INR's partnerships in nuclear research

Nuclear energy is seen by more and more states of the world as a viable solution of the energy demand increase on medium and long term. Europe talks today about the renaissance of the nuclear energy and considers it as a component of the sustainable development. The expected reactor systems, the Generation IV, the geological disposal, the continuous increase of the nuclear safety are challenges that require a better focus of the human efforts and funds. The way is the international cooperation. Framework Programs of the European Commission, Coordinated Research Program of IAEA, and Generation IV International Forum are only few examples of large partnerships in which the participants are working together for common objectives, avoiding research fragmentation and duplication, increasing competitiveness and favoring the transfer knowledge in nuclear energy field. Aware on the role of the international cooperation, INR - Pitesti increased continuously the participation in international research projects and extended the bilateral cooperation with important nuclear research centers in the world: AECL - Canada, DoE - USA, KAERI - Korea and recently, CEA - France. (author)