Co-funded European Partnership for fusion research (EUROfusion)

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This topic is a continuation of the co-funded European partnership implementing the European fusion research programme (EUROfusion) and constitutes the EU’s contribution for 2026-2027.

Expected outcome: the Partnership is expected to contribute to the following outcomes.

• European fusion leadership: EUROfusion will take a leading role in shaping the EU’s scientific priorities on fusion and coordinating the joint use of major EU and international research infrastructures. It will focus on fundamental and early-stage, low-technology readiness level (TRL) research. It will also drive progress towards a future fusion pilot plant.
• Streamlined work packages: the project’s work packages will be carefully streamlined, thus ensuring that activities implemented through direct collaboration with F4E and the ITER Organisation are entirely complementary.
• Support the inertial confinement (ICF) approach: building on the results of past and ongoing Enabling Research projects, the focus will be on the conceptual design of a direct-drive ICF facility. In addition to the main magnetic confinement fusion (MCF) approach, exploring alternative concepts like ICF and fostering synergies between different fusion methodologies is essential. This will drive innovation and deepen scientific understanding, advancing fusion energy technologies. Other high-potential, high-risk concepts will be carefully evaluated.
• Sustain a world-leading EU fusion talent pipeline: key initiatives (e.g. FuseNet, EUROfusion grants and doctoral programmes) will be continued and extended to emerging areas (e.g. inertial confinement and laser-based fusion technologies). Collaboration with industry will be strengthened. Institutional knowledge will be safeguarded. Diversity and inclusion will be actively promoted to ensure the attraction, training and retention of the skilled professionals needed to drive the advance and eventual commercialisation of fusion energy.
• Foster technology transfer: increasing technology transfer opportunities and commercial exploitation will raise industry’s and society’s awareness of the benefits of fusion technologies. The Programme will foster productive collaboration between industry and academia, transforming scientific discoveries into innovative products and manufacturing processes. The growing synergy between EUROfusion and F4E will facilitate the sharing of best practices and streamlined engagement with the industry. It will broaden support for investors, accelerate technical adaptation to the market and combine intermediary support networks.
• Maximise EU benefits in ITER Operations [[ Operations here refers to the commissioning, nuclear operation, scientific exploitation and maintenance and upgrade activities of ITER]]: ITER’s start of research operations (SRO) phase will require a fully trained experimental team to be available well in advance. The Programme will, in collaboration with F4E and the ITER Organisation, ensure readiness and coordination by engaging the entire fusion community in ITER preparation and operations. Dedicated support for training, education programmes and the scientific exploitation of EU fusion devices is crucial. This will ensure that EU science and industry fully benefit from ITER’s outcomes, laying the groundwork for future fusion power plants.
• Advance critical fusion infrastructures: priority will be given to key projects such as the conceptual design of a fusion pilot plant (to demonstrate key enabling technologies) and to the scientific exploitation of major facilities that are essential for testing and validating integrated fusion technologies in relevant operational environments. For the FPP, all major design integration issues will be addressed (in consultation with industry) in order to enable progress to engineering design activities under subsequent actions of the Euratom programme (notably the co-programmed PPP on fusion energy).

Introduction:

Since 2024, the European Commission has been shaping the core elements of the EU Fusion Strategy with the support of the Fusion Expert Group (FEG) [[ In 2024, the EC established the Commission Fusion Expert Group (FEG), comprising representatives from Member States and chaired by the EC, with EUROfusion and F4E participating as observers. The FEG’s mandate focuses on enhancing EU-level fusion Research and Innovation (R&I) governance by providing advice on implementing the Euratom R&T Programme and ITER research activities]]. This strategy is set to be released in 2026. It aims to accelerate the transition from achieving energy gain through fusion to full commercialisation by leveraging cutting-edge research, contributions from Member States and insights from ITER.

One central priority is to foster private sector engagement and build a competitive fusion industrial ecosystem that will encourage investment and support the development of an FPP. Accelerating progress in fusion energy will require stronger collaboration between public research institutions and the private sector along with a reassessment of the EU fusion programme’s organisation and management. The EU aims to establish itself as a global leader in fusion energy by driving technological advances and ensuring the efficient transfer of technology from research to industry.

