Research and Innovation
The Research and Technology Development (R&TD) Division maintains and grows core skills and applies them for niche products and services development in the following fields (central pillar):
(a) Radiation and reactor theory and calculations.
(b) Applications of radiation beams for pure and applied research.
(c) Applied chemistry in nuclear and radiation related fields.
(d) Radiochemical research for medical isotope and radiopharmaceutical development.
The R&TD output (roof), based on these core activities, is targeted towards one of the following Strategic Impact Areas: Nuclear Reactor Science & Technology, Medical Diagnostics and Therapy, Nuclear Instrumentation and diagnostics, Clean Energy, Material Beneficiation, Waste R&D and contributions to the National System of Innovation (NSI).
All the Impact Areas are linked to the National Development Plan. R&TD’s role in the NSI is in support of a knowledge economy with specific emphasis on nuclear and radiation expertise and their wide range of high technology applications. Contract research (right pillar) helps to sustain research and technology development in line with NSI expectations.
A systems engineering approach to product development is followed and the core science and technology activities are supported by sound project and program management principles (left pillar). Operations management supports effective implementation and Safety, Quality, Health and Environment is of uncompromising essence to R&TD (foundation).
Close collaboration with national and international collaborators to benchmark and strengthen own capabilities is sought after and nourished.
Radiation Science
Applied Chemistry
Radiochemistry, Medical Diagnostics and Therapy
Focussed National System of Innovation Programs
- Radiochemistry
- NTeMBI
- NuMeRI
The Applied Chemistry Department focus on the development of chemical production processes. This work is funded under government programmes, external clients or government departments such as DOE, DST and DTI. These projects are taken internally up to TRL4 (Integrated process demonstration on a laboratory scale) and AC personnel assists and consults on the higher technology readiness levels to take it through to production. Technical support is provided to existing plants. Management and research within the department is ISO 9001:2015 accredited.
The Radiation Science Department consists of an experimental Beam Line Sciencegroup and a theory/calculations group called Radiation and Reactor Theory. The Beam Line Science group utilises X-ray, gamma ray, neutron and charge particle beams to non-destructively investigate properties of materials - as well as of complex objects (such as archaeological artefacts) - for physical, chemical and structural information at atomic, mesoscopic or macroscopic scale depending on the nature of the information required.
