About the Program

Background

The Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy (NE), has re-structured the International Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (I-NERI) to foster closer collaboration with foreign researchers, improve communications, and expand the sharing of nuclear research information. I-NERI will support scientific and engineering research and development (R&D) with participating countries whose R&D work scopes closely link to the principal NE R&D programs:

• Generation IV Nuclear Energy Systems Initiative
• Advanced Fuel Cycle Initiative (AFCI)
• Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (NHI)

Collaboration will be specifically tailored to fit programmatic needs.

Originally, I-NERI projects were typically authorized for a three-year duration and funded annually. Currently the U.S. has five I-NERI projects with France, eleven with the Republic of Korea, and one with the OECD/Nuclear Energy Agency. Agreements with the European Union, Canada, and Brazil were signed in Fiscal Year (FY) 2003, and discussions on collaboration with Japan and the Republic of South Africa are ongoing. Completion of these agreements is expected in FY2004.

In FY2004, the DOE transitioned to a new process for I-NERI collaboration. Existing collaboration was managed under the original process and any new projects under existing/new agreements will follow the new I-NERI process described in Table 1.

In FY2005, I-NERI is fully integrated into the Generation IV Nuclear Energy System Initiative, the AFCI, the NHI and other research programs. This integration will make more funding eligible to serve as the U. S. share in international collaboration projects. The new process is described in Table 1. International Near Term Deployment (INTD) collaborations will start in FY2005 and follow the existing process.

Management

I-NERI agreements are established under existing or new Agreements or Memoranda of Understanding between the U.S. and collaborating countries. The U.S. effort is managed by the Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology (NE), with advice from the Nuclear Energy Research Advisory Committee (NERAC). A counterpart agency of the cooperating country’s choice manages its participation.

Formerly, a Bilateral I-NERI Steering Committee (BINERIC) made up of representatives from the U.S. and the cooperating country identified specific research areas for collaboration and decided other cooperational issues. In the new process, a representative of DOE-NE serves as the government country coordinator to interact and oversee collaboration. Technical progress and work quality is overseen by the National Technical Director (NTD) and Generation IV International Forum (GIF) system steering committees, or other international technical committees as delegated and reported to the GIF Expert Group or AFCI program director.

Project Definition and Funding

Candidate collaborative-project work scopes, in which the U.S. share is based on current-year work packages and budget, will be jointly developed. Each country participating in I-NERI collaboration with the U.S. provides the funding for their share of the work scope. Actual cost-share amounts are determined for each jointly selected project. The goal is to achieve a 50-50 matching contribution from each partner country. Funding provided by the U.S. can be spent only by U.S. participants, unless special arrangements are made in accordance with the Agreement.

Table I: Comparision of Existing and the New I-NERI Process

I-NERI process for Existing Projects / New INTD process	I-NERI process for New Generation IV, AFCI, and NHI Projects
1. Sign I-NERI Agreement
Assuming that an Agreement for nuclear technology cooperation exists between the U.S. and the collaborating country, an I-NERI Annex (IA) {or Implementing Arrangement} is drafted. When the IA has been approved by the legal offices of the two countries (e.g., the DOE General Council and Department of State in the U.S.), the IA is signed by the appropriate country officials. For the U.S., this official is the Director of Nuclear Energy, Science, and Technology.	Same procedure.
2. Establish I-NERI Agreement Coordinator
Each country appoints two representatives to serve on the Bilateral I-NERI Committee (BINERIC), which establishes rules and procedures on project selection, funding, meetings, expenses, and other issues. An Executive Agent may be selected to administer program implementation.	The U.S. appoints a DOE country coordinator for the purpose of collaboration management and the collaborating country establishes a similar coordinating function. Each country appoints technical coordinators for each research and development area. In the U.S., these technical coordinators are the National Technical Directors (NTDs) who are assisted by members of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF) System Steering Committee (SSC).
3. Develop Research and Development Areas
Each country identifies potential areas of research cooperation based on program goals, objectives, and available funding.	The NTDs and SSC identify areas of research cooperation and define the specific work scopes.
4. Identify Potential Collaborative Work Scopes
The identified areas of research cooperation are presented for acceptance at a BINERIC meeting. The accepted research areas are then provided to technical experts for directed research or included in solicitations for competitive award. Joint proposals are submitted for a specific project, based upon the project’s guidelines.	Candidate project work scopes are jointly developed by the U.S. and the collaborating country. The U.S. contribution to the work scope is based on current-year work packages and budget. A work package is an official document that describes the work scope, milestones, deliverables, and budget for each participating organization.
5. Review and Selection of Projects
The BINERIC evaluates the joint proposals in relation to its country and department policies, research interests, and available funding. Selected projects are recommended to either the Steering Committee or the countries’ officials for agreement. Projects selected in competitive solicitation are awarded in accordance with bilateral agreements.	The NTDs, with appropriate assistance, review the technical quality and budget of the proposed joint projects. The DOE Country Coordinator and staff review and select projects based on conformance with the bilateral agreement and current programmatic needs. Subsequent to this review, a joint proposal is requested for the identified research area..
6. Monitor Progress and Reporting Requirements
Executive agents monitor project progress and collect periodic reports as defined by each work scope. Projects are evaluated based on reports and annual project reviews by each country’s technical monitors. Based on these evaluations, the BINERIC determines the continuation, modification, or cancellation of a project.	The NTDs and SSC, as appropriate, review periodic progress reports as defined by each work scope and advise the country coordinator. Projects are also evaluated during annual project reviews. Based on these evaluations the government coordinator determines the continuation, modification, or cancellation of a project.