On 27 October, the Leader of the Consortium International Research Centre MBIR JSC and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research signed an agreement on cooperation in the fields of basic scientific and applied research at the multi-purpose research reactor on fast neutrons (MBIR). JINR Vice-Director Latchesar Kostov and Director-General of the Consortium IRC MBIR Konstantin Vergazov signed the document.

The agreement aims to promote the creation of the International Research Centre MBIR (IRC MBIR) for conducting scientific and technological research in nuclear physics, high energy physics and plasma, radiation materials science, and other promising scientific realms. Moreover, the IRC MBIR aims to form competencies in the development of reactor technologies of the fourth generation and to introduce a two-component nuclear energy system.

“Together with Rosatom State Corporation, we follow all our strategic agreements reached at the historic Science and Technology Council in 2019,” JINR Director Grigory Trubnikov noted commenting on the signed agreement. “In addition to some scientific projects and the creation of new type reactors, our cooperation reflects also the demand for JINR expertise in the development of international projects of Rosatom. Today’s agreement is the first step towards the establishment of international collaboration around the future MBIR reactor in order to fulfil a breakthrough project in the fields of nuclear technologies under the auspices of Rosatom. The Joint Institute highly appreciates an opportunity to join this initiative, and I hope that this is a new page in our cooperation.”

Based on the unique JINR experience in international scientific cooperation, including in the fields of research reactors, the science organization at MBIR will be one of the key points of cooperation within the signed agreement. It refers to drafting and further coordination of the user policy of the project, as well as the development of the research programme.

“The agreement signed with JINR, first of all, confirms the high status of the project. The agenda of the scientific programme with the participation of the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research will not be limited to applied research within fundamental and nuclear physics. The programme will expand research areas related to non-energetic applications, i.e. in medicine, geology, agriculture, and others,” Director-General of the Consortium IRC MBIR Konstantin Vergazov noted. “For this purpose, we are ready to provide JINR with favour when finding opportunities for using the reactor and bench base for carrying out scientific and applied studies at the reactor.

During the visit to JINR, the delegation of Rosatom representatives also visited the Laboratory of High Energy Physics where they got acquainted with the implementation of the NICA megascience project.

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Rosatom State Corporation is constructing a unique research facility MBIR within the complex programme “Development of equipment, technologies, and scientific research in the area of nuclear energy use in the Russian Federation”. Rosatom is building the reactor in Dimitrovgrad, Ulyanovsk region, on the SSC RIAR JSC basis.
The International Research Centre is being established on the basis of MBIR: the scientific group will include Russian and foreign scientists and researchers. A Consortium – Reactor International Research Centre MBIR – will fulfil the Centre’s activities. Such an approach will allow using reactor resources meeting the demands of participants of the scientific community.