Cameco
Innovative Practice/Initiative: Cameco Sabbatical Program for Academics
Organisation Profile
Cameco is one of the world's largest uranium producers, focusing on clean electricity. We are also a leading provider of the processing services required to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. We have operations in Saskatchewan and Ontario, the US and Kazakhstan, and development projects in Australia. Cameco is also recognized as one of the top employers in Canada with over 3,300 global employees and is the largest industrial employer for Aboriginal Canadians.
The growing demand for clean energy poses scientific challenges for Cameco and the nuclear industry. Strengthening ties between academia and industry has the potential to address some of these challenges and allow Cameco to maintain its position as a leader in uranium fuel production and clean electricity generation.
The Organisation's Initiative
Cameco Corporation's Innovation & Technology Development (I&TD) department has established a sabbatical program that supports researchers and scientists from universities and provides them with an opportunity to conduct research at Cameco operations each year. The arrangement allows professionals and academics from post-secondary education institutions a chance to work and collaborate with technical personnel at Cameco's facilities.
The objective of the sabbatical program is to expand Cameco's research and development (R&D) capabilities and capacity. The program is designed to establish a network of R&D laboratories that can:
(a) provide enhanced resources;
(b) generate ideas to solve operation issues; and
(c) improve production.
The program will also be used to enhance knowledge of young engineers/scientists of the uranium industry and provide potential Cameco employment opportunities. Overall, this program will enhance the innovation capacity of Cameco and the uranium production industry.
This program is directly linked to Cameco's goal of obtaining safe, clean and reliable uranium production, as well as the company's long-term strategy to significantly increase production by 2018. I&TD's efforts aim to improve operational excellence and enhance environmental performance at Cameco's operations.
The Sabbatical Program for Academics was established to achieve the following goals:
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Carry out targeted R&D that benefits Cameco's operations and generates research opportunities for academics.
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Familiarize the visiting researcher with Cameco operations and the issues that enable them to generate ideas for other technology improvements.
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Foster collaboration with our technical people for a mutually beneficial sharing of information.
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On completion of the sabbatical, academics would return to their universities with proposals for R&D projects that would benefit Cameco's operations and have potential to involve other academics and students.
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When R&D projects are developed and approved, Cameco will provide in-kind and cash funding support for the projects and assist in obtaining funding from other agencies.
This program has no tangible outcomes as of January 2011.
Expected future outcomes of this program include:
a) Short-term results from the sabbatical stay at Cameco operations;
b) Build strong relationships with university laboratories with desired expertise;
c) Establish important resources that can assist Cameco with technical issues;
d) Develop students that could eventually become Cameco employees, and
e) Generate opportunities for faculty and students to build R&D projects, interact with commercial operations and gain first-hand work experience.
More details on the initiative:
An individual or researcher engaged in the sabbatical program will be involved in R&D activities in support of Cameco's operations. The individual will spend up to one year working with operations and business units (length of stay determined by the objectives of the proposed project).
The sabbatical program is co-ordinated through Cameco's I&TD department in Saskatoon. The researcher is expected to be in residence at one of Cameco's operations or facilities and interact with other Cameco technical personnel. Confirmation of the researcher's sabbatical arrangements with the home post-secondary institution will occur after the applicant is selected.
Sabbatical researchers are chosen based upon:
(a) an indication that applicant research plans are consistent with Cameco's goals and objectives;
(b) demonstrated ability to carry out the proposed research; and
(c) documentation that Cameco will enhance the capacity for the research to be completed in an efficient and timely manner.
The research questions to be addressed by a researcher may be either fundamental, applied or both, and may be focused around a particular topic that is significant to Cameco. In addition to the research responsibilities associated with the proposed project, each researcher will be expected to collaborate with Cameco personnel. The research project proposal must be developed in consultation with technical personnel at Cameco who co-ordinate each application.
The researcher is expected to sign confidentiality agreements with Cameco. The success of the researcher's sabbatical program with Cameco will be measured by a mixture of ideas generated during their stay, the number of research and development projects proposals they submit for Cameco's consideration at the end of their term, the completion of the committed work, and submission of a final report.
Cameco is providing a significant investment in this initiative. Sabbatical researchers are provided a stipend, up to a total maximum of $25,000 over their stay, with this amount not to exceed 25% of the researcher's home post-secondary institution salary for the period. The stipend is designed to cover travel, housing and living expenses while in residence. Arrangements are flexible and may vary depending on the plan developed with their home post-secondary institution. Researcher stipends are allocated to allow some coverage of the local living and housing costs, and Cameco will assist the researcher in locating housing appropriate to their needs. Expenses incurred during the individual's stay for carrying out the projects would be covered by Cameco.
