The MYRRHA project aims to develop and to construct a world-class and first-of-a-kind nuclear research infrastructure. The detailed design and the construction of the MYRRHA facility is particularly challenging since it necessitates the coordination and the management of a large number of activities in view of achieving technical excellence in compliance with the project budget and schedule.
At the current stage, main emphasis is on the development of the MYRRHA conceptual and basic design, the elaboration of the MYRRHA consortium, the execution of the supporting R&D and engineering programme, and the preparation of the MYRRHA licensing process. In order to bring the MYRRHA project to the degree of maturity needed to start construction, further steps have to be taken in support of the establishing of the MYRRHA consortium, the development and the implementation of a legal and financial framework, the integration and the coordination of scientific and technical work, as well as the deployment of adequate methods, procedures and instruments for the management of the MYRRHA project during the construction phase.
The MARISA project is a Coordination and Support Action, marking the transition from the MYRRHA preparatory phase to the construction phase. More specifically, the programme of work of the MARISA project plans :

• To realise essential steps related to the establishing of the MYRRHA consortium, which is a basic condition for assembling a critical mass and sources of funding for the project ;
• To integrate different national and international research programmes and initiatives related to R&D and technology development required for the deployment of a lead-cooled fast reactor system including the development of a roadmap identifying the contribution of MYRRHA as a fast neutron spectrum research facility in relation to the closing of the nuclear fuel cycle ;
• To establish a legal framework, an organisational management structure and the definition of rules for the valuation of contributions from Consortium Members to MYRRHA ;
• To establish a roadmap and business plan for the funding of the MYRRHA project during its entire lifecycle ;
• To establish and to implement state-of-the-art management principles, procedures and instruments allowing for the management of the MYRRHA project scope, the supervision and the control of project cost, the management of the MYRRHA schedule as well as the management of human resources, information and Intellectual Property Rights.
• To initiate the licensing process, in particular the drafting of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report, which is a basic and essential step in the MYRRHA licensing process ;
• To integrate and coordinate work related to the MYRRHA accelerator and the Balance of Plant. The MARISA project also includes an external review of the MYRRHA primary system, thus providing an additional validation prior to passing on to the construction phase.

The MARISA project will be pivotal since results from work performed in the framework of this CSA-CA will significantly advance the MYRRHA project by the conditions and creating a common basis required for passing on from the pre-project phase to construction.