Nuclear Cooperation

The Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) monitors, directly and/or through experts, the following initiatives related to the field of atomic energy and its applications in different areas.

International Atomic Energy Agency Technical Cooperation Program (IAEA-Portugal)

FCT is responsible for publicizing, promoting, managing, and providing support:

• the participation of Portuguese experts in scientific and technical projects and in the various events (workshops, courses, technical meetings) organized by the IAEA;
• to internships in Portugal for foreign interns;
• to technical meetings held in Portugal.

See the AIEA-Portugal page to learn how to participate in projects and events organized by this agency.

EURATOM Research and Training Programme 2021-2025

FCT is part of the PERIN network (Portugal in Europe Research and Innovation Network) and is responsible for promoting the EURATOM Research and Training Program 2021-2025, in its fission and fusion aspects.

See the EURATOM Research and Training 2021-2025 program page for how to participate in projects and obtain funding for nuclear research.

Fusion for Energy (F4E) / International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

Fusion for Energy (F4E) is the European Union organization that manages Europe's contribution to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), a scientific partnership that is the largest scientific experiment on the road to fusion energy and involves, in addition to Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Russia and the United States.

F4E was founded in 2007 for a period of 35 years. Its main mission is to bring fusion, the energy of the sun and stars, to Earth. To do this, it works closely with industry and research organizations to provide the infrastructure and components of the largest fusion device.

Council of the European Union Working Party on Atomic Questions

The Working Party on Atomic Questions is a preparatory group for meetings of the Council of the European Union that deals with matters related to protection against ionizing radiation in medical and industrial applications, the safety of nuclear installations, and the management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.

It also deals with matters related to the supply and protection of nuclear material, in particular:

• the regulatory framework for activities related to nuclear safety, radioactive waste and spent fuel;
• the definition of basic safety standards for ionizing radiation;
• cooperation with third countries on the peaceful use of nuclear energy.