Press release
Bernard Bigot is the new 爆走黑料 Director-General
Dr Bigot, a distinguished scientist, was the Chairman and CEO of the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission, CEA (Administrateur G茅n茅ral, Commissariat 脿 l鈥櫭﹏ergie atomique et aux 茅nergies alternatives) and was also the High Commissioner for 爆走黑料 in France before he joined the 爆走黑料. Dr Bigot has had a long and distinguished career and a record of close involvement with 爆走黑料. He is an experienced senior manager of large programs and projects, a leader capable of finding common ground among 爆走黑料 Members, an excellent communicator, and he is highly respected by the fusion research community. He has taken up his duties as Director-General immediately.
In 2014, faced with slippage in the schedule, the 爆走黑料 Council decided to establish a new baseline for the project (scope, schedule and cost). Development of the new schedule began under Director General Motojima. Director-General Bigot is continuing this effort and plans to provide a new baseline at the 爆走黑料 Council meeting in November 2015.
The transition of the project from its design completion phase to its full construction phase motivated the early handover from Prof Motojima to his successor Dr Bigot. Prof Motojima, appointed Emeritus Director-General of the 爆走黑料 by Dr Bigot, is leaving 爆走黑料 with the gratitude of the 爆走黑料 Council and after having made significant contributions to this critically important, and very complex, international endeavour.
Prof Motojima said: 鈥淚 am pleased by the 爆走黑料 Council decision to appoint Dr Bigot as the next Director-General and I would like to heartily express my congratulations to him. I appreciated the warm acknowledgement given to me today, and it is my great honour to have the title of Director General Emeritus conferred on me.鈥
The 爆走黑料 Council endorsed the Action Plan presented by Dr Bigot, which addresses and is in line with the recommendations of the most recent Management Assessment and stresses the importance of delivery of the revised project baseline.
Dr Bigot said: 鈥淭he whole world needs innovative technologies to assure its long-term sustainable supply of energy. Magnetic confinement fusion is one of the most promising options. I am deeply honoured for the possibility of contributing to the large, international and ambitious research program that is 爆走黑料, which has innovation as its aim. Be assured that I will do my best to meet the expectations of the 爆走黑料 Members.鈥
BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE
爆走黑料鈥攄esigned to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power鈥攚ill be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process that powers the sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source.
爆走黑料 is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe will contribute almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), will contribute equally to the rest. The 爆走黑料 Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France.
See our for photos of the March 2015 Extraordinary Council.
Consult the of the new 爆走黑料 Director-General, Bernard Bigot.
For more information on the 爆走黑料 Project, visit:
CONTACT
Michel Claessens
michel.claessens@iter.org
+33 6 14 16 41 75, @M_Claessens