SCI/TECH: EU and Japan Fusion Deal Continues

The EU (European Union) and Japan are currently in talks to decide over the finalised location of the new super-advanced fusion reactor.
Both sides are in a dead lock as both want to 'host' the $10billion scheme which is expected to last around the 20 year mark.The two possible sites for the fusion reactor are in Cadarache (France) and Rokkasho-Mura (Japan). The EU is hoping to sway the Japanese Government through promises of future 'fusion research help' but is planning to go ahead with construction of a European fusion reactor if a deal cannot be reached.





This story is interesting as the EU is portraying itself international as a single country rather than as a collection of nations.

Also if a deal is not reached then it is likely that Europe and Japan will build their own independent fusion reactors, which will mean doubling the costs that each 'side' will have to pay.


[edit on 16-11-2004 by Nerdling]

If I remember correctly, the EU and Japan have been fighting over this for years. I believe there have been discussions about this on the forum...


I found a few:

www.abovetopsecret.com...

www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.abovetopsecret.com...

[edit on 11-16-2004 by Zion Mainframe]

Originally posted by Zion Mainframe
If I remember correctly, the EU and Japan have been fighting over this for years. I believe there have been discussions about this on the forum...

The EU looks like it's beginning to get fed up of the arguing though, it looks like it wants to build it's own reactor without Japan.
So the fighting will end one way or another.
A joint reactor or not

I think they should both go it alone. Projects like this tend to overrun their costs. Specially if it is a multinational project(ISS anyone?). It may lead to a duplication of effort but in the long run more research will get done, and on the plus side if one reactor makes a stunning discovery they got another to confirm it(if they are the same that is)

I think the cost of this project is so huge, that no one country wants to go it alone.

Some of the wrangling was about where the thing should be built! Not the most important scientific aspect to this venture.

Last I heard, France was favourite. They have less earthquakes than japan anyway.

Regardless, it'll ne a helluva inovation if it works out.

The reason I say they should go it alone is because I'm afraid it could turn out like ISS, incomplete... This is too important a project to gamble with. I believe even a competition setup like the X-Prize but this time it should be the UN that puts up the reward and instead of Corps and Private Individuals competing it will be gov't. The prize would have to be HUGE though....

I think the reactor should be in japan. If the EU can not agree then IMHO think japan and the US should pull out and go it alone. Japan has been a very solid ally of the US in so many ways that they deserve the reward and prestige of having the Fusion reactor while IMHO france does not. I personally don't want to see one cent of US funding for this to go to france. Besides the japanese are far mre technologically proficient than the french and would IMHO have a better chance of making it work efficiently.

mwm, I believe the US has pulled out of it already if i'm not mistaken. Allthough I do agree Japan is more deserving in the What have you done for me lately category. Do we as North Americans really want to give Japan ANOTHER competitive edge. Japanese are very resourceful and they decimated Detriot's auto industry.