International co-operation in safety research

International co-operation in the field of safety research plays an important role in effective promotion of research and development of costly and complex technologies, and in dealing with such global issues as energy security and environmental safety. Nuclear safety research in Japan has been extensively conducted under the national policy of promoting peaceful uses of atomic energy, and it is now addressing the issues through three major research activities: engineering safety research of an NPP, safety research on environmental influences, and safety research related to radioactive waste management, including various nuclear fuel cycles. The previous approach of Japanese nuclear safety research and development was to catch up with the technical levels of the nuclear developed countries. Having achieved this stage, Japan is trying to function as a leading country in the international nuclear society, in accordance with the basic policy of the Atomic Energy Basic Law of Japan. Consistent with its readiness to share in the tasks of international society, Japan is extending various levels of co-ordinated research and development to other countries especially in the field of engineering safety research. These activities vary from information exchange programmes to joint research projects sharing the sponsorship of necessary contributions, under the framework of various bilateral and multilateral collaborative arrangements, as well as with well known international agencies. (author)