New European initiative - NULIFE network for plant life management

The EU’s Network of Excellence NULIFE (Nuclear Plant Life Prediction) was launched in October 2006 under the EURATOM FP6 Program with a clear focus on integrating safety oriented research on materials, structures and systems and exploiting the results of this integration through the production of harmonised life time assessment methods. NULIFE will help provide a better understanding of, and information on, the factors affecting the life of nuclear power plants which, together with associated management methods, will support their safe and economic long term operation. Led by VTT (Technical Research Centre of Finland), the five-year project has a budget in excess of EUR 8 millions, with partners drawn from leading research institutions, technical support organisations, power companies and manufacturers throughout Europe.