Operation and utilisation of the materials testing reactor BR2 at the begian Nuclear Research Centre has since its start in 1963 always followed closely the needs nad developments of muclear technology. IN particular, a multituee fo irradiation experiments ahve been carried out for most types of nuclear power reactors, existing or under design. Since the early 1990s an increased focus was directed towards more specific irradiation testing needs for light water reactor fuels and materials, although other areas of utilisation continued as well , including also the growing activities of radioisotope production and silicon doping. An imprtant milestone was the decision in 1994 to implement a ocmprehensive refurbishment programme for hte BR2 reactor and plant installations. The scope of this prgramme comprised very substatial studies and hardware interventions, which have been completed in early 1997 within planning and budget. Directly connectedto this strategic decision for reactor refurbishment was the reinforcement of our efforts to requalify and upgrade the existing irradiation facilities and to develop advanced devices in BR2 to support emerging prormames in the following fields: LWR pressure vessel steel, LWR irradiatin assisted stress corrosion cracking, reliability and safety fo high-burnup LWR fuel, fusion reactor materials and blanket coponents, fast neutron reactor fuels nad actinide burning, extension and diversification fo radioisotope production. The paper highlights these advances in the areas of BR2 utilisation and the ongoing development activities for the required new generation of irradiations devices.
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