37th ITER Council Meeting: ITER maintains strong project execution

Sustained strong project execution: At the Council’s thirty-seventh meeting on 19-20 November 2025, ITER Director-General Pietro Barabaschi reported on the progress of the ITER Project. The Council acknowledged the indicators of strong project management: for 2024 and 2025, the project’s Schedule Performance Index and Cost Performance Index have been greater than 1.0—meaning that ITER is somewhat ahead of schedule while spending less than anticipated in the Baseline 2024. The Council urged the ITER Organization and all Domestic Agencies to continue to drive this pace and performance. 

In particular, the Council welcomed the steady progress on assembly and installation of the sector modules, noting that this remains the critical path for the project schedule. The Council also noted progress on assembly of the central solenoid, start of production of all divertor components, installation of the first gyrotron for electron cyclotron heating, completion of the bioshield penetrations in the Tokamak Building, and sustained positive interaction with the French nuclear safety regulator. The on-schedule deliveries of key components—for example, the first batch of shield blocks for the blanket, the first port plug test bench, and the cryostat for further cryogenic testing of some poloidal and toroidal field coils—further demonstrated the support of all Members through their in-kind contributions. 

Engagement with Private Sector Fusion Companies: The Council welcomed the continuing engagement with private sector fusion efforts, including the open sourcing of ITER’s scientific simulation software and the planned release of the first volume of the ITER Design Handbook by the end of 2025. The Council noted that ITER offers a unique opportunity for the global fusion community, serving as a training ground for the fusion workforce. The Council recognized the involvement of the private sector in the fusion development process. 

ITER Member support: Council Members re-emphasized the value of the ITER mission and resolved to work together to facilitate ITER’s success. The Council noted the challenges and successes of this first-of-a-kind project and expressed appreciation that all ITER Members support project success.

BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE

ITER—designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power—will be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process that powers the Sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source.

ITER is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration that serves as the scientific backbone behind the growth of a fusion industry. As the host, Europe contributes almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States), contribute equally for the remaining expenses. The ITER Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France. 

For more information on the ITER Project, visit: http://www.iter.org/

CONTACT

Laban Coblentz 
Laban.Coblentz@iter.org 
+33 6 14 16 40 85