Making further use of core competences

The Karlsruhe Nuclear Research Center founded 1956 was commissioned by its shareholders to work preferably in areas of applied research of direct public interest. Consequently, the research activities of the Nuclear Research Center were concerned primarily with comprehensive application-oriented problems in a quest for solutions to research policy problems. Basic research was conducted as a function of existing research facilities and lines, furnishing important results in nuclear physics, solid state physics, and radiobiology. After the buildup phase, which extended over the first ten years, and the subsequent phase of consolidation, the concept of Big Science became increasingly more concrete. As a result of the political obstacles to the acceptance of the use of nuclear power, the share of nuclear activities at the Karlsruhe Research Center was gradually cut back to 17%. This is the level at which it is to be maintained in the future. (orig.)