The Belgian nuclear research centre SCK CEN is planning to invest heavily in new infrastructure as it aims to “make a difference” key areas of nuclear applications including the fight against cancer, new director-general Peter Baeten said.

Setting out his plans for the centre, at Mol in northeastern Belgium, Mr Baeten said SCK CEN wants to increase the social impact of its research and applications.

He said SCK CEN will continue the existing €1.6bn ($1.7bn) Myrrha project by upgrading the particle accelerator and linking it to an irradiation facility that will allow for research and the production of more medical radioisotopes.

The Myrrha project, supported by the European Union, is to design and build a multifunctional research installation. It will consist of four main components: a linear accelerator, a lead-bismuth eutectic cooled reactor, a proton target facility and a full power facility. It will be the first prototype of a nuclear reactor driven by a particle accelerator.