of the Institute (LINAC and 7 MV Van de
Graaff) to perform neutron data measurements for applied purposes following the recommendations of the

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**27**

OFCD NEA Nuclear Science Committee, in particular its Working Party on International Evaluation Cooperation

Work related to nuclear matters included, _inter alia,_ the supply of targets for neutron cross-section
measurements, fission fragment studies and other applications; the refurbishment of techniques for
electrodeposition of actinides and the development of methods for high yield reduction of oxides for the
preparation of stable isotope metal targets. The measurement of neutron total and absorption cross
sections for [ 99] Tc and [ 237] Np in the resonance region needed for waste transmutation work is being studied
in close collaboration with CEA (Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique), Saclay (F), the investigation of the
Doppler broadening of neutron resonances with the laboratories of CEA, Cadarache (F) and ILL (Institute
Laue-Langevin) (F), a safety parameter important for the calculation of the temperature coefficient of
reactivity of reactors.

In response to a long-standing request from the Joint European File (JEF) project, the cross sections for
inelastic scattering from low-living levels of molybdenum isotopes have been measured. Other important,
accurate measurements were performed in order to improve the set of nuclear data measurement
standards. The neutron total cross section of [ 10] B and the fission fragment mass yield distribution and
fission neutron spectrum of [ 252] Cf have been investigated. Improved methods of measuring the
235 U(n,f)/H(n,n) cross section ratio are being developed. Also, as an extension of the LINAC facility, a new
laboratory is being completed, to develop non-nuclear applications in the field of radiation physics.

_**Institutional Support Activities**_

IRMM's support activities were mainly related to Nuclear Safeguards at the request of DG I (External
Relations), for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and DG XVII (Energy, Euratom Safeguards
Directorate). But numerous non-nuclear certified reference materials were also prepared for other DGs.
The following activities highlight work carried out as institutional support to other Directorates General:
Work on dried nitrate or metallic spike material was continued, to improve safety at large processing
plants, and uranium and plutonium isotopic reference materials were prepared on behalf of DG I for
IAEA. Low concentrations implied meticulous chemical work in IRMM's ultraclean chemical laboratory.
IRMM provided DG XVII (Energy) with solutions for detector calibration needed in non-destructive
assays of uranium and plutonium.
Certified reference materials of foodstuffs were prepared for DG III (Industry) and DG VI (Agriculture),
for quality control to assist enforcement of European legislation. For DG VI, new activities were
initiated on selenium speciation. Cosmetics analyses and a product safety data bank were under
further development for DG XXIV (Consumer Policy).

**B. Competitive Activities**

_**Shared-Cost**_ _**Actions**_ deal with:

- the preparation and certification of a set of organic and inorganic reference materials for the
measurement of rare earth elements;

- the preparation and certification of a sludge reference material for the measurement of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDD) and polychloro-dibenzofurans (PCDF) contaminations;

- the preparation and characterisation of catalytic converters with respect to platinum, rhenium, zirconium
and cerium;

 - the preparation of bronze reference materials for corrosion studies on bronze antiquities.

_**Competitive Support**_ _**Activities**_

A contract was concluded via DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of
Research) with an SME (Small and Medium Enterprise) aiming at the validation of a 13C isotopic
measurement method which can be applied to the diagnosis of stomach diseases by a non-intrusive
inexpensive technique based on the isotopic measurement of exhaled breath.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**28**

_**Research**_ _**under**_ _**Contract**_

IRMM services and reference materials are also available on a commercial basis. As IRMM now manages
the BCR's reference materials, these are also being made commercially available for non-nuclear
applications.

_TRACEA&IUTY_ _AND ACCREDITATION_
_IRMM_ _signed_ _co-operation_ _agreements with several_ _European Standards_ _Laboratories to ensure that_
_chemical measurements at these national_ _standards_ _institutes can be made traceable to the_ _international_
_standard_ _(Si)_ _system (with reference to the Avogadro_ _Constant measurements_ _at_ _IRMM)._
_in this_ _context,_ _the European_ _Co-operation_ _for_ _Accreditation of_ _Laboratories (EAL) has requested the JRC_
_to provide Reference Measurements through IRMM's_ _International_ _Measurement Evaluation Programme_
_(IMEP),_ _This gives an idea_ _of_ _the true measurement_ _abiïlties_ _of interested_ _laboratories,_ _by_ _comparing_ _their_
_results on blind_ _sampies_ _against_ _values_ _which are traceable to the St_ _system,_ _the_ _internationally_ _agreed_
_system of Quantities and Units under the convention of the_ _Metre*_ _EAL considered the satisfactory_
_performance of_ _the_ _IRMM_ _programme as an_ _asset_ _in the_ _accreditation_ _of_ _measurement_ _laboratories._
_The international Measurement Evaluation_ _Programme (IMEP)_ _is arousing interest in a growing number_ _of_
_laboratories. The most recent tMEP_ _round_ _on trace_ _element_ _in water was concluded. Comparative_
_performance surveys_ _for more_ _than 300_ _laboratories worldwide_ _were_ _evaluated._

The Regular European Interlaboratory Measurement Evaluation Programme (REIMEP), an external quality
control exercise, recently brought together 20 laboratories worldwide in round-robin tests on uranium oxide
powder and two uranyl nitrate solutions.

The supply of nuclear samples to external customers, in particular for reactor neutron dosimetry, was
continued. A uranium doped glass reference material for fission track dating of geological samples was
prepared.

**2.2** **THE INSTITUTE FOR TRANSURANIUM ELEMENTS (ITU)**

The safety of actinides in the nuclear fuel cycle continued to be the major institutional contribution of the
Institute to the Framework Programme line Nuclear Fission Safety. Major research areas were basic
actinide research, safety of nuclear fuels, mitigation of long-lived actinides, and spent fuel characterisation.

ITU also provided scientific and technical support for Community policies in the area of nuclear safety and
safeguards, predominantly related to the implementation of on-site laboratories at Sellafield and Cap la
Hague, but also related to nuclear safety in Eastern countries and the Russian Federation. In addition, ITU
continued to carry out contractual work at the request of various customers.

**A. Institutional Activities**

_**Institutional Research**_ _**Activities**_

Basic actinide research is needed to elucidate the electronic structure of actinide elements and point out
their interest for chemistry and solid-state physics. Important results have been obtained in the
understanding of uranium-based heavy-fermion superconductors doped with neptunium and plutonium.
Other themes include the use of pressure to study trends in structural transitions and changes in
resistance at low temperature; the theory of light solid interactions; and the use of neutron and synchrotron
experiments to complement the bulk-property measurements.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

29

In the area of safety of nuclear fuel, porosity distribution and mechanical properties of fuel at very high
bum-up were measured and evaluated. Structural properties of fuel with simulated bum-ups of up to 200
GWd/t were examined and compared with real high burn-up fuel to better understand the rim effect
formation processes. Oxidation and creep measurements on SIMFUEL were carried out, and radiation
damage studies on UO2 yielded for the first time direct visible evidence of tracks of fission fragments in

this material.
The fuel performance code TRANSURANUS was further amended with data from high burn-up fuel. A new
sol-gel installation for the production of actinide-bearing fuels is undergoing final commissioning.

These activities contribute to improving nuclear safety, particularly in phenomena which occur in light water
reactor fuel rods for extended times of operation. Fuel fabrication technologies are also being improved.
This work is addressed to operators of nuclear reactors and fuel fabrication plants, and national and
international authorities in charge of licensing and regulation.

In the area of spent fuel characterisation, the investigation of the oxidation kinetics and corrosion effects of
irradiated U0 2 and MOX fuel was prominent. Leaching tests on U0 2 and on fuel rod segments with pre-set
defects were carried out. The chemical interaction of fuel and cladding was further investigated. Extensive
work to study the leaching of simulated high burn-up fuel was carried out, leading to an explanation for the
buffering behaviour of molybdenum on the oxidation potential of spent fuel. Non-destructive
measurements, based on CdTe detectors, were performed on spent fuel under hot cell conditions. This
work is targeted to characterisation of unprocessed spent fuel and its behaviour under long term storage
conditions, determination of its radiotoxic potential, and investigation of leaching of this waste form under
various realistic conditions. These activities are mainly addressed to reactor operators, the fuel cycle
industry and licensing authorities.

