RRFM 2009 Transactions - European Nuclear Society

for. Together with the increasing income from the BNCT treatments this would balance the
economy of the reactor.
6 Long term strategy
A long term strategy is being worked out for FiR 1 by VTT and its proprietor the Ministry of
Employment and the Economy supported by an independent survey of an outside consultant.
According to the survey [7] most actors in state administration, education and research
consider the continuation of the development of BNCT nationally important and even
ethically necessary. Developments of linear accelerators to substitute reactors as a neutron
source for BNCT have started. The prospect is that in the future such a facility will be
constructed at the Helsinki University Central Hospital. Meanwhile development of BNCT to
an established treatment for several cancers requires FiR 1 as a demonstration and
reference facility at least till year 2016. As part of the consultant survey a SWOT analysis for
the future of the FiR 1 was performed. An adaptation of that analysis is presented in table 3.
Strengths
The reactor is in good condition and is for the
moment the best facility in the world suited for
BNCT treatments.
Skilled personnel.
Operational licence now valid till end of 2011 and
can be easily extended till 2016.
Enough fuel to operate 50 years more.
Funds exist for nuclear waste management and
decommissioning of the reactor.
The efficacy of BNCT has been demonstrated in
the treatment of head and neck tumours
(published in 2007).
Opportunities
Development of BNCT to an established
treatment for several cancers requires FiR 1 as a
demonstration and reference facility.
The likely closing of the BNCT activities by the
European commission at Petten gives new
possibilities for FiR 1.
Increasing interest of venture capitalist in BNCT.
Development of linear accelerators to substitute
reactors as a neutron source for BNCT has
started internationally.
New funding possibilities from the national
research infrastructure program and from the
new Health and Welfare Strategic Centre for
Science, Technology and Innovation.
Weaknesses
The Finnish nuclear power utilities do not directly
use the research reactor.
The future of the reactor depends strongly on the
developments in BNCT.
Lack of international collaboration especially in
the field of BNCT.
Part of personnel retiring in the coming years.
Operation and maintaining of the reactor are
loss-making requiring financial support from the
VTT infrastructure funds and/or elsewhere.
Threats
The goals set for the contribution margin at VTT
are not met in the next 2 to 3 years.
Slow progress in receiving international
recognition and significantly increasing
international collaboration in BNCT.
Risks involved in the financing and in the
schedule of the development of the accelerator
based BNCT concept.
Table 3. SWOT-analysis for the future of the FiR 1, adapted from [7].
The current operating license expires at the end of the year 2011. An application for a new
operating licence will be submitted to the authorities by the end of 2010. In 2009 the main
parameters of the application for a new operating license will be decided. Due to the age
structure of the personnel most of the reactor key persons have changed and will change
during the years 2008 to 2010 due to retirements.
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