EU Scientific Research, Karlsruhe

The Institute for Transuranium Elements is one of seven institutes of the Joint Research Centre that functions as a reference centre of science and technology for the European Union. The mission of ITU is to protect the European citizen against risks associated with the handling and storage of highly radioactive elements. ITU's prime objectives are to serve as a reference centre for basic actinide research, to contribute to an effective safety and safeguards system for the nuclear fuel cycle, and to study technological and medical applications of transuranium elements. Safeguarding nuclear materials The Institute works in support of the Directorate General Transport and Energy (TREN), Nuclear Inspection and the IAEA Inspectorate to ensure that nuclear materials, which could be diverted for weapons use, do not fall into the wrong hands. ITU hosts the Safeguards Analytical Reference Laboratory, which provides analytical assistance and expertise on plutonium-handling facilities, and is developing new high-performance analytical tools for trace analysis.

European Commission | September 12, 2006

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