The ITPA adds a letter

The International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) was established in 2001 under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency and, since 2008, has operated under the ITER Organization. To date, the ITPA has coordinated research among the ITER Members to develop the physics and operational basis of burning tokamak plasmas for ITER, as well as for other fusion programs and for progress toward fusion energy in general. It has worked to achieve the broad physics basis behind ITER's design and is working on the optimization of its scientific exploitation (ITER Research Plan) through R&D carried out by seven ITPA Topical Groups.

Now, as ITER moves closer to integrated commissioning and research operation, international collaboration is evolving to ensure that not only the physics behind ITER but also the engineering knowledge is effectively shared to support successful operation. In 2025, the Coordinating Committee (CC) of the ITPA therefore decided to expand the Activity’s scope to formally include engineering activities. This process culminated at the ITPA CC meeting held at ITER Headquarters from 3 to 5 December 2025. As a result, from 2026 forward, the ITPA has a new name—the International Tokamak Physics and Engineering Activity (ITPEA)—and a new Charter. 

This new scope means that engineering and operational aspects of tokamak systems will now be part of the ITPEA activities. Two new Topical Groups have been created to coordinate activities in the areas of magnets, cryogenics and power supplies and in tokamak operations. The Magnets, Cryogenics and Power Supplies Group focuses on issues related to the design and operation of systems required for superconducting magnet operations in fusion devices, including their commissioning. The Tokamak Operations Group covers all practical aspects of operating tokamak components and systems like integrated commissioning and fuel cycle (including the tritium plant and interfaces with the tokamak). The engineering of other ITER components and systems will be addressed within the existing groups that are already carrying out associated research (e.g., aspects of the disruption mitigation system will be addressed in the MHD, Disruptions and Control Group, while heating and current drive will be addressed in the Integrated Operations Scenarios Topical Group).

The ITPEA, with its renewed scope, will effectively support preparations for tokamak operation with burning plasmas in ITER as well as, more generally, in the ITER Members.