Reactor Institute Delft re-appointed as official partner of International Atomic Energy Agency
The Reactor Institute Delft (RID), the nuclear research reactor at TU Delft, has been selected as a Collaborating Centre of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for the fourth time. The IAEA and RID have agreed to expand their area of cooperation in Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) to neutron beam-based methodologies – a key technique in materials research, biology and medicine.
This renewed designation for the period of 2021 until 2025 confirms the importance of TU Delft in the area of nuclear technology. It specifically highlights the RID’s efforts in fostering, enhancing and sustaining research reactor utilization, as well as demonstrating the relevance and unique opportunities of neutron-activation and neutron-beam based methodologies.
“Thanks to extensive technical advances at RID over the last few years, we can now work together in further areas of nuclear applications,” said Najat Mokhtar, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications, at the signing ceremony of the new agreement. “RID’s stable isotope tracer methods combined with NAA, for example, can significantly contribute to IAEA activities in forensic sciences.”
As an IAEA Collaborating Centre, RID supports the IAEA’s activities in neutron activation analysis (NAA) – a well-established non-invasive nuclear technology used to determine the quality and quantity of different elements in the composition of samples and objects. Significant contributions will include:
- expanding neutron activation analysis software for use in prompt-gamma neutron activation analysis;
- supporting the IAEA in assessing the accuracy of various software packages that are available for neutron activation analysis;
- hosting scientific visitors to share our experience in developing and applying new neutron techniques.
About the Reactor Institute Delft (RID)
The Reactor Institute Delft (RID) is the knowledge centre in the Netherlands for radiation-related research and education. It hosts scientific visits, offers training courses and provides expert services and access to its facilities. Research is carried out in various fields such as materials and health. For instance, it contributes to the improvement of solar cells, batteries and medical isotopes for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
About the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
The IAEA is the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field. It promotes the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations Sustainable Development goals. Since 2010, the RID has been part of the IAEA network of more than 40 collaborating centres.