Collaborative work with leading national laboratories takes place mainly in the area of mitigation of longlived actinides and fission products, with particular emphasis on further reduction of the radiotoxicity of
highly active wastes.

Another major task of ITU is the fabrication and characterisation of fuel targets for irradiation experiments
and post-irradiation examination, the results being compared with theoretical predictions. New extraction
processes for the effective separation of long-lived actinides are tested under realistic conditions.

_**A NEW**_ _**MICRO**_ _**X^RAY**_ _**DIFFRACTION TECHNIQUE**_ _**FOR THE**_ _**CHARACTERISATION**_ _**OF**_ _**IRRADIATED**_

_**FUELS**_
_New methods of material characterisation of_ _Irradiated_ _fuels_ _am_ _required for the investigation of the_
_microstructural_ _changes occurring in the fuel at very_ _high_ _bum-up,_ _A_ _microindentation_ _study_ _concerning_
_the mechanical properties of high_ _burn-up_ _fuel was realised_ _In_ _collaboration with the nuclear_ _industry,_ _in_
_order to demonstrate that the fracture toughness of the dm material increases considerably with the_
_accumulated_ _bum*up,_ _mainly as_ a _consequence of the grain size reduction taking place in this region. A_
_new programme for the characterisation of the lattice structure variations of high_ _bum-up_ _fuel was_
_launched, and_ _a_ _new_ _micro-X-ray_ _diffraction system for powder_ _dlffractometry_ _was developed with a_
_Qoliimation of the_ _incident_ _beam_ _down to a dimension of_ _3X0.01_ _mm,_ _allowing_ _the acquisition of_ _diffraction_
_spectra of irradiated_ _fuel_ _samples at intervals as small as_ _20-30_ _micrometers in the radiai_ _direction._ _With_
_this_ _system,_ _the_ _structurai characterisation_ _of different nuclear and_ _non-nuclear_ _thin interface_ _materials_ _will_
_also be possible, such as for instance those appearing in_ _fight_ _water reactor fuel under severe accident_
_conditions._

In 1996, a new fabrication procedure based on the infiltration of radioactive materials (INRAM) into
matrices was developed, tested and successfully applied to the fabrication of americium-containing
incineration targets, within the EFTTRA irradiation programme (Experimental Feasibility of Targets for
Transmutation).

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

30

The initial layout of the minor actinide laboratory was modified, and the purchase of major components
initiated. Actinides were separated from irradiated fuel on a 100 g scale, including a final separation step
for lanthanides. Radiation damage and basic physical property studies were performed on different inert
matrices.

In the area of safeguards R & D, the Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (SIMS) for the measurement of
particles from swipe samples went into operation, and the first environmental samples were received and
analysed.

_**Institutional**_ _**Support Activities**_

In support of Community policies in the area of Nuclear Safeguards and Fissile Material Management for
DG XVII, major progress was achieved towards the implementation of the on-site laboratory at Sellafield.
Analytical procedures and working procedures in accordance with ISO 9001 were completed. Verification
measurements on samples taken at Cap la Hague and Sellafield continued.
Routine analytical measurements on samples sent to the Institute continued within the framework of
ECSAM (European Commission's Safeguards Analytical Measurements). ITU also continued to receive
and analyse seized nuclear materials. A nuclear material data bank was set up, in close collaboration with
the Bochvar Institute in Moscow.

Test samples with extremely low concentrations of radionuclides and samples from in-field experiments
from environmental monitoring were measured at the request of the IAEA and DG XVII.

**B. Competitive Activities**

_**Shared-Cost**_ _**Actions**_

One out of two proposals submitted to the second Nuclear Fission Safety Programme call for tender was
accepted, on the investigation of corium interactions and thermochemistry. The overall objective of the
project is to provide new data on key properties and characteristics of "prototypic corium" which may be
formed under severe reactor accident conditions inside or outside a reactor core.

_**PIONEERING WORKONALPHA-RAOtQmMVNQTmRAPY**_

_When_ _alpha-emitters are_ _conjugated to_ _tumour-seeking monoclonal_ _antibodies,_ _me_ _resulting product_ _may_
_become a powerful cancer therapeutic_ too/. _Pioneering work on_ _alpba+mdioimmunotharapy_ _for the_
_treatment_ _of metastatic cancers was_ _performed_ _at_ _iTU._ _Three projects_ _are_ _being carried out:_

« _Production_ _of_ _[ m]_ _Ac through Irradiation_ _of_ _[ m]_ _R$_ _in_ _a_ _cyclotron_ _using a_ _proton_ _beam._

- _Use of_ _[ 2t3]_ _&i_ _and_ _*_ _[zs]_ _Ac_ _for_ _kUling multiple myelomlc_ _cancer cells present in human_ _bone_ _marrow,_ _in_
_collaboration_ _with_ _"Ecole_ _des_ _Mines''_ _and_ _INSERM (Institut National de_ _la Santé et de la Recherche_
_Médicale)_ _in Nantes._

_Cllnhal trials_ _done on patients with acute_ _myelog&naous_ _leukemia in the Memorial_ _Shan Ketienng_
_Cancer_ _Center in New_ _York,_ _using_ _[ m]_ _BHmmunotherapy_ _The results of the_ _first_ _treatment of two_
_patients_ _confirm that_ _the drug is behaving_ _In_ _the human_ _body_ _as predicted_ _from_ _the_ _pra-ctinicat_ _data._

_Research_ _**under**_ _Contract_

As in previous years, the work carried out for various customers concerned post-irradiation examination of
irradiated fuel, fabrication and characterisation of fuels for transmutation, and examination of high burn-up
oxide and mixed oxide fuels.

_JRC_ _Annual_ _Report 1996_

31

_Other Competitive Activities_

The following proposals were submitted to the TACIS/PHARE programmes:

Assistance to Hungary, the Czech Republic and Bulgaria, for fighting illicit trafficking of nuclear
material.

Co-operation with MINATOM and Gosatomnadzor in setting up analytical facilities in the Russian
Federation for nuclear material accountancy and control.

Co-operation with the Leningrad Nuclear Power Station to improve the safety of nuclear fuel.

Co-operation with the Czech Republic in the area of fuel modelling to improve the safety of reactor
operation.

**2.3** **THE INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED MATERIALS (IAM)**

IAM performs research on advanced materials. The research activities were carried out within the four
following Framework Programme lines: Industrial Technologies and Materials Technologies, Non-Nuclear
Energy, Nuclear Fission Safety, and Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion.

IAM developped in 1996 some valuable contributions to science and technology, with the concept of a new
pressure vessel for the petro-refinery industry, a fibre tow transport system for continuous coating of
endless fibres, and a chemical vapour deposition process, all of them to the benefit of European industry.
IAM also initiated new activities on the development of new production techniques for medical
radioisotopes, which will improve health care for European consumers.

1996 was also the first year of the new HFR (High Flux Reactor) supplementary programme for the
European Atomic Energy Community (1996-1999). Besides traditional work for nuclear R&D and Industry,
a large part of the HFR's activities was dedicated to medical applications, through research on materials
under irradiation and on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT), a new therapy for brain cancer tumours.
The production of medical radioisotopes on a commercial basis will continue and increase.

A. Institutional Activities

_Institutional Research Activities_

The _Industrial_ _Technologies_ _and Materials Technologies_ programme carried out at IAM covers four main
topics: advanced materials and standards for industrial innovation, surface engineering for improved
properties and for new industrial applications, recycling and materials eco-technology, and non-destructive
evaluation, testing and inspection of industrial structural components.

The _Non-Nuclear Energy_ programme consists of two main research lines: photovoltaic energy and
materials for clean technologies. The first mainly deals with standardisation of photovoltaic devices, while
the second concentrates on new catalytic car exhaust systems.

