After almost one year of intensive preparatory discussions, a Contract of Association has been signed by the European Commission and by the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion where the new Polish fusion research unit will have its headquarters.

The Association is, as a result, a party to other agreements e.g. the European Fusion Development Agreement (for involvement in, among other things, the operation of the European fusion experiment, JET), and the Mobility Agreement (to promote the movement of researchers around Europe to pursue their work).

Fusion Energy Research is at the moment a part of the EURATOM 6th Framework Programme. Organized in the form of a joint action of national associations, it coordinates and focuses the activity of numerous, multidisciplinary research teams all over the Europe to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion as an important long-term option for energy supply.

The Polish Association commences its activity having already a long experience in plasma physics, diagnostic techniques, material sciences and in fusion-related technologies.

Three well established Institutes constitute the research unit of the Association, namely: the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM), Warsaw, the Warsaw University of Technology (WUT) and the Soltan Institute for Nuclear Studies (INS), Swierk/Otwock.

Several other teams from academic and technological institutes will also participate in the Association's programme. These collaborations will involve about 100 scientists, engineers and technicians.

The first meeting of the Association's Steering Committee, which oversees its work and comprises members from Poland and also from EURATOM, was held in Warsaw on March 16th. The Steering Committee formally approved the work programme of the research unit for 2005. It also appointed Dr. Andrzej Galkowski from the IPPLM as the first Head of Research Unit. This position has the important responsibility to coordinate the research unit's activities. For further information, contact:

Dr. Ryszard Miklaszewski
Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion
EURATOM Association
Warsaw, Poland
rysiek@ifpilm.waw.pl