Open Access
Definition and scope of open access
Nuclear Experimental Center VR-1, operated by the Czech Technical University in Prague, is, in accordance with Act 130/2002 Coll. a large infrastructure for research, development and innovation. As part of the special support of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic, CTU in Prague offers open access to the center for the purposes of research, development and innovation.
Open access to the VR-1 nuclear experimental center means: "The possibility to carry out research, development and innovation activities in the VR-1 nuclear experimental center using the VR-1, VR-2 reactor and experimental and evaluation equipment, adjacent laboratories, professional and technical support for these activities by reactor operating personnel in the field of safe operation of nuclear facilities, theoretical and experimental reactor and neutron physics, neutron applications and nuclear fuel cycle."
Access is intended for individuals or organizations from the Czech Republic, from the European Union and outside the European Union. The open approach also enables student experimental work to be carried out, especially within the framework of dissertation, diploma and bachelor's theses, as well as within the framework of student research projects.
Policy for providing open access
The operator of the VR-1 nuclear experimental center provides open access on a non-discriminatory basis to all applicants while maintaining the same possibility of access to the center's experimental facilities.
In order to grant open access, the applicant must request access with a clear description of the planned experiment and specification of the requirements for the operation of reactors, experimental and evaluation equipment and laboratories, and a proposal for the date of the experiments to be granted with sufficient advance notice (at least one month in advance).
Upon request, the applicant must document why, how and for what purpose he wants to use the center's experimental equipment, so that it can be verified whether the planned research, development and innovation activities are in accordance with the principles of the peaceful use of nuclear energy and do not conflict with Czech legislation and international conventions, which the Czech Republic follows in the area of guarantees and the additional protocol (IAEA and Euratom). If this is not the case, the user will not be allowed open access to the infrastructure.
The request for open access must be submitted well in advance (at least one month).
After the application is approved, the so-called an expert guarantor who is responsible for managing open access.
When allocating the time and scope of open access, the applicant's proposals will be taken into account, but the operator of the VR-1 experimental center has the right to allocate the time and scope of access at his own discretion.
Submitting an open access request
For access to the infrastructure of the VR-1 Nuclear Experimental Center, it is necessary to submit an electronic application here: System for submission of applications for open access
Rights and obligations of an open access user
The open access user has the right to free access to the infrastructure of the VR-1 nuclear experimental center, its standard experimental equipment and data processing equipment, professional and technical support under the supervision of personnel.
If the operator incurs additional costs with the user's open access, the operator can demand payment of these costs from the user. The operator must notify the user of this fact as soon as possible, at the latest before the start of development and innovation work.
The user of open access is obliged to supply all the required personal data necessary for entering the controlled zone no later than 3 working days before the start of activities. Personal data will be handed over to the professional guarantor of access.
The user must respect the rules for entering the reactor hall and adjacent laboratories, observe all the rules and principles of nuclear safety, radiation protection, physical protection and work safety.
The user of open access is obliged to include in his research reports and scientific publications a reference to the VR-1 nuclear experimental center as a large research infrastructure on which research, development or innovation activities were carried out and to the decision of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic on the support of these activities.