TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER - FROM SAFEGUARDS TO SECURE AIR CARGO

In December, 1993, a Bi-national Research and Industrial Development (BIRD) Foundation grant of approximately $410,000 was awarded to Hi-G-Tek, an Israeli company, and Aquila, a US firm, for the development of a low-cost active seal for wide commercial application. This investment represents a true transfer of safeguardsdeveloped instrument technologies for application in the commercial sector. Aquila is the manufacturer and supplier of fiber optic containment seals. Over the last few years, the users of the seals have encouraged Aquila to develop low-cost and computer identifiable seal alternatives. The development of an inexpensive intelligent seal will greatly reduce inspector workload in safeguards and provide a tag/seal that may be produced and utilized in large quantities under a non-proliferation or arms control scenario. The interim development of \"LoCOSS,\" a CEC Euratom sponsored project, and both the CEC and IAEA efforts in specifying lower-cost containment seals is discussed. The project sponsored by the BIRD grant to develop a new generation of extremely inexpensive, low power consumption, and easily manufacturable seals is discussed. Seal costs are compared as well as power source alternatives, communications, and environmental considerations. Next-generation seals and their posturing in