AsianScientist (Sep. 2, 2011) – Two memorandums of understanding (MOUs) have been signed between the Canadian Government of Saskatchewan and Hitachi companies for research into nuclear medicine and safer nuclear technologies.
The first MOU was signed between Hitachi, Ltd. and Saskatchewan to pursue joint R&D projects in the field of nuclear medicine, based on Hitachi’s technologies and expertise in this area, such as its Proton Beam Therapy (PBT) system.
In May 2008, Hitachi’s first spot scanning irradiation technology that can concentrate irradiation dose to the tumor formation started patient treatment at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Proton Therapy Center in the US. This marked the first clinical application of spot scanning irradiation technology in a general hospital.
Saskatchewan has also signed an MOU with Hitachi-GE Nuclear Energy, Ltd., GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy Americas LLC, and Global Nuclear Fuel – Americas, LLC to discuss working on nuclear R&D projects related to nuclear safety and small reactor design.
They plan to collaborate on potential nuclear R&D projects of mutual interest including design and feasibility of small modular reactors technologies and reclamation of unused uranium fuel from new fuel rods that have been rejected for use in reactors as a result of quality control programs.
Over the next five years, Innovation Saskatchewan and four other parties (the University of Saskatchewan, the University of Regina, the Saskatchewan Research Council, and the Canadian Light Source) will provide a total of CA$10 million (US$10.2 million) towards the two MOUs.
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Source: Hitachi-GE.
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