On 30th January 2006 the first ITER International Project Team staff began working at the Cadarache Joint Work Site.

This advanced party is from the Safety, Environment and Health Group, to ease preparations for obtaining the Construction License, and from the Site, Buildings and Assembly Group of the Nuclear Technology Division, to speed up preparations for initial construction work. As the year goes on they will be joined by new recruits to the project as well as their colleagues in other areas from the previous Joint Work Sites in Garching and Naka.

This advanced party is also providing the first test for the host organisation, CEA, in supporting the relocation of the international scientific staff in the Cadarache area, as well as in setting up the basic facilities to support their work.