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Current and future nuclear power reactors and plants 149

which collaboration could be conducted and assessed. This senior technical experts
group first met in April 2000.
The founding document of the GIF, a framework for international co-operation in
R&D for the next generation of nuclear energy systems, are set out in the GIF Charter,
first signed in July 2001 by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Republic of
Korea, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Charter has since been signed by Switzerland (2002), Euratom (2003), the
People’s Republic of China, and the Russian Federation in November 2006, and most
recently by Australia (14th member of the GIF) in June 2016.
In July 2011, the 13 members agreed to sign an extension of the Charter signaling
the wish to continue to co-operate in the research and development of Generation IV.

4.3.3 Generation IV goals

Eight technology goals have been defined for Generation IV systems in four broad
areas: (1) sustainability, (2) economics, (3) safety and reliability, and (4) proliferation
resistance and physical protection. These ambitious goals are shared by a large num-
ber of countries as they aim at responding to the economic, environmental, and social
requirements of the 21st century. They establish a framework and identify concrete
targets for focusing GIF R&D efforts.

Goals for Generation IV nuclear energy systems
Sustainability 1 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will provide
sustainable energy generation that meets clean-air objectives
and provides long-term availability of systems and effective
fuel utilization for worldwide energy production
Sustainability 2 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will minimize and
manage their nuclear wastes and notably reduce the
long-term stewardship burden, thereby improving protection
for the public health and the environment
Economics 1 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will have a clear
life-cycle cost advantage over other energy sources
Economics 2 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will have a level
of financial risk comparable to other energy projects
Safety and reliability 1 Generation IV nuclear energy systems operations will excel
in safety and reliability
Safety and reliability 2 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will have a very low
likelihood and degree of reactor-core damage
Safety and reliability 3 Generation IV nuclear energy systems will eliminate the need
for offsite emergency response
Proliferation resistance and Generation IV nuclear energy systems will increase the
physical protection assurance that they are very unattractive and the least
desirable route for diversion or theft of weapons-usable
materials, and provide increased physical protection against
acts of terrorism