Today's innovation in the fuel cycle

This brief article reviews the main recent technical innovations in the fuel cycle. We can quote: -) the enrichment through ultra-centrifugation, -) new transport casks for Mox spent fuels, -) the use of the cold melting pot technology for waste vitrification, or -) the recycling of Pu in EPR cores. An efficient innovation policy relies on 3 axis: first a good understanding of the physics of events and their impact on the fuel cycle, secondly an optimized organization of humane resource in order to get a pool of adequate experts, and thirdly to identify the right technical issues to be studied and coordinate research works. (A.C.)