Overview
In fiscal year 2009, the Office of Nuclear Energy will continue to support research and development (R&D) activities at universities and research institutions through competitive awards focused on advancing nuclear energy technologies. This commitment to strengthening the nation’s nuclear education infrastructure directly supports the goals of the America Competes Act of 2007, which specifically highlighted the need for increased support of the U.S. nuclear science and engineering education enterprise.
Through its Nuclear Energy Research Initiative process, the Office of Nuclear Energy will designate at least 20 percent of funds appropriated to its R&D programs for work to be performed at university and research institutions. These funds will support investigator-initiated basic research and mission-specific applied R&D activities; human capital development activities such as fellowship and young faculty awards; and infrastructure and equipment upgrades for university-based research reactors and laboratories. On August 19-20, 2008, the Office of Nuclear Energy held a workshop to provide U.S. universities the opportunity to understand the new approach for fiscal year 2009 and become familiar with the current research and development work of the various programs.
Additionally, NE supports universities through the Research Reactor Infrastructure (RRI) Program and Nuclear Energy Research Initiative (NERI) activities. The RRI Program fabricates fresh fuel for and ships spent fuel from university reactors. The goal of NERI is to collaborate with educational institutions more on highly needed applied engineering research efforts.
More information on University Programs and the fiscal year 2009 solicitation process will be posted in December 2008.
For further information, please contact the
Office of Nuclear Energy, NE-31
19901 Germantown Road
Germantown, Maryland 20874-1290
E-Mail: NE Webmaster
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