Russia has approved China's entry into the international association established on the basis of the high-flow research reactor PIK in Gatchina. Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of the Kurchatov Institute Research and Development Center, said at a meeting of the Council for Science and Education in Novosibirsk that a total of three applications had been received from Chinese organizations. The first of them, from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has already been reviewed and adopted. Earlier, in June, Kovalchuk announced China's intention to join this international structure.
The PIK reactor, developed by the St. Petersburg Institute of Nuclear Physics, is used for the study of neutrons, neutron radiation and the study of objects in the microcosm, as well as for a wide range of fundamental and applied scientific work. The international center for synchrotron, neutron and laser research has been established on its basis, which already includes Belarus, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Iran. The entry of China, which has a strong scientific potential, will be an important step in strengthening international cooperation in the field of physics and related disciplines.
The decision to admit China to the association confirms the growing interest of foreign partners in Russian scientific facilities. The integration of Chinese organizations into the work of the center will open up new opportunities for joint research and exchange of experience, as well as strengthen Russia's position as a key center for international scientific cooperation. It is expected that the remaining applications will also be reviewed in the near future.