The _Nuclear Fission Safety_ programme includes a contribution from IAM in the form of the European
Networks on component ageing, inspection techniques and structural integrity. These Networks are
particularly focused on the ageing of materials used in nuclear reactors.

The _Controlled_ _Thermonuclear_ _Fusion_ programme at IAM is mainly carried out within three activity lines:
fluid separation and structural analysis, fusion materials, and tritium-materials interaction.

JRC _Annual Report 1996_

32

_**TRANSMUTATION STUDIES**_
_The_ _first irradiation_ _experiment at_ _tha HFR_ _on Technetium_ _transmutation_ _has been_ _successful terminated_
_at a_ _transmutation_ _rate of_ _approx,_ _6,6%._ _The_ _Irradiated_ _experiment has been_ _investigated at_ _the Fatten hot_
_celts of the EON_ _(Energmndartoek Cantrum_ _Nedertand),_ _A_ _haw_ _sample_ _has b$en_ _prepared from the_
_irradiated_ _material for_ _continuation_ _of the_ _Irradiation In_ _a second phase. The_ _irradiation with_ _the second_
_sample is_ _in_ _progress, and_ _wHfbo_ _pursued_ _to_ _a_ _transmutation rate_ _of 20%._
_Another_ _irradiation_ _experiment on the transmutation of_ _Atmricium_ _in an inert matrix has been started_
_successfully_ _during_ _the_ _third quarter_ _of_ _1$$$_ _at the_ _High Flux Raactor_ _(HFR)._ _The_ _test_ _originates_ _from the_
_Nuclear Fission_ _Safety Programme_ _of_ _the European_ _Commission,_ _and is performed by the_ _experimental_
_Feasibility_ _of_ _T&rgats_ _and_ _TrawmMatiw_ _{EFFTRA)_ _gmtps*_ _tat&ratorfes_ _and_ _institutes._ _The target_ _sample_
_consists of_ _1t9_ _weight %_ _AmO_ _z_ _In m_ _inert_ _matrix._ _It_ _was produced by the_ _Institute_ _of_ _Transuranium_
_Elements_ _(ITU)_ _by a novel technique_ _which_ _is subject_ & _&_ _paient The_ _imdtatidn wilt_ _fast for_ _approx._ _400_
_full_ _power days and yield an_ _actinide bwnup of>38%<_

The relevance of IAM research activities for industry can be illustrated by the following examples, for each
of which a patent proposal has been issued.

- Firstly, the concept of a new pressure vessel for the petro-refinery industry, designed to avoid hydrogen
attack of the vessel walls. This concept has now reached the stage of a demonstration project (financed
by DG XIII - Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of Research, in the framework
of the valorisation activity) and will provide increased vessel life, enhanced safety for workers, and
decreased wall thickness, as compared to current designs.

- The second example is a fibre tow transport system for continuous coating of endless fibres. The
innovative fibre tow transport system simplifies enormously the fibre processing steps involved in the
fabrication of ceramic matrix composites by performing, in a single stage, cycling and recycling
operations for sequential fibre treatment.

- The third example is a chemical vapour deposition process for the production of 3-dimensional shaped
microstructural coatings for functional applications, which combine resistance to wear and selflubrication, two usually incompatible properties.

_**Institutional**_ _**Support**_ _**Activities**_

IAM provided support to DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) through the European
Networks AMES (Ageing Materials Evaluation and Studies), ENIQ (European Network for inspection
Validation, and NESC (Network for Evaluation of Steel components); and to DG XVII (Energy) within the
framework of Nuclear Safety and Safeguards. For DG XI, strong assistance was given to the working
group on codes and standards and to action groups on inspection and manufacturing, fracture mechanics,
and materials. For DG XVII, participation and support were provided to the forum ENDEF (European NonDestructive Evaluation Forum) and its interaction with Russian and Czech experts.

_THIN_ _LAYER_ _ACTIVATION ELECTROCHEMICAL TE$T_ _FACILITY_
_A new experimental_ _facility_ _at_ _IAM,_ _using the innovative_ _Thin_ _Layer_ _A"_ _\Mion (TLA}_ _method,_ _will_ _make it_
_possible to study_ _metal_ _surface_ _degradation_ _processes,_ _such as_ _corrc 'Jen_ _and wear by_ _using_ _radiotracers._
_This_ _applies,_ _in_ _particular_ _to heavy metal release due to_ _corrost.i_ _in,_ _e.g>,_ _the food processing and_
_pharmaceutical industries_ _and to_ _biomatmat applications_ _in_ _life sck;:$a_ _studies._ _Very_ _low_ _cone mirations_
_can be_ _monitored In_ _this way thanks_ _to_ _a gamma_ _spectrometry_ _facility._

**±é±t±u0jBMie*a£**

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

33

1996 also saw the launching, at IAM, of a new project dealing with Positron Emission Tomography, which
should establish a European Network; this Network will host medical staff from all over Europe at Ispra,
where new diagnostic and therapeutic techniques will be developed, which they can afterwards transfer to
their own home institutions.

**B. Competitive Activities**

_**Shared-Cost Actions**_

IAM participated in 1996 in proposals for Shared-Cost Actions. The total number of proposals was
comparable to last year's with, however, a better distributed portfolio across the different shared-cost
programmes. This reflects the new structure of the Institute, in particular the new units on structural
materials and tritium technology and energy system testing.

_**Competitive**_ _**Support for**_ _**Community Policies**_

Eight proposals to the Valorisation Programme of DG XIII were successful : they cover the following
themes:

- life sciences, with a project on medical image processing software;

- materials science, with a project on crack detection by camera;

- structural integrity, with a project on improving the resistance of reservoirs to hydrogen attack;

- software development for corrosion test management;

- tritium technology, with a project on tritium removal from water;

- composite processing technology, with a project on brake disks.

_**Research**_ _**under Contract**_

New contracts signed in 1996 deal with Personal Computer based high temperature materials data base
software, non-destructive evaluation techniques, coatings technologies, and corrosion studies on materials
for power generation.

_**Other**_ _**Competitive**_ _**Activities**_

IAM continued to be involved in projects related to TACIS and PHARE activities, at a level comparable to
the previous year. Among these, one contract was signed with a major nuclear company to perform work
on in-service inspection of primary circuit components.

**2.4** **THE INSTITUTE FOR SYSTEMS, INFORMATICS AND SAFETY (ISIS)**

ISIS is the JRC's centre of expertise in the science and technology of safety management, the multidisciplinary analysis of industrial, socio-technical and environmental systems, and the innovative
application of information technology.

It contributed in 1996 to the Framework Programme lines Environment and Climate, Non-Nuclear Energy,
Nuclear Fission Safety, Controlled Thermonuclear Fusion, and Measurements and Testing. Work at ISIS
focused on several fields, including nuclear safety and safeguarding of nuclear materials, industrial and
transport safety, seismic protection of buildings and civil engineering works, natural resource and
environmental management, support to antifraud measures, and last but not least, the preservation of
cultural heritage and architecture.

In addition, ISIS provided scientific and technical support for Community policies in the fields of:
safeguards, for DG I (External Relations) and DG XVII (Energy); safety and licensing issues in the
nuclear, chemical and biotechnology industries, for DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

34

Protection); information technology, for DG III (Industry); and fraud control, for DG VI (Agriculture) in
particular, tagging for Identification of animals and the Commission antifraud service (UCLAF).

**A. Institutional Activities**

_**Institutional Research**_ _**Activities**_

ISIS research work on safeguards prepared to meet future demands from inspectorates and plant
operators:

 - In the field of non-destructive techniques, an analytical dead time correction algorithm for passive
neutron detection was developed, and a high efficiency passive neutron counter was constructed, with
a relatively low dead time.

- The TAME (Tank Measurement) facility is now operational, and several tank calibration exercises have
been conducted.

- The ultrasonic identification of seals is being investigated, especially for sealing containers of irradiated
and non-irradiated fuel assemblies or powders in storage areas.

