February 03, 2012

European Project for Nuclear Security Kicks Off

A European project to demonstrate and test a new tool for the detection of dangerous nuclear materials was launched in January 2012. The 'Modular Detection System for Special Nuclear Material (MODES_SNM) project is funded by the European Commission within the scope of its 'FP7 Security' theme. 

The MODES_SNM consortium officially took up work in January 2012. Its kickoff meeting was hosted by the University of Padova, the program's coordinator. The consortium's goal is to use a novel technology to design and demonstrate a prototype mobile detection system for radioactive and nuclear material. The consortium consists of two SMEs, four universities, a national nuclear research centre and end users in the form of a customs agency. A list of consortium members is given below. The project is foreseen to be completed in 30 months, within a budget of EUR 3.2 million, including public and private sector contributions.

MODES_SNM consortium members:

Arktis Radiation Detectors Ltd, Switzerland

Caen SpA, Italy University of Padova, Italy

University of Insubria, Italy

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

University of Liverpool, UK

National Centre for Nuclear Research, Poland

Revenue Commissioners, Ireland

More info is posted on:

cordis.europa.eu/fetch

Contact: Prof. Giuseppe Viesti (giuseppe.viesti@unipd.it)

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Arktis Radiation Detectors Ltd is a venture capital backed spin-off of ETH Zurich, a leading European technical university, specializing in radiation detection for the interdiction of smuggled radiological materials and other nuclear safety applications. Launched by a development team of CERN alumni, Arktis's proprietary fast neutron detection technology offers an innovative detection method that provides unique potential to discover well-shielded nuclear materials (e.g. uranium, plutonium).  

Since its incorporation in 2007, Arktis has won some of the most sought after Swiss entrepreneurial prizes, among them McKinsey & Co's business plan competition and IMD’s start-up competition prize. The company has nine employees and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland.

Email: info (at) arktis-detectors.com

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