EUROfusion remains a key driver of the EU’s fusion ambitions in this evolving landscape. Its mission and programme have been redefined in order to maintain this role and in view of the forthcoming EU Fusion Strategy. EUROfusion will not only focus on advancing foundational science and technology but will also oversee the development and management of existing and future research infrastructures. Its efforts will increasingly focus on early-stage research and low-maturity technologies. EUROfusion will also continue supporting the preparation of ITER operations, driving the development of a future fusion pilot plant and exploring alternative fusion concepts (including stellarators and inertial confinement fusion). EUROfusion will further scale up the efforts in education and training initiatives to equip future generations with the skills and knowledge needed in the field of fusion.

Scope: the aim is to support this transition and align EUROfusion’s programme with (a) the FEG’s strategic guidance; (b) the findings from the interim evaluation of the Euratom programme 2021-2025 (including the independent review of the EUROfusion Roadmap Addendum); (c) the most urgent technological challenges identified in the Addendum; (d) the new ITER baseline; and (e) the upcoming public-private partnership (PPP) with the EU fusion industry and the strategic research and innovation agenda (SRIA) developed by the GO4Fusion consortium in collaboration with all EU stakeholders. We therefore expect the following actions for the 2026-2027 work programme extension.

1. Revising the scope of the Partnership: EUROfusion’s roadmap has provided a strong framework but now requires revision in order to adapt it to the evolving fusion landscape. Key activities should continue, but a more transformative approach is needed in specific areas. EUROfusion’s role and programme are being redefined in alignment with the emerging EU Fusion Strategy, thus ensuring that it leads on the scientific priorities while also focusing on the joint exploitation and operation of existing and future research infrastructures (both within the EU and globally (e.g. WEST, ASDEX Upgrade, JT‑60SA, ITER, IFMIF-DONES, DTT and W7-X). In this context, particular emphasis should be placed on the fusion pilot plant as a future joint EU structuring project that would be the central objective around which R&D efforts would converge. The fusion pilot plant would represent the key step towards demonstrating the integration of fusion technologies in an operational environment. EUROfusion will also oversee the JET data centre, advance foundational science and technology, support the preparations for ITER operations and coordinate the EU’s various contributions to the realisation of the fusion pilot plant and the broader transition towards fusion energy.
2. Streamlining work packages (WPs): the Programme should consolidate the current 26 WPs by merging overlapping activities; restructuring overly complex or unclear WPs; and discontinuing those that no longer offer significant scientific value.
3. Strengthen interactions with the industry: within the framework of the future fusion public-private partnership (PPP), the Programme is expected to enhance its collaboration with industry by transitioning specific activities to the fusion PPP from 2026 onward. This shift should prioritise areas that have a stronger engineering focus over purely scientific research. This prioritisation should be guided by a well-defined strategic research and innovation agenda (SRIA). The goal is to bridge critical gaps in key technologies, drive innovation and support EU industry in mastering fusion technologies, while also establishing a competitive EU supply chain. In addition, EUROfusion is expected to scale up its tailored programme for technology transfer in order to connect the industry with academia and to exploit fusion research with market potential (including non-power applications).
4. Building a skilled workforce: a highly qualified workforce is essential for fusion innovation and maintaining the EU’s leadership in the field. The next generation of EU scientists and engineers will be crucial to the successful exploitation of ITER. As the fusion sector grows, challenges arise concerning (a) the training of engineers; (b) the lack of widespread access to comprehensive education in fusion sciences and engineering; (c) the shortage of vocational training for technical staff; and (d) the retention of existing knowledge and talents in the EU. EUROfusion should build on its knowledge management strategy, workforce-development activities, graduate and doctoral student support, education resource production and outreach activities. EUROfusion’s objective in education continues to be to train and retain scientists, engineers and technicians, as well as to provide highly qualified personnel for ITER exploitation. Collaboration with industry should be strengthened. Stronger industry-academia partnerships and training programmes that blend technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills are essential when preparing researchers to deliver technologically robust and commercially successful innovations.
5. Support alternative fusion concepts: one of the EU’s strengths is the breadth of its fusion R&D. The primary focus remains on magnetic confinement (particularly the tokamak as the most advanced concept and the stellarator as a promising alternative for the commercialisation phase). However, the timeline for deploying commercially viable FPPs remains uncertain. Recent scientific advances suggest that alternative fusion concepts (e.g. inertial confinement) hold significant potential. To accelerate progress and address critical technological challenges, the Programme should gradually diversify its support for fusion research and innovation by promoting a broader range of approaches to fusion energy development.

