Subscribe options

Select your newsletters:

Please enter your email address:

@

Your email address will only be used for the purpose of sending you the ITER Organization publication(s) that you have requested. ITER Organization will not transfer your email address or other personal data to any other party or use it for commercial purposes.

If you change your mind, you can easily unsubscribe by clicking the unsubscribe option at the bottom of an email you've received from ITER Organization.

For more information, see our Privacy policy.

News & Media

Latest ITER Newsline

  • Vacuum components | Shake, rattle, and... qualify!

    A public-private testing partnership certified that ITER's vacuum components can withstand major seismic events. Making sure the ITER tokamak will be safe in th [...]

    Read more

  • Feeders | Delivering the essentials

    Like a circle of giant syringes all pointing inward, the feeders transport and deliver the essentials to the 10,000-tonne ITER magnet system—that is, electrical [...]

    Read more

  • Image of the week | It's FAB season

    It's FAB season at ITER. Like every year since 2008, the Financial Audit Board (FAB) will proceed with a meticulous audit of the project's finances, siftin [...]

    Read more

  • Disruption mitigation | Final design review is a major step forward

    The generations of physicists, engineers, technicians and other specialists who have worked in nuclear fusion share a common goal, dedication and responsibility [...]

    Read more

  • Image of the week | Like grasping a bowl of cereal

    Contrary to the vast majority of ITER machine components, the modules that form the central solenoid cannot be lifted by way of hooks and attachments. The 110-t [...]

    Read more

Of Interest

See archived entries

ITER NEWSLINE -

State visit

ITER on Macron-Trump agenda

The State visit by French President Emmanuel Macron to Washington dominated the news this week. The main media interest ranged from the Iran nuclear deal and the Paris agreement to presidential handshakes and the symbolism of dinnerware. But under the radar, another important issue was on the Trump-Macron agenda: US support for an ITER Project that is on track for success.

At Blair House, the US President's guest house, French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the delegation that accompanies him on his State visit. ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot is second from left. Fields Medal and Member of the French Parliament Cedric Villani, another strong proponent of ITER, was also part of the delegation. © Présidence de la République (Click to view larger version...)
At Blair House, the US President's guest house, French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the delegation that accompanies him on his State visit. ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot is second from left. Fields Medal and Member of the French Parliament Cedric Villani, another strong proponent of ITER, was also part of the delegation. © Présidence de la République
France is not only the host country of the ITER Project; it also funds about 16 percent of the overall project cost—more than any other single nation. This means France is heavily vested in ITER's well being. Even more importantly, as he emphasized during his address to the US Congress, the French President places high value on scientific discovery and technological innovation. He is a strong vocal advocate for a clean energy future—underscoring the value of ITER.

As a clear signal of ITER's priority, President Macron asked ITER Director-General Bernard Bigot to accompany his presidential delegation to Washington. On Tuesday, in his speech at the French embassy, President Macron singled out ITER as an example of how large cooperative projects and common initiatives in the field of science can be used to build and strengthen bilateral and multilateral relationships among the ITER Members. The ITER Director-General was asked to participate in meetings with President Trump and the US Congress, and built on these discussions in his interactions with Secretary Perry and other US officials.

The time was well spent; the discussions were fruitful. According to the ITER Director-General: "It was clear from President Trump and President Macron's statement that both countries remain committed to maintaining global leadership on nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear technology. In that context, they stated that the US and France will support the ITER program and related scientific cooperation projects."

This outcome, together with the recent positive actions by the US Congress related to ITER funding, is clearly a meaningful step forward.


return to the latest published articles