Cooperation and Competition on the Path to Fusion Energy A Report (1984) / Chapter Skim
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AGREEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
AGREEMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
Pages 44-62
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From page 44... ...
Timing, compatibility of goals among prospective partners, stability in the partnership, and handling of technology transfer certainly rank high in importance. The list must also include net flow of funds from each partner into the cooperative projects, equitable sharing of benefits generated, suitability of the institutional framework, and workability of the actual management arrangements.
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From page 45... ...
On the other hand, for an international project in which the participants intend to collaborate as more or less equal partners, it is necessary for all to work together during the early determination of the objectives, cost, schedule, and design parameters of the project. COMPATIBILITY OF GOALS Differing levels of definition and detail in national fusion research and development programs can complicate negotiations on specific international cooperative projects.
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From page 46... ...
fusion program will be strong on its own merits; and international cooperation becomes a voluntary matter of accepting foreign staff members and trading information. If the increased funding levels are assessed not to be available, then the fusion community will have to face that reality and come to agreement on other means, presumably international cooperation if that means is available, to progress toward the goal of workable fusion power systems.
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From page 47... ...
Accordingly, in new cooperative ventures, all participants should take great care not to give new cause for complaint. The practice of identifying particular international projects explicitly in annual budget requests, clearly identifying the obligations implied for subsequent budget years, is one way to improve stability of funding.
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From page 48... ...
Technology Transfer with the European Community and Japan The position of technological leadership held by the United States after World War II has faltered in many areas, and some have alleged an imprudent transfer of technology to our allies as the cause. However, the decline is the result of many factors that include the following: o Europe and Japan increased their national investment in research and development relative to gross national product; and the United States decreased its relative expenditures from l965 through l978, after which they began to rise again.
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From page 49... ...
The foregoing points support our view that restrictions on transfer of fusion technology to EC and Japan are not likely to serve the purpose of maintaining the economic and political strength of the United States either in isolation or in its alliances. As to actual articles, services, and technical data for magnetic fusion that are subject to export control through licensing, few items will be primarily related to defense.
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From page 50... ...
The United States has much to gain from magnetic fusion cooperation and little technological leadership to lose. Since the current substantial level of international cooperation and its associated flow of fusion research and development information do not seem to be unduly impeded by these limitations, future ventures in international cooperation presumably can also be arranged without unduly burdening them.
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From page 51... ...
INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK This section deals with some of the institutional options available for implementing international fusion arrangements that may be developed by the United States, the EC, and Japan or any two of the three. In time, international arrangements between nongovernmental organizations should be anticipated.
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From page 52... ...
International Energy Agency The International Energy Agency (IEA) is undertaking research and development projects in the fusion area as evidenced by the following agreements: "Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and Development on Plasma Wall Interaction in Textor," August l0, l977; "Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and Development on Superconducting Magnets for Fusion Power," October 6, l977; and "Implementing Agreement for a Programme of Research and Development on Radiation Damage in Fusion Materials," October 2l, l980.
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From page 53... ...
However, the seven countries in the Summit include Canada, which has only a minor fusion program. The Summit tends to emphasize separate countries in Europe as opposed to the EC.
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From page 54... ...
Scope of Arrangements Umbrella Arrangement An umbrella arrangement is usually a desirable instrument in that it establishes general principles and provides for certain activities immediately and authorizes others to be consummated at a later time. Thus, an umbrella agreement, after establishing the essential principles, could contain provisions for an immediate exchange of technology and personnel, authorize the formation of joint planning exercises, and provide for later entry into medium- and long-term projects.
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From page 55... ...
To be effective, a formal joint planning activity would have to have policy guidance from government program leaders and technical direction from leaders in the laboratories. The undertaking should continue over many years.
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From page 56... ...
At present, it would be appropriate to establish two or three groups: fusion technology development; alternative confinement concept development; and, possibly, the next-step tokamak experiment. The first two groups would plan for collaboratively developing fusion technology and alternative confinement concepts, respectively.
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From page 57... ...
Site Selection A frequent sticking point in large international projects is agreement on the site for substantial facilities. The JET project underwent great difficulty before its site, adjacent to Culham Laboratory, was settled.
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From page 58... ...
Joint European Torus For fusion the most relevant example of a major international project is JET (JET Joint Undertaking, l982)
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From page 59... ...
Super-Phenix is the result of agreements between the French and Italian governments for breeder development signed in l974 and agreements between the French and Germans in l976 on three levels: an agreement on breeder development policy between the governments; an agreement on research and development and the "harmonization" of national efforts between the nuclear research agencies; and agreements on commercial development between French, German, and Italian companies.
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From page 60... ...
o The Super-Phenix project developed against a background of other major cooperative efforts in Western Europe -- in science, in aerospace and other multi-national business ventures, and in economic union -- that served as trail markers. Space Technology In space technology the agreement between the United States and Japan as to the availability of space launch facilities is an example of limited international cooperation.
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From page 61... ...
An opportune window in time for large-scale international collaboration is now open; if the timing were not favorable, even well justified technical initiatives would face resistance. The goals of the three prospective partners in collaboration either overlap enough or retain enough flexibility to initiate serious discussions of prospective joint activities.
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From page 62... ...
International collaboration in magnetic fusion would certainly be hindered by restrictive export control, but the outlook is that the regular case-by-case determinations will result in an acceptable situation. Beyond these points, decisions specific to each case will have to be made about the net flow of funds among the partners; the use of existing institutional frameworks or the establishment of new ones; details of project management; and the capture of intellectual, industrial, and commercial benefits.
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