- The TEMPEST laboratory has been upgraded to meet increased requests for instrument testing.

As to surveillance systems and mobile robotics technology, studies are being conducted on the use of
laser range finders for real time localisation of a mobile robot.

In the area of nuclear safety, experiments were aimed at better understanding the progression of severe
accidents and at improving the codes used to analyse how best to mitigate the consequences.
The FARO (Fuel melting and Release Oven) and KROTOS facilities at Ispra were used to carry out
experiments where molten mixtures of uranium dioxide and zirconium dioxide are dropped into water in
order to observe such phenomena as mixing, jet break-up, quenching, and the risk of explosion with
representative materials.

The European Laboratory for Structural Assessment (ELSA) continued to provide a unique test facility for
applying pseudodynamic test methods in order to check the seismic resistance of structures, especially
bridges.

_**AEROSOL**_ _**TRANSPORT**_ _**PHENOMENA**_
_At_ _present,_ _STORM (Simplified Tests on_ _Resuspenslon_ _Mechanisms) is the most_ _représentative_ _facility in_
_Europe_ _tot_ _investigating aerosol transport phenomena in reactor coolant circuits. Eight_ _tests on_ _the_
_deposition and_ _resuspensbn_ _of solid tin dioxide particles were successfully performed_ _ir-19&&_ _The aim is_
_to_ _simulate_ _tha_ _transport_ _Of aarosol_ _particles through the_ _pipawork_ _Of a_ _nuol^r_ _reactor wider reactor_
_conditions._
_An unexpectad_ _finding_ _was the_ _importance of_ _the_ _tharmophoresis m&ch&iîsm_ _during_ _déposition._
_International interest was demonstrated by a_ _wide_ _participation at the two meetings of_ _t\&_ _Scientific_
_Committee and by the agreement of_ _fiva_ _partners_ _(ENEL_ _4_ _Italy_ _(_ _C$N,_ _Spain,_ _CtEMAT,_ _Spain,_ _Ris#,_
_Denmark,_ _andPSf,_ _Swltzertand}_ _to provide_ _manpower for_ _test preparation and_ _analysis,_

A new precision impact testing method for improving car safety was designed and developed: the use of a
new stress wave transducer in the Large Dynamic Testing Facility (LDTF) allows load, displacement and
energy flow to be measured in any part of a vehicle body, so that numerical models of vehicles can be
calibrated and validated.

ISIS continued to provide support for Centre for Earth Observation (CEO) projects to promote the use of
satellite-based earth observation data. Two systems, the European Wide Service Exchange (EWSE), and
the G7-ENRM (Environmental and Natural Resources Monitoring) were designed and implemented. These
systems allow organisations to publicize their earth observations on the Internet without having their own
Web server.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

35

_**Institutional Support Activities**_

ISIS offered technical support to the Euratom Safeguards Inspectorate and provided the technical means
whereby DG I (External Relations) supported the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) at Vienna.
S/T support was offered to the Safeguards Directorate of DG XVII (Energy) for the implementation of
nuclear safeguards as required by the EURATOM Treaty.

The most significant activities were the following:

- A remote monitoring link between Ispra and Luxembourg through an ISDN (Integrated Services Digital
Network) connection, using commercial equipment.

- An unattended measurement station for the determination of [ 235] U in LWR (Light Water Reactor) fuel
assemblies.

- The delivery of sealing bolts to be installed in a spent fuel storage pond.

- An important increase of the environmental testing of safeguards equipment.

- Extensive field tests on a new surveillance system of a Pu storage area based on heat flow meters.

- Training courses for EURATOM inspectors on non-destructive assay techniques and mass and volume
measurements of liquids in large tanks.

S/T support was provided to IAEA for its technical activities in the framework of the Non-Proliferation
Treaty and the corresponding Safeguards Agreements with the EC Member States. The activities are
mainly oriented to the development, testing or adaptation of methods and instruments and to inspector
training:

- Environmental testing of safeguards equipment, under thermally, mechanically and electromagnetically
induced stresses.

- Several demonstrations on sealing equipment of Pu 02 transport containers, sealing bolts for spent fuel
multielement bottles, and special transport and storage casks.

 - Instruments and software for process monitoring for mass and volume determination in large tanks of
bulk handling facilities, tested by IAEA in selected facilities.

- A spent fuel monitor, which is now being studied for the rapid verification of U or Pu in containers.

- Training courses for IAEA inspectors on mass/volume determination of liquids in large tanks and the
measurement of spent fuel, using a JRC-developed underwater gamma measurement system.

_**ANIMAL**_ _**mENtmCAflON**_ |
_The antifraud policy of DG_ _VI_ _(Agriculture)_ _Is_ _increasingly based on the technical verification by national_ j
_and EC inspectors_ _of the declarations maoe_ _by farmers_ £ _associations of_ _the presence and_ _movements_ _of_
_their livestock and their alimentary_ _products,_ _New EC regulations are being defined in these areas,_ _h_ j
_particular for the_ _electronic ictantiffcatfoh_ _of cattle and_ _sheep*_ _\_
_The_ _JRC is carrying out the first pilot project on the_ _electronic Identification ofseveraf_ _thousand of_ _animais,_ _in collaboration with eight European_ _tabO_ _[r]_ _0lorie$_ _and organisations. tSt$ is developing technical_ .
_verification_ _systems,_ _for the testing of equipment performance and for the use_ _St evaluation_ _of_ _in-Held_
_measurement results. The electronic_ _identifiers,_ _hand-held and static reading devices of_ sev £••«?/
_commercial_ _companies_ _have been extensively tested_ _In_ _the TEMPEST_ _laboratory_ _according to_ _a_ mc_defined_ _protocol based on_ _international_ _standards._
_Moreover, a targe scale project (called_ _IDEA)_ _on the electronic identification by_ _ear+tegs,_ _injectable_
_transponders or_ _bolus-transponders_ _of one million animais_ _(sheep,_ _goat$_ _t_ _cattle)_ _in_ _different_ _EU_ _countries_
_has_ _been_ _presented to Member State_ _authorities._ _The IDEA_ _project_ _Is_ _expected to start_ _In_ _January_ _1997,_

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

36

Methods and instruments for the in-field verification of the volume and density of alimentary oil were
developed. Field tests were conducted in Southern Italy to determine the performance of the dip tube
technique and to evaluate its sensitivity to fraud scenarios.

ISIS's support to the Safety of Nuclear Installations Unit, DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil
Protection) involved reviewing technical documents submitted to the Nuclear Regulators' Working Group
and the Reactor Safety Group. Earthquake catalogues of areas from the former Soviet Union and Eastern
Bloc countries were added to the European Seismic Catalogue.

The Major Accident Hazards Bureau acts on behalf of DG XI to implement the Seveso Directive on
industrial hazards by operating the Major Accidents Reporting System (MARS) and the Community
Documentation Centre on Industrial Risk.

**B. Competitive Activities**

_**Shared-Cost Actions**_

ISIS won and carried out 40 shared-cost action projects, including 19 additional proposals accepted in
1996, within the Nuclear Fission Safety, Environment and Climate, BRITE, ESPRIT, Copernicus, Joule,
and INNOVATION programmes, including:

- In the RESOLV Project, a prototype of an Environment Sensor for Telepresence (EST) was
implemented, together with the development of algorithms for three dimensional reconstruction.

- In the Investigation of Core Degradation Project, the swelling of irradiated fuel was modelled.

- The LDTF facility is being used to determine how a reactor pressure vessel can cope with fast impacts
following an internal explosion.

- The use of Shape Memory Alloys as a strengthening against seismic shocks is being studied in the
ELSA laboratory and in the photonics laboratory.

 - Expertise on human factors is being applied to aircraft maintenance and dispatch.

- Computational fluid dynamics tools are being further developed in collaboration with industrial partners.

