On Thursday 17 January 2013 at precisely 17h00, as planned, Director-General Motojima and Dr. Kijung Jung, head of the Korean Domestic Agency, signed an important document for the diagnostics program. This document, a Memorandum of Understanding, paves the way for the selection of a joint supplier for all diagnostic upper and equatorial port plug structures.

Combined with agreements with other Domestic Agencies, the procurement of the port plug structures will now be carried out in a joint tender approach. The Diagnostics Division has the responsibility to manage 12 out of 16 upper port plugs and 9 out of 14 equatorial port plugs.

"This approach makes good sense as it enables cost efficiencies through bulk buying of components and the very important sharing of resources," said J.S. Bak, chief engineer at the ITER Organization. The design of the port plug structures is currently at an advanced stage.