Proposals Invited for Phase 6 of UK-Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme

In collaboration with The Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Nuclear Safety Research Association (NSRA), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is inviting proposals for collaborative research projects covering key research challenges to accelerate the decommissioning of TEPCO’s Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.

This call represents the sixth phase of the UK-Japan Civil Nuclear Research Programme. This call seeks to support two projects covering key research challenges to accelerate and advance nuclear sciences including decommissioning relevant to Fukushima and Sellafield.

Proposals are expected to address issues of risk reduction for fuel debris retrieval, characterization of fuel debris, waste separation and classification, volume reduction, radiation hardening, deployable sensor technology, environmental remediation decommissioning, remote operations, analysis and characterisation, including emerging technologies. It is desirable that applications will complement existing UK Japan research projects funded under previous phases of the UK Japan Civil Nuclear Energy programme.

These projects are to be of fixed duration, with a fixed start date in October 2019 and a fixed end date of 31 March 2022. This timeline is set to accommodate Japan’s funding cycle.

Up to £500,000 is available to fund the UK contingent of two research projects. Applicants should request only the travel and subsistence cost for the UK part of the project. The Japanese partners should request any funds they need from MEXT.

Proposals are welcome from any individuals and institutions eligible to receive UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funding.

Applicants should prepare and submit their proposal online. All applications should be collaborative with the Japanese partner submitting their part of the proposal to MEXT through NSRA.

A joint panel meeting will take place in August 2019. Applicants will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible after the panel meeting.

The deadline for submission of full proposals is 20 June 2019 (16:00).

More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.