_**Competitive**_ _**Support for**_ _**Community Policies**_ **-** _**Participation**_ _**in Other**_ _**Community Programmes**_

Work on fraud control included studies on behalf of the Commission's fraud control body, UCLAF. A report
was prepared correlating particular incidences of fraud with country profiles and monetary impacts. A
feasibility study of an information system for UCLAF was also completed.

ELSA obtained a contract from DG III (Industry), to improve Eurocode 8, the new European design code
for earthquake resistant structures. This required tests on a full-scale three-storey composite (steel and
concrete) structure, as well as on a three-storey reinforced concrete frame with irregular masonry infills. A
project on the multi-site application of virtual reality was also accepted.

The European Commission, through the TACIS programme, is helping the Russian Federation in its effort
to improve its nuclear material accountancy and control. A major project is the creation of the Safeguards
Methodological and Training Centre (SMTC), at the Institute of Physics and Power Engineering (IPPE) at
Obninsk, to help implement new concepts of nuclear materials management. The JRC has been given the
task of designing and implementing the new Centre, in cooperation with IPPE.
The Centre will train plant operators, as well as "domestic" inspectors, in upgraded approaches to the
accounting and safeguarding of fissile materials. It will also be a very important forum and meeting point for
plant operators and inspectors. The existing premises, already licensed for the use of nuclear materials (U,
Pu), are now being equipped with instrumentation for hands-on training. The first Russian-JRC course was
held in July 1998 at _IPPE,_ and two seminars were organised at ispra vor the training of future training staff.

ISIS signed a contract with DG X! to check oaioi^uons for nuclear reactor accident ssquencs^ submitted
by a number of organisations

_JRC Annual Report_ _1996_

37

Work on environmental pressure and environmental impact was done for DG XI (impact studies of
installations for the treatment and disposal of toxic and dangerous waste in the European Union) and the
European Environment Agency (EEA), (Environmental pressure indicator models).

It is an important part of ISIS's mission to transfer technology developed at Ispra to industry. To do so, the
institute bids for funding from DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information Market and Exploitation of
Research). In 1996 the following ten spin-off projects were supported:

Comparative testing of an opto-thermal device.

Differential thermal and pressure monitoring. Thermal detection systems.

Exploitation of the batch chemical reactor relief line simulator package RELIEF.

Industrialisation of advanced adaptive wavelets and fractal compression techniques .

Electronic speckle pattern interferometry (ESPI) based device for deformation measurement and
mechanical characterisation of building materials.

Interferometric fibre optic sensor for structural real time strain monitoring and damage detection.

Exploitation of the STARS industrial reliability software.

Implementation of a commercial generalised software control system for industrial robots.

An interactive mobile surveillance system.

A graphical user interface for the gas dispersion and combustion code REACFLOW.

_**Research**_ _**under**_ _**Contract**_

Three JRC institutes (ISIS, SAI and El) are working together with 79 departments from the Universities of
Catania, Messina and Palermo on a vast regional development plan for Sicily. Major achievements
included the use of optical inspection methods, three-dimensional structural analyses and tests in ELSA to
understand how the Geraci Palace in Palermo can best be protected against earthquakes.
New projects have been launched on behalf of the Basilicata region and the Italian Ministry of the
Environment. ISIS's work concentrated mainly on water resources, cultural heritage, and emergency
management following the release of dangerous chemicals.

Moreover, ISIS has received the following commercial contracts:

- A series of tests in ELSA for the Italian association of precast concrete structures producers.

- Seismic tests in ELSA on a replica of the Sao Vicente de Fora monastery in Portugal.

- An IAEA order for 500 sealing bolts was completed.

- A study of a sealing system for a plutonium oxide transport container was carried out for PNC (Japan).

- A plutonium drum monitoring technique has been licensed by ANTECH (GB) and a SuperPhonid
uranium monitor by British Nuclear Fuels Limited.

- Studies of aircrew training and stress in air traffic control rooms.

- The impact characteristics measurement of advanced automotive high strength steel and aluminium
alloys using LDTF, under contract with the European suppliers.

- A license of the DYLAM-3 Code, developed by JRC-ISIS for dynamic reliability analysis, has been sold
for the use of the Ship Research Institute of the Transport Ministry of Japan.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**38**

**C. Exploratory Research**

A levy of 6% of the institutional budget is used to finance exploratory research. Priority was given to 12
projects covering a wide range of subjects including non-linear time series analysis, brain-actuated control
systems for the disabled, voice to text conversion, interactive multimedia for teaching, symbolic modeling
of vehicles, regional flood vulnerability, remote measurement of water levels in environmentally sensitive
areas, innovative accelerator driven nuclear reactors, modelling particle gas flows, smart materials,
seismic monitoring, and stress-wave release from fracturing rocks.

**2.5** **THE ENVIRONMENT INSTITUTE** **(El)**

The Environment Institute contributed to the Framework Programme lines, Environment and Climate, and
Life Sciences and Technologies, complemented by several competitive actions addressing other
programmes such as Nuclear Fission Safety, and Measurements and Testing.
An important part of El activities was a direct support for European Union sectoral policies, in fields as
varied as environment, radio-protection and agriculture, with a particular emphasis on food and drug
consumer protection.
The Institute Director heads the Environment-Water Task Force established at the initiative of the
Commission and intended to contribute to a European strategy for the sustainable management and
rational use of water.

**A.** **Institutional** **Activities**

The balance between research and direct support activities (30% and 70% respectively) allows the
institute to provide effective support while maintaining its scientific competence, as demonstrated by its
presence in various international research programmes such as: EUREKA/EUROTRAC, which
investigates the impact of human activities on tropospheric chemistry; IGBP/IGAC (International
Geosphere Biosphere Programme/ International Global Atmospheric Chemistry); WMO/GAW (World
Meteorological Organisation/ Global Atmospheric Watch).

_Institutional Research Activities_

Global Change studies deal with research linked to the composition of the atmosphere, the focus being on
tropospheric ozone and the role of aerosols in climate regulation.

#### _AEROSOL AN0 cumm_

_Atmospheric aerosols are believed to have an important_ _effect_ _art the Earth's radiative balance. The_
_aerosols and_ _ctimata_ _project aims at_ _uhd&rmnding_ _both_ _m_ _key_ _chemical_ _and physical processes_
_governing the formation of atmospheric aerosols, and the_ _rote_ _of anthropogenic precursors in these_
_processes,_ _in_ _ordar_ _to better_ _evaluate tha_ _scale of radiative_ _affects,_ _this_ _project combines field_ _work,_
_laboratory_ _studies and modelling_ _activities,_ _In_ _collaboration with European and_ _irttarmtionai_ _research_

_Th._ _study of_ _the dynamics_ _of sulfate_ _cmosots,_ _and the development of models_ _simulating_ _the_ _evolution_ _of_
_the_ _siTe distributions of_ _these_ _zerQsots_ _on_ a _global_ _$caf$_ _f_ _is the major aspect_ _of_ _the_ _aerosols $nd climate_
_project_

_An advanced gtob.%1_ _transport_ _moditf (TM2)_ _and_ _a_ _simplified aerosol dynamics model_ _(M3)_ _war*_
_developed*_ _and_ _M3_ _was implemented_ _m W&_ _An_ _importent_ _first step towards assessing the effect of_
_anthropogenic aerosols_ _on_ _the_ _fadi&Pve_ _properties of_ _Clouds_ _on a_ _global sc$t$_ _has been_ _achieved._ _In_
_addition, work has been initiated to_ _descnoe_ _the mixing of_ _sulfate,_ _black_ _carbort_ _T_ _desert dust_ _and seasalt_
_aerosols_ _in_ _TM2>_

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

39

The Biogenic Emission in the Mediterranean Area (BEMA) project (partially funded by the EC Environment
& Climate programme 1994-98) was developed by El in collaboration with 17 European laboratories. Its
main goal was to analyse the type and amount of emissions from Mediterranean vegetation and to
understand their role in atmospheric chemistry and ozone formation. In preparation for the second phase
(1996-97), the objective of which is to scale up biogenic emissions to regional levels and to evaluate their
ozone forming potential, El structured its work at three levels: the parameterisation of vegetation
emissions, the GIS-based scaling of experimental data, the chemical modelling of the ozone forming
potential of biogenic emissions.

