b'LETTER FROM INLS CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICERT he Department of Energys (DOE) Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) program is an essential pathway for innovation, capability growth, and research staff development at Idaho National Laboratory (INL). This program enables timely and agile response to national security, energy, and environmental challenges that motivate INLs mission to discover and demonstrate innovative nuclear energy solutions and other clean energy options as well as securing our critical infrastructure.This report highlights INLs LDRD projects concluding in fiscal year (FY) 2021 which included innovative research and development (R&D) across INLs five science and technology initiatives: nuclear reactor sustainment and expanded deployment, integrated fuel cycle solutions, integrated energy systems, advanced design and manufacturing for extreme environments, and secure and resilient cyber-physical systems. INLs LDRD portfolio grew 60% over theand provide the greatest impact toEvery five years, DOE publishes an LDRD last five years from $23 million in FY17 toour sponsors. The increased number ofhighlights brochure that showcases $37 million in FY21. In FY17, 84 projectsprojects reflects an increased number ofcutting-edge research projects from the were supported as compared to 147high-quality proposals, which, in turn,LDRD programs at all DOE laboratories. projects in FY21. Our program employsindicates increasingly innovative thinkingIn FY21 alone, there were 2,394 projects a rigorous review and selection processby INL researchers. according to DOEs FY21 LDRD Report. To to identify the most innovative researchFrom FY17 to FY21, the 60% increasebe included in DOEs highlights brochure, projects that support INLs missionin budget with the 75% increase intherefore, is an impressive honor. INLs the number of supported projects alsoproject Production of Scandium-47 for indicates the success of the Seed LDRDPotential Use as a Radiotheragnostic, program. First piloted in FY18 and fullyled by principal investigator Dr. Mathew established in FY20, Seed projects areSnow and featured on page 64 in limited to 12 months duration andthis report, received this honor. This $125k funding. The Seed program fundsproject exemplifies the LDRD program innovative ideas and enables researchersintentinnovative impactful research, to test high-risk hypotheses. Thecollaborative capability growth, and program allows researchers to explorescientific staff development. domains beyond the five science andINL researchers are submitting more technology initiatives while remaininghigh-quality, high-value proposals aligned with INLs mission.than ever before and more than the INLs distinguished postdoctoralcurrent budget allows us to fund. We fellowship program continues toplan to continue growing INLs LDRD grow and attract scientists embarkingprogram and enabling our world-class on their research careers. The LDRDstaff to address DOEs current and future Dr. Marianne Walck program supports approximately halfmissions with leading-edge research. of the distinguished postdocs timeI invite you to review this report to DEPUTY LABORATORY DIRECTOR through projects for which they are thesee how INLs LDRD portfolio enables FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY principal investigators. In FY21, the sixinnovation and builds researcher talent AND CHIEF RESEARCH OFFICER distinguished postdoc proposals wereto advance INLs vision to change the IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY approved for funding with a total LDRDworlds energy future and secure our project budget exceeding $1.3M. critical infrastructure. 3'