One of the main project objectives is to demonstrate systems that would scan passing large-size cargo (e.g. trucks, containers) with beams of ionizing radiation in order to detect illegal trafficking of various prohibited or smuggled substances (strategic goods/technologies, solid and liquid fission materials, radioactive materials, explosives, toxic substances/waste, drugs, cigarettes, double-use products). Once commercially developed and deployed as truck/container scanning gates at border cargo checkpoints, such systems will assist Polish authorities in accomplishing the task to stop flow of dangerous materials into European Union territory via its east borders that was assigned to Poland when it was joining the Schengen Treaty.

The other main project objective is to demonstrate new accelerators for cancer therapy:

• miniature low-energy electron accelerator (X-ray tube) with an applicator for direct irradiation of breast tumours
• medium-energy mobile electron accelerator for intra-operative treatment
• multi-energy LINAC integrated with diagnostic simulator for highly-advanced radiotherapy procedures.

WHO (World Health Organization) recommends to double number of therapeutic systems in Poland. One might therefore expect that the demand for medical accelerators will surge. The systems developed within the framework of this Project will be equipped with newly-developed state-of-the art accessories to facilitate the therapy procedures. Once objectives of this Project are achieved, National Centre for Nuclear Research (NCBJ) offer for equipment for oncology centres/facilities will be significantly modernized, which should translate into an opportunity to improve accessibility to radiotherapy in the country.

Directly after concluding this Project, NCBJ is going to commercially develop the demonstrated accelerators in its ZDAJ Production Establishment. Quality Assurance System deployed and observed in ZDAJ fully complies with the PN-EN ISO 9001:2001and PN-EN ISO 13485:2005 standards. All demonstrated accelerators are going to be CE certified. Potential customers for the developed accelerators might be sought for both in the public health service sector, in the ever growing in Poland private health service sector, as well as abroad. Price competitiveness of our accelerators makes the two latter options quite interesting.

The Project is going not only to increase NCBJ R&D potential: newly created or modernized labs/stands, new employees, students flocking to interesting jobs, modernized portfolio of products, increased competitiveness are also very valuable benefits of the Project.