The IGAC's Aerosol Characterisation Experiment (ACE-2) project, a major data acquisition campaign by
land stations, ships and aeroplanes, is due to take place in 1997.
El plays an international co-ordinating role in both the BEMA and ACE-2 projects.
The novel aspects of the emission process at the leaf and canopy levels identified during the 1993-96
campaigns in Italy, France and Spain were: the variability of biogenic emissions (diurnal, seasonal, intraspecies, inter-species) and the resulting limitations on algorithms now used for scaling-up; the reactivity of
emitted compounds, related sampling problems, and the determination of emission fluxes.

.i^j^i'i^l'IftAiyiiWAijJitV^.BiBWHff

_**EUROPEAN AUTO-OIL STWY**_

_**The**_ _**drat Buropoan Auto~Oit**_ _**study**_ _**w$$ oomptoteti**_ _**in**_ _**1**_ **$86** _**within m$ Hmowork**_ _**of**_ _**a co-operative**_
_**programme between the**_ _**European Commission**_ **(#6** _**tft**_ _**t**_ **0 0** _**Xl)**_ _**t**_ _**the**_ _**European automobfb**_ **&** **off** _**industries,**_
_**and the environment**_ _**mfâufa It**_ _**was**_ _**<fa$f$n$d**_ _**to**_ _**idontlfy m bast tmmm**_ _**to introduoo**_ _**from the**_ _**y&ar**_
_**2000**_ _**on**_ _**f**_ _**and**_ _**to détermine**_ _**the most**_ _**cost^eïïeciive means**_ _**of**_ _**reaching alr<t\Mty**_ _**objectives in**_ _**&te**_ _**year**_
_**2010.**_ _**Different**_ _**predictive**_ _**models,**_ _**based on**_ _**oxistmg air quality obfactiv&s**_ _**and on the**_ _**new**_ _**WoM Health**_
_**Organisation**_ _**air quality guidelines for**_ _**Burope,**_ _**were used for**_ _**estimating**_ _**emission reductions for**_ _**urban**_
_**pollutants in soven repmentativa cHM**_ _**(Athens,**_ _**Ootogm**_ _**4**_ _**the**_ _**Hagmo,**_ _**London,**_ _**Lyom**_ _**t**_ _**Madrid**_ _**and**_ _**man).**_
_**Emissions are expected to decline**_ _**significantly**_ _**as**_ _**a**_ _**result of**_ _**measures**_ _**already agreed**_ _**in all**_ _**seven**_ _**cities.**_
_**Benzene and**_ _**carbon**_ _**monoxide**_ _**oormntmtiM***_ _**wfflprob&bly b& kotow**_ _**tercet values.**_ _**For nfàoçon**_ _**dioxide,**_
_**however, the**_ _**mom**_ _**stringent target**_ _**value**_ _**may**_ _**stilt**_ _**be**_ _**exceeded,**_ _**Forozorw**_ _**f**_ _**a**_ _**regional**_ _**model**_ _**was**_ _**used**_ _**for**_
_**a$$e$$in# th0 imp&ot ofpmrM**_ _**poHol&s**_ _**on**_ _**ooncon^atkm *cro$&**_ _**Bvrope.**_ _**Mional**_ _**0mi$$ion***_ _**of ozone**_
_**precursors am predicted to be reduced by**_ **#6 &** _**40 per cmt**_ _**over**_ _**the**_ _**period**_ _**IQQùîo 2Qi&**_

#### **L**

'Vi<<i»'iffmiMV<muivrui;iN,^

For aquatic systems, the institute was particularly active in the study of the "red tides" in the
Mediterranean sea (MITO - Microphyte Toxins project) and in a variety of water management, water
quality and recovery projects such as AMAL - Advanced Mobile Analytical Laboratory, AQUACON Analytical Quality Control and SALMON - Satellite Remote Sensing for Lake Monitoring.

Within the Life Sciences and Technologies programme, research was carried out on trace metals in
human tissues (TERVIHT - Trace-Element Reference Values in Human Tissues, TRACY - a database on
toxic metals in human tissues and fluids, and METOX - Metal Toxicity in humans, projects).

_**Institutional**_ _**Support Activities**_

The Environment Institute was involved in requests from DG XI (Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil
Protection), for the preparation and implementation of directives on atmospheric pollution, from DG III
(Industry), DG VI (Agriculture), DG XXI (Customs and Indirect Taxation), and DG XXIV (Consumer
Policy). These activities concerned food and drug/consumer protection, control of fraud, and the
harmonisation of chemical and microbiological analytical methods concerning food, animal feed,
cosmetics, and chemicals.

The European Office for Wine, Alcohol and Spirit Drinks (BEVABS) and a telematic and informatic center
devoted to medicinal products - ETOMEP (European Technical Office for Medicinal Products) were
especially active in support activities for the European Agency for the Evaluation of Medicinal Products
(EMEA).

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**40**

El carried out work on Radioactivity Environmental Monitoring (REM), established after the Chernobyl
accident. REM, ERLAP (European Reference Laboratory for Air Pollution) and the radioactivity release
early warning system ECURIE (European Community Urgent Radiological Information Exchange) operate
in support of DG XI. ERLAP organised, in October 1996, a workshop on Quality Assurance and
Accreditation in the field of air quality, with the participation of air pollution laboratories in the Member
States.

The principles and the basic rules of functioning of the Alpine observatory were approved by the
Conference of the Ministers of the Environment for the Alpine Convention. The JRC is the coordination
body for the Alpine observatory. In 1996, El was involved in **a** series of pilot projects, such as an
information system on alpine research, and the production of a set of socio-demographic indicators.

In the field of institutional support to EC policies, the largest effort concerns chemicals, for DG XI. The
European Chemicals Bureau (ECB) has five working groups which tackle different aspects of quality
control, risk assessment, and testing methods, in order to implement EC directives on dangerous
substances, import export, and existing chemicals.

An important activity in the field of life sciences is that of the European Centre for the Validation of
Alternative Test Methods (ECVAM), which aims to replace or reduce the use of animals in laboratory
studies. The Centre also promotes a dialogue between legislators, industries, biomedical scientists,
consumer organisations, and animal welfare groups, for the development, validation and international
recognition of alternative test methods. A large exercise of validation was started in 1996 on alternative
methods for testing skin corrosivity; it should be completed by mid 1997.

**B. Competitive Activities**

_**Shared-Cost**_ _**Actions and other**_ _**Competitive**_ _**Activities**_

The Food and Drug/Consumer protection unit was active in the following shared-cost actions:

- Use of isotopic techniques for food analysis [network within the Measurements and Testing
programme].

- Reference materials for authenticity proof of food and beverages.

- Biomarker analysis (FAIR programme of DG XII).

- Validation of analytical methods of determining the content of aflatoxins, ochratoxin and patulin in
foodstuffs of vegetable origin.

- Development and intercomparison of improved methods for the determination of fat soluble vitamins in
food by replacing hazardous organic solvents with supercritically cold carbon dioxide.

Competitive support to DG III (Industry), on the evaluation of analytical methods used to assess
compliance with foodstuffs legislation on chocolate, honey, infant formulae, and intense sweeteners, and
to DG XXI, for the detection of other cereals in glucose derived from maize, was also provided.

Other Shared-Cost Actions awarded in 1996 within the Environment and Climate Programme were:

- The SALMON Project (Satellite Remote Sensing for Lake Monitoring);

- The EROS 21 Project on the interactions between the Danube, Dnestr and Dnjepr rivers and the northwestern Black Sea;

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

41

- The OMEX Project, an integrated study of the physics, chemistry and biology of the continental shelf,
and the Cuu Long project on the Mekong delta;

- The FAME action (Fate and activity modelling of environmental pollutants using structure-activity
relationships).

