Collective statement concerning nuclear safety research. Good practice and closure criteria

A successful research project requires clearly defined research programme backgrounds, objectives, deliverable and schedules, and progress must be monitored regularly. Setting a well-defined programme basis and monitoring programme performance, including closure considerations, are examples of good practice in conducting research. This collective statement represents an international consensus reached within the OECD/NEA Committee on the Safety of Nuclear Installations (CSNI) on good practices and closure criteria for nuclear safety research programmes. Potential detrimental effects of programme closure are also discussed. While the scope of this statement focuses on safety research in support of regulatory organisations, many of the considerations apply equally well to research in support of industry. This statement is intended to assist NEA member countries and the CSNI in the task of defining, monitoring and judging whether certain safety research programmes should be closed. The intended readership is primarily research managers, regulatory organisations and research centres. Government authorities, nuclear power plant operators and the general public may also be interested. (author)