F4E Annual Report 2009 - Fusion For Energy - Europa

I am very pleased to introduce the second AnnualReport of Fusion for Energy (F4E) - the EuropeanJoint Undertaking for ITER and the Developmentof Fusion Energy - and to look back at theaccomplishments during 2009 - a year in which F4Ewas fully operational.During 2009 I am proud to have chaired four meetingsof the Governing Board in which many importantdecisions were taken. I am pleased that severalimportant Procurement Arrangements have beensigned between F4E and the ITER Organization. Inaddition, F4E has placed many contracts and grantsto launch the ITER construction.On the international front, the main focus of activitiesfor the ITER Council, which met twice in 2009 andsupervises the ITER Organization, has been todevelop a realistic schedule which is acceptableto all the ITER Members taking into considerationtechnical and cost risks. At the same time, F4E hasbeen analysing the implications of the schedulesproposed by ITER in close collaboration with theGoverning Board and good progress was madeduring 2009.In view of ensuring that F4E is capable of deliveringthe European contributions to ITER at reasonablecost and with acceptable risks, the GoverningBoard decided to create an ad-hoc group to carryout an assessment of F4E’s ITER-related activity.I am indebted to the chair, Dr Wolfgang Meissner,the members and the scientific secretary for theirdedication to this important task.One of the recommendations of the Meissner ad-hocgroup was to increase the efficiency of the decisionmakingprocesses for the Governing Board and I ampleased to note that the decision was taken alreadyin 2009 to establish a Standing Coordination Groupwho are collaborating closely with the F4E Director.I would like to express my appreciation for thecontinued support of the Members of the GoverningBoard. I would like also to thank the members of theExecutive Committee and Technical Advisory Panelchaired by Dr Karl Tichmann and Professor MinhQuang Tran respectively. I should also like to expressmy appreciation to the Chair, Professor Fritz Wagnerand members of the ad-hoc group that evaluatedthe possibility and implications an ECRH-dominatedheating mix for ITER.Finally, I should like to acknowledge the excellentcollaboration and important work that has beencarried out by the F4E Director, Dr Didier Gambier.Professor Carlos VarandasChair of the F4E Governing Board11