Other important income sources were competitive El participation in EC structural funds projects, and the
competitive support to EMEA and the pharmaceutical industry. In the field of consumer protection, the El
provided competitive support in the field of food and drug analysis.
The El also carried out research work under contract for the pharmaceutical industry and regional
authorities. An important contract was signed with the Italian Ministry of Agriculture on forest degradation.

**2.6** **THE SPACE APPLICATIONS INSTITUTE (SAI)**

The Space Applications Institute (SAI) is devoted to research and applications development using space
systems. Formerly called the Institute for Remote Sensing Applications, SAI has expanded its applications
base beyond earth observation to include satellite telecommunications and navigation systems in a
synergy with remote sensing systems.
Applications development has continued to focus on the framework programme line Environment and
Climate, with actions such as the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO), natural resource monitoring, and
advanced techniques for earth observation.
The Institute continued to provide customer DG with important scientific support for the collection of
agricultural statistics, and expanded these activities to neighbouring countries in Eastern Europe where
environmental impacts were also closely examined.

**A. Institutional Activities**

_**Institutional Research**_ _**Activities**_

The exploitation of earth observation data for the mapping of land cover and land degradation in Europe
and in the world remained one of SAI's important R&D fields.

SAI continued to provide support for the Centre for Earth Observation (CEO), the overall objectives of
which are to develop operational uses of earth observation data from space in support of customers and to
stimulate EO service providers to provide customers with data and information derived from the data to
meet their needs. Considerable effort has also been invested in several pilot projects such as agricultural
production, European forestry, monitoring of European coastal zones, and creation of an atlas of major
European urban areas, demonstrating the potential operational use of information derived from EO data.

Other CEO initiatives focused on education and training, and on the determination of potential customers'
information requirements in areas such as tourism, civil engineering, insurance, local government, and
environmental protection.

The European Goniometer was used to study the angular reflectance of vegetation: several hypotheses
were tested, especially in a series of experiments simulating conditions typical of sub-arctic landscapes.
This will support the development of a new algorithm and new applications. The Geophysical Processor
has been further improved. Key applications are the measurement of forest heights, an improved
discrimination of land use areas and the monitoring of landslide areas.

Applications based on data from new ocean colour sensors are now being developed at the institute. To
promote the use of new sensors, a European initiative has been developed for European waters, and work
on sensor calibration and validation continues, in full collaboration with international and national space
agencies.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

42

Significant progress was made in the analysis of soil degradation in the Mediterranean region through
advanced spectral analysis. Mapping was also a theme for the FIRS (Forest Information from Remote
Sensing) project: a new initiative, where advanced methods for data and image analysis were applied to
the study of urban areas. Portable satellite data receiving stations were used in Central Africa as a
contribution to atmospheric research programmes on global change. A first wall-to-wall high resolution map
was established, thanks to the European Remote Sensing Satellite ERS-1, for the entire central African
tropical forest, where perpetual cloud cover makes mapping from optical satellite data nearly impossible.
Work within the Environment and Climate research programme also dealt with forest fires, both in terms of
global change and in the context of natural hazards.

An overriding interest in the quality of human life - which drives the SAI's involvement in hazards study was also a major factor behind successful new work on the remote detection of antipersonnel land mines.

A European R&D programme was prepared in support of the development of information and data fusion
systems for humanitarian de-mining.

_**THRBB***_ _**DIMENSIONAL**_ _**APERTURE**_ _**RADAR IMAGE OF**_ _**A**_ _**&MVCE TRBB**_
_A new method of identifying at_ _a_ _distance-_ _various_ _spades_ _of_ _confer_ _trees, thanks to detailed_ _3D_ _radar_
_images, has been developed in 1996 in a_ _joint endeavour_ _of the Buropean Microwave Signature_
_laboratory_ _(EM$L)_ _at_ _$Af,_ _and the Canadian Centra for_ _Remote_ _Sensing_ _(OCRS)._ _This involves a huge_
_number of_ _measurements_ _in the BMSL, and comptex computer modelling to generate from them a final_
_image, This work_ _wm_ _contribute to the Unified Buropean forest information_ _System,_ _by_ _giving_ _the_ _scientific_
_community_ _a_ _tool_ _to critically assess forest_ _models,_

Industrial applications in the European Microwave Signature Laboratory included work with the European
automotive industry. Tests on 3 different realistic road asphalt targets under dry, wet and icy conditions
showed considerable promise for the development of on-board "radar" systems for the car of the future.

_**Institutional Support Activities**_

The MARS-STAT activity (Monitoring of Agriculture with Remote Sensing) provided support to DG VI
(Agriculture), EUROSTAT, and the Member States in the implementation of the regional crop acreage
inventory activity, which is now fully operational and has been transferred back to the Member States.
Support was also provided to DG VI in the form of rapid estimates of 1996 total crop acreage. MARSSTAT activities now include production forecasts of major EU crops for all Member States, including the
last three countries to join the Union. A prototype system for monitoring crop production in Central and
Eastern Europe and the Maghreb region was also started. Finally, research focused on the use of
synthetic aperture radar imagery for rapid crop production estimates. This method would offer many
advantages because of the all-weather capabilities of radar.

The MARS-CAP activity continued the remote sensing control of farmers' area declarations for aid. A costefficiency study of these remote sensing controls was carried out, together with a quality control of the
work contracted out by national administrations to private companies. Technical support and advice were
provided on the implementation and possible improvements of the Integrated Agricultural Control System
in the Member States. This activity was carried out in an almost direct interaction with the Member State
administrations.

SAI was involved in experiments on the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) for parcel area control.
Support on the establishment, the updating and the possible redefinition of the vineyard and olive registers,
in association with the new OCM (Organisation Commune du Marché), was provided to the Commission
and the Member States.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

43

Support to the European Environment Agency concentrated on developing the work of the Land Cover
Topic Centre, in collaboration with various European organisations.

**B. Competitive Activities**

_**Shared-Cost**_ _**Actions**_

The Space Applications Institute submitted 19 proposals in a range of thematic areas including Agriculture,
Telematics, and Environment and Climate, and enjoyed an extremely high rate of success, with 10 of the
projects being funded. 8 out of these 10 focus on the marine environment. Projects cover fish resources,
biological processes, pollution and coastal zone studies, and the geographical foci range from the
Canaries to the Mediterranean, Baltic and Black Seas.

_**Competitive**_ _**Support for**_ _**Community Policies**_

SAI responded to open calls for tender from DGs. Of these, DG XIII (Telecommunications, Information
Market and Exploitation of Research) awarded a contract for the dissemination of data to the European
research community from SAI's European Microwave Signature Laboratory. DG XI (Environment, Nuclear
Safety and Civil Protection) awarded a contract for the second phase of the operational tropical forest
monitoring project started in 1995. This work will, on completion, provide an earth observation based
system for tropical forest mapping, for the management of diverse tropical forest data sets and for the
provision of an "alarm" system, pointing out areas of extreme deforestation.

_**Research**_ _**under**_ _**Contract**_

Nine contracts were carried out in 1996 for industrial, governmental and research organisations. These
were all small pilot projects, related directly to the Institute's research programme. Examples include the
use of EMSL by the automotive industry, and an extension of the remote sensing monitoring of agriculture
project into non-European countries.

_**Other**_ _**Competitive**_ _**Activities**_

The MERA project (MARS and Environmental Related Applications) covering the 12 PHARE countries,
entirely funded by DG la (External Affairs), went into full operation. The techniques developed for remote
sensing agricultural production monitoring in the EU were transferred to neighbouring East European
countries. There was also a strong emphasis on forest resource management and environmental impact
assessment in these countries. The SAI's technical management role also included projects on the use of
remote sensing for monitoring rice production in Indonesia and for coastal zone management in Thailand.
In both cases, SAI provided DG lb with specific technical know-how which directly supports the customer
DG's research and development programme.

