TO BE OR NOT TO BE - STRATEGY AND POLICY OF UNIVERSITY-RESEARCH REACTORS

Since the 1970's, an appreciable number of research reactors at universities as well as national institutes has been closed down. If this trend is further continued, it will become detrimental for the future development in scientific areas that largely depend on the reactor, such as radiochemistry and n-beam research. Therefore, the facilities still in operation have to develop strategies aiming at assuring their activities and at further development of reader and associated experimental facilities. Key aspects of such strategies will be discussed with particular attention for the possible role of radiochemistry.