TSO Challenges and cultures

Summary: • The national regulatory system needs to be technically pertinent and sustainable on a time scale of several decades. Reliance on vendor country technical support can be part of a solution in the short term, but can become problematic over the medium and long term. • A national TSO capacity is a powerful tool to consolidate the medium and long term sustainability of regulatory control effectiveness. • A TSO capacity building strategy should: – Take into account a realistic evaluation of needs (priorities, time to delivery); – Include an outreaching approach to help build up an « ecosystem of complementary knowledge and cultures », suitable to provide sustainable support to the RB, and adapted to the institutional landscape of the country' – Make the best use of available cooperation possibilities, including through IAEA. • There is no « one size fits all » model for establishing a national TSO capacity. The organisation, funding system, technical and scientific priorities, staffing & training methods have to be suited to the general organisation of the country. • Following the publication of TECDOC 1835, IAEA member states may benefit from the Agency's « TSO initiative » to help design a suitable national strategy for TSO capacity building.