Brussels, 01 Jun 2004

Cooperation between Italy's National Research Council (CNR) and the UK's Council for Central Laboratory of the Research Councils (CCLRC), which was first forged 20 years ago, is to be extended.

Representatives from both organisations signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 28 May, agreeing to collaborate on the development of new technologies and instrumentation.

'The continuing success of this 20 year agreement is very important for us,' said President of the CNR, Professor Adriano De Maio. First and most importantly to enable excellent scientific research to take place, but also for many less obvious reasons,' he claimed. The partnership has already lead to the building of neutron instruments at the CNR and at the ISIS pulsed neutron and muon source in the UK, and has thus 'enabled great leaps in technical innovation and know-how, increasing industrial competitiveness in the two countries,' according to Professor De Maio.

Professor John Wood, Chief Executive of the CCLRC, was equally enthusiastic about the partnership: 'We have to look to the future and coordinate strategy for the new facilities coming on line,' he said. 'We need to make sure new facilities [...] offer complimentary opportunities for scientists, making them stronger and better able to compete with similar facilities outside Europe.'

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Collaboration between the two organisations has recently made possible the examination of potential hydrogen storage technologies, as well as Italian archaeological specimens.

For further information on the two organisations, please visit:

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