IBM sets up centre of excellence for nuclear power in France
04 Jul 2007
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.