This transition and these efforts will be crucial to ensuring EUROfusion’s success and establishing a solid foundation for the future of fusion energy.

Cooperation with international organisations and non-Euratom countries should continue to be pursued in 2026-2027 with a view to pooling resources and sharing risks at both the bilateral level (e.g. with Japan and the Republic of Korea) and the multilateral level (e.g. the International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programmes on fusion power).

The criteria for the selection and implementation of European Partnerships and for their monitoring, evaluation, phase-out and renewal are set in Annex III to the Horizon Europe Regulation.

The general conditions (including admissibility conditions, eligibility conditions, award criteria, evaluation and award procedure, the legal and financial set-up for grants, financial and operational capacity, and exclusion and procedure) are set out in parts A to F of the General Annexes.

The following specific conditions apply for the co-funded European Partnership for fusion research.

The procedure is described in General Annex F but with the following exceptions applying.

• The Programme co-fund action grant will be awarded without a call for proposals according to Article 198(e) of the Financial Regulation and Article 24(3)(b) of the Horizon Europe Regulation. The award of such a grant is provided for in point (c) of Annex I to Regulation (Euratom) 2025/1304.
• The proposal must be submitted by the coordinator of the consortium implementing the ‘co-funded European Partnership for fusion research’ funded under the Euratom Work Programme 2021-2022.
• If the proposal is successful, the next stage of the procedure will be to prepare the amendment of the grant agreement.
• If the outcome of amendment preparations is an award decision, the coordinator of the consortium funded under Euratom Work Programme 2021-2022 will be invited to submit an amendment to the grant agreement on behalf of the beneficiaries.
• This action is to be implemented in the form of an amendment to the grant agreement concluded pursuant to call EURATOM-2021-ADHOC-IBA.

The legal and financial set-up of the grant agreements is described in General Annex G. The following exceptions apply:

• the Euratom funding rate will be limited to a maximum of 55% of the total eligible costs of the action;
• beneficiaries may provide financial support to third parties. Financial support provided by the participants to third parties is one of the activities of this partnership so that it can achieve its objectives. The maximum amount to be granted to each third party is EUR 60 000;
• identified beneficiaries from third countries may become beneficiaries only after their country of establishment is fully associated with the Euratom programme. Transitional arrangements may apply according to the General Annexes;
• beneficiaries may provide financial support for the costs of mobility of personnel on the basis of unit costs (as defined in the decision authorising the use of unit costs for mobility in co-funded actions under the Euratom programme);
• beneficiaries may provide financial support for access to infrastructures as they are defined in the decision authorising the use of unit costs for the costs of providing transnational and virtual access in research infrastructures actions under the Horizon Europe Programme (2021-2027) and the Euratom programme;
• purchases of equipment, infrastructure or other assets used for the action must be charged as depreciation expense. Equipment, infrastructure and other assets that are purchased specifically for the action (or developed as part of the action tasks) and that are listed in the proposal / Annex 1 to the grant agreement may exceptionally be treated as assets in the balance sheet.
• The starting date of a grant awarded under this topic may be retroactively set as 1 January 2026. Applicants must justify the need for such a retroactive starting date in their application. Only costs incurred after the action’s starting date may be considered as eligible.

Total indicative budget for the duration of the Partnership and rate of co-financing: the table below provides an overview of the 2026-2027 appropriations that will be committed to the co-funding grant to support the European Partnership. The total indicative budget for the duration of the co-funded Partnership is EUR 145 million. This will be committed in annual instalments over the two years 2026 and 2027 (EUR 72.5 million from the 2026 budget and EUR 72.5 million from the 2027 budget).