ITER publishes research plan R&D needs

Fusion researchers are constantly challenging the scientific state-of-the-art and improving the technology thereby creating the conditions for innovation, much of which can be exploited in other science and industrial sectors for the benefit of society. The SOFT Innovation Prize highlights and rewards excellence in innovation that can be found in fusion research as well as the quality of the researchers and industries involved. Following the success of 2022 and 2024 editions of the SOFT Innovation Prize, the European Commission is holding the contest again in association with the next Symposium on Fusion Technology (SOFT), which will be held in Aix-en-Provence, France, from 21 to 25 September 2026.

The contest is open to researchers, research teams, or industrial participants eligible for funding under the Euratom Research and Training Programme 2021-2025, to researchers or research teams working for a national program in an ITER partner country or in any third country that has a bilateral fusion cooperation agreement with Euratom in force, and to industrial participants participating in the ITER project.

There are no specific categories for this prize. Participants are free to submit an application concerning any physics or technology innovation that has been developed in magnetic confinement fusion research and that has market potential or has been taken up (or recognized) by industry to be further developed for the market.

Entries will be assessed on originality and replicability, technical excellence, economic impact, exploitation, and plans for further development. Proposals are studied by an independent jury composed of experts in technology transfer, from business and academia.

The deadline to submit applications is 03 March 2026. See further details on the SOFT Innovation Prize 2026 website.

The European Commission has published a four-week Call for Evidence to collect feedback and provide input for the European Union’s (EU's) first-ever Fusion Strategy. Programmed for publication by the end of 2025, the strategy will be a key step to position the EU at the world forefront of fusion development and accelerate commercial fusion energy in the EU. Through this Call for Evidence, the Commission invites research stakeholders, industry and startups as well as private investors to provide inputs to shape the strategy and identify the most effective actions to support fusion development and deployment. Available in all 24 official EU languages, the Call for Evidence is open until 1 July 2025.

See this news feature or participate directly in the Call for Evidence.

In describing the R&D program of the ITER device, the new baseline ITER Research Plan also identifies the top R&D issues requiring consolidation or refinement. In the interest of making these R&D support needs more widely accessible to the fusion research community, scientists at the ITER Organization have just released a consolidated updated list as an ITER Technical Report.

The report, published on 30 May 2025, provides the description of a selected set of issues related to completion of systems' designs, specific choices and options to be explored in the early stages of the IITER Research Plan, and strategic assumptions on the development of the Plan's experimental program towards high Q operation.

The support from ITER Member fusion research institutes provides an essential contribution to the further refinement of the ITER Research Plan. Making these R&D needs publicly available is intended to strengthen this support. 

Visit the ITER Technical Reports page of the ITER website, or download the 32-page document directly here.

The Fusion Industry Association (FIA) has released its 2025 Supply Chain Report. The annual report, which surveyed 22 private fusion companies and 57 suppliers, finds a 73% spending increase among respondants, from around USD 250 million in 2023 to USD 434 million in 2024 (and not all companies responded). The FIA anticipates that supply chain spending will grow by another 25% this year. 

Eighty-six percent of those surveyed saw their fusion-related business increase last year. The 57 suppliers who responded reported investing a combined USD 230 million on building new capacity (including people and machinery) to support this growth.

Concerns remain amongst fusion companies and suppliers regarding challenges in meeting the increasing demand. Nearly a third of fusion companies (31%) expressed concern about the availability of precision engineering and manufacturing suppliers to meet current commercial needs, rising to 63% for future needs. Every company surveyed named at least one key component or material where they had concerns about short- or long-term availability. 

From the report: "Overall, the biggest challenge remains the 'chicken or egg' problem; suppliers need to know that there will be a market to invest in, but fusion companies struggle to commit long-term in advance of hitting timeline milestones. A third of suppliers (31%) are prepared to take the risk of growing capacity to support fusion, and almost half (46%) will do so if there is some risk-sharing. Nonetheless, 83% currently see business risks associated with selling to the fusion industry."

The report can be downloaded from the FIA website at this address.