Origins of the GIF

Meetings of GIF began in January 2000 when the US Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology convened a group of senior governmental representatives from the original nine countries to begin discussions on international collaboration in the development of Generation IV nuclear energy systems.

The group, subsequently named the Policy Group of the GIF, also decided to form a group of senior technical experts to explore areas of mutual interest and make recommendations regarding both research and development areas to be explored and processes by which collaboration could be conducted and assessed. This senior Technical Experts Group first met in April 2000.

The entire GIF continues to hold regular meetings in its member countries.

The current GIF members are Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Euratom, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, Republic of South Africa, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

To help the GIF understand the opinions of countries not represented in the GIF and to identify opportunities to work with the relevant international organisations, the GIF charter provides for the participation of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency as permanent observers.

The OECD Nuclear Energy Agency is also acting as the Technical Secretariat for the GIF.

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