The goals of the MEGAPIE initiative are to design, build and operate a 1MW heavy liquid metal target. The first step towards the realization of the MEGAPIE target was the feasibility studies, which outlined the entire project. Contextually to the feasibility studies the conceptual design phase started with the establishment of R&D working groups assisting the design and validation of both the target and its ancillary systems. In this framework the EU project MEGAPIE-TEST has been structured in three work packages with tasks concerning the finalization of the engineering design, the components and subsystem testing, the integral test and the first irradiation period. The MEGAPIE-TEST consortium is composed by the 14 partners: FZK, PSI, CEA, ENEA, SCK-CEN, CNRS /IDFE, IN2P3, LMPGM, EMN, ISMRA, UNIV-NANTES, U-PSUDXI, USTL. Currently the engineering design of the target has been finalized, its manufacturing has been launched and the design activities on the ancillary systems were almost completed. R&D activities in the fields of materials, thermal – hydraulics, structural mechanics, neutronic and nuclear assessment and liquid metal technologies were performed in order to assist specific design issues. Some Subsystem and component tests were also performed and the preparation of the integral test is an ongoing activity
