IBM sets up centre of excellence for nuclear power in France

Mumbai: IBM has announced the setting up a global centre of excellence in France for improved design, construction, safety and operation of nuclear power plants. The Global Center of Excellence for Nuclear Power in La Gaude, an extension of IBM''s on-going work with leading nuclear power companies, would utilise IBM software, hardware, consulting, and services industry offerings.

The centre will support implementation of nuclear power operators'' innovative IT systems; define and share best practice business processes for safety, reliability, compliance and efficiency; provide tools and consulting methodologies that enable effective business and IT alignment; ensure a robust IT infrastructure and architecture to support deployment of strategic enterprise applications; and serve as a demonstration centre for joint IBM and industry partner solutions, IBM said.

The centre will host a portfolio of IBM and independent software vendors'' applications that are targeted to the nuclear power industry, as well as support the IBM Maximo Asset Management Solution.

Maximo is one of the core applications used by nuclear power operators to help manage critical operational and IT assets throughout their life cycle. The center will be closely connected to Maximo development labs in the US and Brazil to help customers worldwide successfully implement the Maximo Nuclear Solution.

IBM has recently invested in a $10 million facility at IBM La Gaude. The newly-designed 10,000 sq ft (930 sq m) facility successfully connects industry-specific trends with advanced technologies and technical solutions, leveraging technical and business integration from across the company.

"France possesses world-class expertise in the area of nuclear power," said Frederic Bauchot, lead architect, IBM Center of Excellence for Nuclear Power. "Establishment of the center enables IBM to utilise not only local IBM talent and experience in nuclear systems design and implementation, but also advanced skills of a leading nuclear power market," he said.

Eighty per cent of France ''s power comes from nuclear plants.

The center of excellence will also capitalise on IBM''s experience in the deployment and modeling of nuclear equipment in nearby Cadarache, site of the International Thermo Nuclear Experimental Reactor fusion project. In addition, the centre will forge strategic relationships with other industrial partners of the nuclear power industry, as well as industry regulators. The IBM Nuclear Advisory Council will provide governance for the new center.

The new centre joins IBM''s global network of centres and research labs focused on the energy and utilities industry. These include IBM industry solution centres in Dallas, Texas , Tokyo and Beijing , as well as the IBM Austin Research Lab in Texas.

"Today, there are more than 30 countries worldwide operating nuclear reactors for electricity generation. In these countries, nuclear power plant license extensions and new plant construction are driving the need for sophisticated risk modeling and information tools that ensure safe and reliable operations," said Guido Bartels, general manager, IBM Global Energy and Utilities Industry.