PEPR SCIAM
Context
French energy policy is built on ending its dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the production of low-carbon (carbon free) electricity. This strategy relies on an unprecedented revival of nuclear power, combined with the accelerated deloyment of renewable energy. The ultimate goal is to strengthen the country’s energy independence.
Nuclear and hydropower remain the two low-carbon electricity sources that can be adjusted to match demand, making them a natural backbone for the energy mix, one that works hand in hand with intermittent renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
Main objectives
- Support the revival of the nuclear industry by investing in the expansion of fundamental scientific knowledge. The programme aims to structure and strengthen the French scientific community working on generating baseline data and modelling the processes involved in nuclear electricity production.
- Maintain and develop a network of world-class research infrastructure and equipment, an essential condition for the competitiveness and attractiveness of French research.
- Hire and train young researchers through postdoctoral positions, PhD scholarships, and internships.
- Contribute to technological optimisation and innovation for the nuclear industry, in particular by helping to improve the efficiency, safety, and security of the nuclear sector, reduce final waste, and better control its impact on health and the environment.
Organisation
27 research laboratories (CEA, CNRS, universities, Grandes Écoles, and ASNR).
The PEPR SCIAM programme is led by the CNRS and carried out under “Agence de Programme Énergie Décarbonée” (APED), which is run by the CEA. This complementarity between the two organisations, together with universities and Grand Écoles through Joint Research Units (UMRs), lies at the very heart of how the programme is structured. Two-person leadership teams (CNRS-CEA) will jointly coordinate the scientific direction of 4 selected projects (see below). The ASNR provides additional, targeted support to the CEA and the CNRS.
To meet current and future challenges, the programme budget of €18 million is evenly split between strengthening human resources (20 PhD scholarships, 30 years of postdoctoral fellowships) and financing research equipment and infrastructure.
Related Projects
By identifying key scientific challenges, the PEPR SCIAM programme draws on the latest analytical, theoretical, numerical, and experimental advances, and is organised into 4 research projects. In addition, the programme includes a cross-cutting project dedicated to equipment and infrastructure.
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