Abstract: A Materials Risk Information Platform is being developed under the cooperation of companies and academic societies with NIMS as project core. To combine safety and economy, which are sometimes contrary to each other, it is important to find an optimal solution using a new concept: risk based engineering. A 5-year project, the Materials Risk Information Platform, was started in 2001 in NIMS on the boilers of thermal power plants and the objectives of this project, research areas and its present state were outlined.

Key words: risk, accident, structural