BARC evolves design of 1st PPP Research Reactor for production of Nuclear Medicines

Context

Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) has evolved a design for the first PPP Research Reactor for production of Nuclear Medicines.

On 16th May 2020, the establishment of a Research Reactor in PPP mode for production of medical isotopes as a part of Aatma Nirbhar Bharat initiatives for DAE was announced.
In the proposed partnership, the private entities will get exclusive rights to process and market the isotopes produced in the research reactor, in lieu of investing in the reactor and processing facilities.
The premier research organization of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) is ready to share the technology of production of a variety of nuclear medicines.
The proposed reactor is expected to come online within five years of the beginning of the construction.

The construction is in line with the ‘Make in India’ vision of the Government, this project will be a major step towards making India self-reliant in key radio isotopes used in medical and industrial applications.
As a result, it will increase availability of effective and affordable treatments for cancer.
The large scale and the technology being deployed for the planned research reactor will enable India to not only become a significant global player in the growing nuclear medicine market, but also have one of the most modern research reactors anywhere in the world.
Globally, nuclear medicine is a USD 6 Billion market and is expected to grow rapidly to reach USD 30 Billion by 2030. The planned PPP has an opportunity to completely transform India's stature in the global nuclear medicine industry.

BARC is the premier research institute for research in radio-isotopes for medical, industrial and research purposes for more than 60 years.
Dr Bhabha established the Atomic Energy Establishment, Trombay (AEET) in January 1954 for multidisciplinary research program essential for the ambitious nuclear program of India. In 1966, AEET was renamed Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC).
India produces all major isotopes in the country under the aegis of BARC.
BARC's research has resulted in developing and processing many new radio-isotopes, reducing import dependency as well as making the life-saving isotopes available to the country's poorest of the poor at a most reasonable cost.