The 2024 National Data Centre (NDC) Workshop is being organized by the Provisional Technical Secretariat (PTS) of the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in cooperation with the Government of China.   
 

LOCATION
Beijing, China

DATES
21-25 October 2024

LANGUAGE
The working language will be English


OBJECTIVES
The NDC workshop provides an opportunity for participants from State Signatory NDCs to meet and discuss their activities and share experiences accessing IMS data, using IDC products and operating as an NDC. The objectives of the workshop are:   

1. Provide an environment for NDC experts to share their experiences in fulfilling their verification responsibilities;   
2. Provide NDC feedback to the PTS on all aspects of the data, products, services and support provided to NDCs; under this objective, particular emphasis will be put on: 
   - NDC contributions to Performance Monitoring and Testing (through NPEs and other means);  
   - Discussions on NDC involvement in the IDC Progressive Commissioning;  
   - Discussion of recent and ongoing IDC projects.   
3. Review NDC recommendations;  
4. The progress and initial results of the NDC Preparedness Exercise 2024 (NPE24) will be presented and discussed, including analysis of the NPE24 event using IMS Data and other data obtained by national means;
5. Contributions on the interaction between NDCs and research and development-related topics will be discussed; 
6. Discuss progress on the NDC4ALL initiative; 
7. Discuss Challenges facing NDCs.
    

AGENDA
The tentative topics for the 2024 NDC workshop are the following.  This list incorporates feedback received during the 24 April online meeting to discuss the agenda.  

(a) NDCs’ Capabilities -NDCs4All update and plans - Cooperation and Interaction in research and development among the NDCs;  - Information and Data sharing among NDCs -Approaches to data visualization; 
  
(b) PTS Data, Products, Services, and Support  - NDC feedback on PTS data, products, services, and support   - Discussion of recent and ongoing IDC projects; 

(c) NDC Preparedness Exercise 2024 - Progress and results of the NPE2024 - Plans for future exercises; 
  
(d) Progressive commissioning of the IDC - Discussions on NDC involvement in the IDC Progressive Commissioning; 
 
(e) Progress on addressing previous NDC Workshop recommendations. 


APPLICATION PROCEDURES 
Applicants are requested to register online at the Indico webpage https://conferences.ctbto.org/event/26/  by 29 July 2024

States Signatories wishing to nominate participants are requested to inform the Provisional Technical Secretariat (see Point of Contact) through their respective Permanent Mission by the deadline set for the application. 


FINANCIAL INFORMATION
For participants receiving funding from the Commission, please note that, in accordance with the Staff Rules and Regulations and Administrative Directives, the PTS will provide the following:  

• A Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) that is sufficient to cover related expenses during the workshop; 
• The PTS travel agent will reserve, issue, and send the flight tickets to the participants for the most direct and economical route; 
• Funded participants are not allowed to purchase their tickets unless, under exceptional circumstances, be authorized to do so and only if this proves to be most cost-efficient for the PTS; 
• Information on hotel booking and method of covering expenses will be sent to participants after the registration/application deadline; 
• Health insurance will be provided covering the workshop's duration, including transportation time. 

OTHER PERTINENT INFORMATION

Visas 
Participants should apply for visas, if needed, at the corresponding consular office upon receipt of an acceptance Note Verbale from the Provisional Technical Secretariat to ensure timely processing.   

Health/Accident Insurance  
If not PTS-funded, it is strongly recommended that prior to departure all participants should acquire health and accident insurance for the duration of the workshop.