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The Joint Research Centre is the scientific and technical arm of the European Commission. It is providing the scientific advice and technical know-how to support a wide range of EU policies. Its status as a Commission service, which guarantees independence from private or national interests, is crucial for pursuing its mission.

The JRC has seven scientific institutes, located at five different sites in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, with a wide range of laboratories and unique research facilities. One of the centres - the Institute for Transuranium Elements (ITU) - is located near Karlsruhe.

The mission of ITU is to provide the scientific foundation for the protection of the European citizen against risks associated with the handling and storage of highly radioactive material. 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 radionuclides/actinides.

ITU works very closely with national and international bodies in the nuclear field, both within the EU and beyond, as well as with the nuclear industry. In addition to playing a key role in EU policy on nuclear waste management and the safety of nuclear installations, ITU is also heavily involved in efforts to combat illicit trafficking of nuclear materials, and in developing and operating advanced detection tools to uncover clandestine nuclear activities.

http://itu.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc/index.cfm