The Jules Horowitz nuclear complex a plat-form for research and development on nuclear fuel and materials for the 21st century

The CEA intends to build a material test reactor at Cadarache (South of France). This reactor would be the central piece of a wider complex which would include experimental fuel fabrication, destructive and non destructive examinations, in-reactor on line measurement advanced methods and modelling. For 50 years this platform would provide the necessary knowledge to the nuclear industry, the safety authority and to the national decision makers. This material test reactor called Jules Horowitz reactor (JHR) could be a key facility for industry and the central component of the European research area on nuclear fission from 2010. In this paper an overview of the research complex is given and a first approach of the development effort undertaken to meet the requirements in term of : ''time to result, experimental cost, experiment quality and international co-operation. Finally are given several ways of technical development undertaken to meet the above requirements. (orig.)