**2.7** **THE INSTITUTE FOR PROSPECTIVE TECHNOLOGICAL STUDIES (IPTS)**

The Institute for Prospective Technological Studies was created to observe all relevant, significant and
outstanding scientific and technological events and trends in Europe, and to follow technological change in
order to get a better understanding of the links between technology, the economy and society. Its activities
contributed to the Framework Programme line, Targeted Socio-Economic Research.

The Institute moved from Ispra to Seville in 1994; an operational work programme was agreed in 1995 and
the Institute was restructured into two operational units:

Technology Watch (TW): the aim of the TW structure is to detect, at an early stage, scientific
breakthroughs, events and trends that might lead to technological innovation, and to alert EU decision

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**44**

makers to their implications and consequences, especially when there is a need for action at a
European level. This unit co-ordinates the ESTO network.

Technology, Employment, Competitiveness (TEC): this unit deals with economic sustainability issues
in relation to the business practices of firms (competitiveness focus); economic and social
sustainability issues in relation to work/wealth distribution (employment focus); the role of innovation in
regional development and management resources (regional focus).

**A. Institutional Activities**

_**Institutional Research**_ _**Activities**_

_THE_ _**BUROPEAN SCIBNCBAW TBGHNOLWY OBSERVATORY**_
_The_ _European Science and_ _Technology_ _Observatory_ _(BSTO)_ is _a network of_ _15_ _European_ _muMdlsciptmary_
_organisations,_ _whoso main task is to_ _mtargo tik Hnowtetigo_ _base on which Technology Watch is_
_operating; it has an Executive_ _GommHee*_ _chaired by_ _IFTS,_ _which_ _oversees the animation and_
_management of_ _the_ _network-_

_The Institute also provides the necessary orientation in the various procedural phases, thus giving a_
_European dimension to the results; assists in_ _tha idantificatbn_ _of the main_ _fronds_ _governing_ _$/r_
_developments and events; and ensures that all findings_ _am_ _subsequently translated into strategic terms_
_and options_ _to be presented in the most_ _appropriate_ _format to European decision makers._
_Tim ESTO_ _[l]_ _s_ _mission_ _Is_ _to collect and to process information at the Buropean level to support decision_
_making and is complemented by_ _specific-in-d&ptb_ _prospective analyses aimed at shedding_ _fight_ _on the_
_interface_ _between scientific and technical_ _aspects_ _t_ _on the one_ _hand,_ _and the economy and_ _society,_ _on the_
_other_

The most important projects already accomplished or being undertaken are focused on the following fields:

Technology Transfer and Advanced Materials;
Nanotechnology: Innovation potential and societal aspects;
Human Genome Analysis, Genetic Screening and Gene Therapy;
Monitoring and Evaluating selected water-related technologies (eg."Desalination Technology");
Employment (e.g., "Industrial Clusters, Networks and Districts for Employment");
Assessment of C0 2   - related technologies.

The Institute provided Science and Technology background information to the Euro-Mediterranean
Monitoring Committee (proposed by the Council and established in the framework of the Barcelona
Conference in November 1995), thus stimulating S/T co-operation in the Mediterranean region.
This work has been undertaken in close contact with the Commission services responsible for the
implementation of the relevant R&D programmes (e.g., IMT, JOULE, BIOMED).

In the field of regional development, the Institute produced a comparative study of several regions "The
potentials of Science and Technology-Innovation for Regional Development".

_**Institutional**_ _**Support Activities**_

A new agreement between IPTS and the Forward Studies Unit (FSU) of the Commission is now covering a
variety of subjects related to the business environment, the definition of sustainability, the problem of
accounting, and the global warming debate.

Within the context of the work carried out for DG XVI (Regional Policies and Cohesion), the project "Water
Management in the Mediterranean" examined not only the technological point of view, but also the various
socio-economic, cultural, environmental and political factors conditioning both the need for water and the
appropriateness of particular water management tools in the Mediterranean basin countries.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**45**

IPTS supported the European industrial policy under DG III (Industry). The Institute's competence in
technology foresight-watch contributed to identifying key technological trends and to analysing the impact
on industrial innovation in the following areas:

Support to IRDAC (Industrial Research and Development Advisory Committee);
Competitiveness and the organisational practices of firms (e.g., Agile enterprises);
Systems of innovation and economic webs (e.g., cogeneration technology; Intellectual Property
Rights);
Industrial technologies' forecasting;
Employment and Technology: being competitive in Europe;

In the context of the preparatory phase for the implementation of the Integrated Pollution Prevention and
Control (IPPC) Directive, the institute had carried out the first pilot project on Best Available Techniques
(BAT), following the IPPC rules. Winthin the same framework, IPTS made an offer to DG XI (Environment,
Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection) to establish a Bureau for European Integrated Pollution Prevention
and Control, which will support the implementation of the Council Directive on this issue.

Three prospective studies were developed for the Scientific and Technological Options Assessment
(STOA) programme, covering common fields of interest such as: "Information society: competitivity and
employment"; "The future of the car: individual mobility"; and "Trends in the pharmaceutical sector".
Two other studies on Climate Change and Recycling were completed in 1996 for the Environment
Committee.
The Institute also organised a hearing for the European Parliament on "Research and Sustainable
development" and a seminar on "European research in the perspective of the XXIst Century" with the
intention of stimulating a debate on the orientations for the 5th Framework Programme.

**B. Competitive Activities**

_**Shared-Cost**_ _**Actions**_

The IPTS is at present running 8 shared-cost action projects: 4 concerning the energy sector, 3
concentrating on different environmental issues, and one developed within the framework of regional
development.

All four energy projects were approved under the JOULE programme, and are focused on:

Creation of a focal point of data on external costs of energy;
Renewable energies from a regional perspective;
Global Energy, Economy, Policies and C0 2 Emission Pathways - Energy-Economy-Environment
quantitative analysis;

Biomass studies.

Two of the three environmental projects are in the field of sustainability:
Green accounting: tools for assessing progress towards sustainable development.
Technology's role in sustainable development.

The third environmental project concerns:
analysis and assessment of environmental policy instruments for the implementation of efficient ozone
abatement strategies in the European context.

_**Work**_ _**under**_ _**contract**_

In the context of the development of the European strategy for waste management, IPTS has organised a
review of various options for recycling plastics packaging waste, under a contract issued by the
Association of Plastics Manufacturers in Europe (APME).

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**46**

The Institute has also concluded a project contracted with the Andalusian Energy Agency (SODEAN) on a
"Technical-Juridical European Forum on Renewable Energy". The project was devoted to the organisation
of a conference on the technical and legal barriers that renewable energies encounter upon their
penetration into the energy market.

_JRC Annual Report 1996_

**Annex**

BRITE

CIEMAT

ENEL

ESPRIT

**47**

**GLOSSARY OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS**

Basic Research in Industrial Technologies for Europe

GOZATOMNADZOR (GAN)

IMT

JOULE

KROTOS

MINATOM

OECD-NEA

PHARE

PNC

RESOLV

SCK/CEN

STARS

TACIS

Centra de Investigaciones Energeticas Medio-Ambientales y
Tecnologicas, Madrid (E)

Ente Nazionale per I'Energia Elettrica

European Strategic Programme for Research and development in
Information Technologies

Russian Authority for nuclear security

Industrial Materials and Technology

Joint Opportunities for Unconventional or Long-Term Energy Supply

Small Scale Steam Explosion Facility

Ministry of Atomic Energy

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development-Nuclear
Energy Agency

Poland-Hungary: Assistance for Economic Restructuring

Power Reactor and Nuclear Fuel Development Corporation

Recontruction using Scanned Laser and Video

Studiecentrumm voor Kernenergie/Centre d'Etudes Nucléaires
(Mol - Belgium)

Software Tool for the Analysis of Reliability and Safety

Technical Assistance to the Commonwealth of Independent States
and Georgia

TEMPEST Thermal, Electromagnetic and Physical Equipment Stress Testing

#### ***-/£** **ISSN 0254-1475**

## COM(97) 137 final

# **DOCUMENTS**

### EN 15 17 01 Catalogue number : CB-CO-97-127-EN-C ISBN 92-78-17593-5

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