Within the framework of the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) operates NEA (Nuclear Energy Agency), which, inter alia, through various projects in the field of nuclear energy enables and encourages cooperation between research organizations of member states.
NEA proposes to establish a framework NEST (Nuclear Education, Skills and Training), part of which would include projects that would aim to educate new generations of professionals in the field of nuclear energy by the interconnection of research organizations. In the context of project, (mostly) doctoral students from research organizations would spent a certain time in other organizations also involved in the project. Therefore, membership in the NEST would allow and facilitate research organizations the exchange of young professionals. NEST is designed primarily long-term and is expected to become operational in the second half of 2017 or first half of 2018. Annual contributions of membership in NEST should be of the order of 40,000 EUR, but then certain part of the cost of alliances would be also financed from these funds.
At the initial meeting, the representatives of Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States expressed the interest of the membership in NEST. Most of the representatives express interest, however we have to previously obtain the opinion of governments and stakeholders in the field of nuclear energy in our own countries. The final decision must be notified within 60 days. During this period, the JSI will inquired about the possibilities of obtaining funds for the membership in NEST among the Slovenian stakeholders.
The initial meeting of the frame NEST, hosted by OECD / NEA between 11th and 12th of May 2017 in Paris (France), was attended by Prof. Leon Cizelj as President of ENEN (European Nuclear Education Network) and Dr. Ivo Kljenak as a representative of the JSI and Slovenia.