The founding document of the Generation IV International Forum (GIF), a framework for international co-operation in research and development for the next generation of nuclear energy systems, are set out in the GIF Charter which was first signed in July 2001 by Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Japan, Republic of Korea, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. The Charter was signed by Switzerland in 2002, Euratom in 2003, the People’s Republic of China and the Russian Federation in 2006.
In July 2011, the thirteen members agreed to sign an extension of the Charter signalling the wish to continue to co-operate in the research and development of Generation IV. On 22 June 2016 Australia signed the Charter, thus becoming the 14th member.
