Cabri Project—a Collaborative Research Facility

This paper describes the results of a case-study carried out within the context of a wider evaluation of the benefits and costs of international collaboration in Europe for the development of fast breeder reactors. The Cabri reactor is a large scale research facility jointly owned and operated by France and Germany, with the UK, USA, and Japan involved as junior partners. The organisation of the collaboration is discussed. Particular issues include problems surrounding barter arrange- ments, personnel aspects and the extent to which costs and benefits have been incurred. It is concluded that a substantial saving was achieved compared with performing the work in one country, but at a cost of reduced national control. The collaboration was facilitated by the lack of immediate commercial significance and by the organisational structure.