2009 Report to Government on National Research and

3.145 EA and SEPA commission research in support of their regula<strong>to</strong>ry roles and
influence nuclear industry organisations <strong>to</strong> carry out research on the
management of radioactive wastes. They recover some of their costs from the
industry. The EA research budget is small compared <strong>to</strong> the expenditure of the
corresponding regula<strong>to</strong>r in the 1980s and 1990s. In CoRWM’s view, the EA will
need <strong>to</strong> commission more research in the later stages of the MRWS programme
<strong>to</strong> support it in its role as a regula<strong>to</strong>r of geological disposal. CoRWM also thinks
that, as Scottish <strong>Government</strong> policy is developed and implemented, SEPA will
need <strong>to</strong> commission research related <strong>to</strong> its regulation of the management of
higher activity wastes.
Research Councils
3.146 The UK has seven Research Councils. Five of these are relevant <strong>to</strong> R&D on the
management of higher activity wastes. These Research Councils support
research in their own institutes and provide research grants <strong>to</strong> universities. They
are the main funders of fundamental research, while the nuclear industry focuses
on applied research and on development.
3.147 At present there is no process for identifying where fundamental research is
needed <strong>to</strong> underpin and complement applied research on the management of
higher activity wastes. Only the EPSRC has a clear mechanism for obtaining
input from the nuclear industry <strong>to</strong> its programmes. This mechanism is not
focused on fundamental research, nor does it involve contact between the
prospective researchers, who should be providing the ideas, and the industry,
who will use the results. CoRWM believes that, in general, there is an overemphasis
on applied research within the Research Councils, <strong>to</strong> the detriment of
the MRWS programme.
3.148 CoRWM has found that there is insufficient co-ordination between the various
Research Councils at a strategic level on radioactive waste-management-related
issues. There is also insufficient co-ordination between the Research Councils,
the nuclear industry and the regula<strong>to</strong>rs.
3.149 In addition, CoRWM has some concerns about specific Research Councils.
These can be summarised as follows.
• EPSRC makes <strong>to</strong>o little use of funding strategies other than managed
calls; these calls are perceived <strong>to</strong> be heavily influenced by the nuclear
industry.
• NERC has been slow <strong>to</strong> respond <strong>to</strong> the needs of the MRWS programme.
• BBSRC is not currently funding any research specific <strong>to</strong> radioactive waste
management, unlike its counterparts in other countries.
• As far as CoRWM is aware, STFC is not taking any steps <strong>to</strong> ensure that
independent research can be carried out in the active facilities operated
by the NNL.
EU Research Funding
3.150 The UK does participate in EU Framework Programmes but <strong>to</strong> a lesser extent
than in the past. Several EU colleagues have commented <strong>to</strong> CoRWM members
about the limited participation of UK universities in Framework Programmes in
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