Background CNCP projects in Kazakhstan CNCP and National Nuclear Centre CNCP and Institute of Nuclear Physics Interview with Adil Tuleushev, Director of the INP

Implementation of CNCP projects in the Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology (Kazakhstan)

The basic aim of the Institute is radiological monitoring of the territory of Kazakhstan, in connection with nuclear tests or radiologically dangerous sites, the restoration of radiologically contaminated territory, and the study of medical and biological aspects of radiological impacts on environmental sites. CNCP activities in the IRSE began with staff training: in 2006 seven employees from the Institute undertook education through the LINK International Institute of Management.

In 2008, the Institute prepared a first proposal for the CNCP Programme: the creation of a centre for individual dosimetry, which would work on a commercial basis. Implementation of the project involved:

• creation of the material and technical basis for the centre,
• creation of automated work stations for the collection, analysis and long term storage of information,
• development of the methodological system, permitting different types of measurements to be handled systematically,
• specialisation of staff.

The Centre for individual dosimetry will be a selfsupporting structure within the Institute.

The commercialisation of the activity in question was extensively analysed. The Institute possesses a base of up-to-date equipment and methods, highly qualified staff and extensive experience of work related to ensuring radiological safety. Entrance into the market for individual dosimetry in Kazakhstan was a matter of time for the Institute and in this situation CNCP acted as a catalyst. With the support of the Programme, market research was carried out and a business plan was prepared. This work showed that, despite the existing competition, an unoccupied niche existed in Kazakhstan. Occupying this niche could not only ensure the profitability of the enterprise, but could also provide a basis for competing effectively against existing organizations, in terms of cost and of the quality of the services to be offered. Demand for such services is increasing both in line with growing requirements for dosimetric control imposed through legislation and, as detailed study of the regional market showed, through the growing number of organisations which are working with ionising radiation sources. The Institute has already begun to offer individual dosimetry services (and has concluded more than 10 agreements with various organisations).

In 2009, a second CNCP project began in IRSE, dedicated to the control of the operation parameters of medical X-Ray equipment. Here too, market research and the development of a business plan were carried out with support from CNCP. The results of this research showed that, both at the regional level and in Kazakhstan as a whole, a considerable market existed for these and related services.

The high cost of modern equipment for the control of X-Ray operation parameters and, as a consequence, of control services, significantly held back the process of introducing modern technology into daily use. Control of the operation parameters of X-Ray and fluorographic apparatus were selected as priority areas, reflecting the fact that they were the most widely found types of equipment in the regional market (76,8 %). Other promising markets which merited examination were dental and mammography equipment and apparatus for the analysis of X-Ray fluorescence. At present, an official structure has been organized through the project in the form of a laboratory suitable for this type of activity and a memorandum has been signed by the Institute on collaboration with the medical departments of the towns of Kurchatov and Semey. The project provided funding to enable the Institute to purchase equipment to a value of $25,000.

With support from CNCP a project to establish an English language club has begun this year. Its basic objective is to develop skills in spoken English, primarily relating to business contacts, carrying out discussions and correspondence with clients, and also the preparation and delivery of presentations. The intention is that to start with, the club will be organised on the basis of IRSE, but we hope that in future any employee of the National Nuclear Centre who wants will be able to join the club.

Alongside the projects which had already been adopted, at the beginning of 2010 market research and business plan development was carried out for a further two new projects (a decision on funding was approved by the CNCP Steering Group): the creation of a training centre and the accreditation of a radio-chemical laboratory. The aim of the first project is the organisation within IRSE of a training centre, which can offer services relating to the preparation of specialists in the area of radiation safety on a commercial basis. Establishing the Centre involves obtaining a license for this type of activity and the creation of the respective unit.

The aim of the second project is the establishment of an accredited laboratory for radiochemical research in IRSE, offering services for the radiation control of commercial products.This in part will involve certification of the radiation safety of products. A license to undertake this type of activity has already been obtained. The characteristics of the market mean that carrying out radiological investigations requires significant resources for the purchase of expensive equipment and, as a result, few competitors can offer the full range of necessary services. They employ cheap equipment, which is not capable of providing exact measurements. Previously IRSE did not certify products. Its activities were basically oriented towards scientific research. To carry out this latter function, expensive, highly accurate, equipment had been purchased, but at present it is not being fully employed. Accreditation of the radiochemical laboratory will not only make it possible to make full use of the laboratory’s potential, and enable the staff of the laboratory to increase their earnings, but will also give IRSE the opportunity to become the leader in this field.

The leadership of the Institute, understanding the importance of the process of commercialisation for its own resources (through the funding contribution to current and proposed projects), took on a separate building for the implementation of CNCP projects. This is situated outside of the Institute’s security fence in the centre of the town, which significantly simplifies interactions with clients.

It is important too to be aware of the difficulties which the Institute encountered in implementing the projects. The biggest problems were linked to the time taken by the process of preparing the first ISTC Partner Project (through which CNCP funding for the project was funnelled) and in obtaining Government endorsement. Considering that time was a key factor in the success of the commercialisation projects, the leadership of the Institute decided that further projects would have to be financed through direct agreements, rather than through ISTC.

The results of work undertaken in commercialising science intensive activities within IRSE can be summarised as follows:

• financial analysis of all CNCP projects shows that the anticipated return (3-4 years from the point at which work started) will amount to up to 30% of the funding of the Institute,
• at the close of the projects, some 30% of all of the scientific employees of the Institute of Radiation Safety and Ecology will be working in divisions engaged in commercial activities,
• work in the framework of CNCP has demonstrated that IRSE is capable of entering the commercial market.

Alexander Osintsev, Head of the IRSE Department of radiation studies and rehabilitation of environment systems

[Print version] 

webmaster@cncp.ru