DONES Consolidation Phase 1

Project Information

DONES-ConP1

Grant agreement ID: 101145952

Project closed

EC signature date 20 October 2023

Start date 1 November 2023

End date 31 October 2025

Funded under

• Euratom Research and Training Programme (EURATOM)

Total cost

€ 1 906 700,00

EU contribution

€ 1 249 820,00

Coordinated by

CONSORCIO IFMIF-DONES ESPAÑA
Spain

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - DONES-ConP1 (DONES Consolidation Phase 1)

Reporting period: 2024-11-01 to 2025-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

DONES-ConP1 is a project which answers to the call of support action for consolidating the IFMIF-DONES ESFRI facility.
It is linked to the brandnew DONES Programme serving as a transition for policy makers until funds are available, consolidate and expand the users community.
The project deals not only with the Construction Phase of the facility, but also with the operation and exploitation phase of the project. Although the Andalucia and the Spanish Government are ready to finance the investment to the extent of 50%, Croatia a 5%, and EURATOM through F4E are also ready to invest another 20%, negotiations with different partners are ongoing in order to secure and equilibrate the full construction budget and to assure the operation costs.
This Consolidation support action is the ideal framework to ensure these contributions. The project focuses on critical financial, legal and organisational issues related to the international character of the IFMIF-DONES facility during its construction and operation phases.
The experience of the partners supplying in-kind procurements to other European and International facilities is a clear asset to benefit and developing update models for all the documentation and planning related with in-kind of commercial procurements at IFMIF-DONES.
One of the main objectives of the project is to consolidate the scientific users community of both fusion and non-fusion experiments, developing cutting edge proposals in fields of nuclear physics, medicine or industry.
The DONES Experimental Programme is one of the key objectives of the project.
Finally, the project will update all the DONES Programme documentation in order to ensure they are ready for the start of the construction, and also the installation and commissioning phases. This will include an update of the documentation related to licensing of the proposal of experiments, and the transport to support facilities.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Over two years, DONES-ConP1 met all objectives across four coordinated work packages.
• User Engagement: The Third DONES Users Workshop in Zagreb united over 80 participants from fusion, medical, and industrial fields. The project produced the Fusion and Non-Fusion Experimental Programmes identifying priority experiments and established a Post-Irradiation Examination workflow for European analysis facilities. An innovative “flip-and-average” approach improved neutron dose uniformity within ±10%, ensuring high-quality materials data.
• Data Management: A comprehensive Data Access and Management Plan set clear rules for operational and experimental data, including remote access and DOI-based traceability, securing a transparent data lifecycle.
• In-Kind Contribution Framework: The project finalized the Strategy of Acceptance Tests and updated the Package Breakdown Book, enabling technical subdivision of facility components for international partners. Lessons from ESS, XFEL, and LIPAc informed models for managing in-kind contributions, intellectual property, and risk-sharing.
• Programme Readiness: Major governance and implementation documents were delivered, including the Programme Team Organisation, Integrated Installation and Commissioning Plan, Cost Book, and Programme Plan with updated risks and schedules. Transport and licensing requirements for irradiated and non-fusion experiments were also defined, ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Dissemination and Impact: DONES-ConP1 maintained strong visibility through over 25 scientific and policy presentations (COP29, IAEA, ITER Business Forum), active web updates, newsletters, and local outreach to schools, research centres, and industry, enhancing community and stakeholder engagement.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

IFMIF-DONES will be the world’s first fusion-relevant neutron source enabling material qualification for DEMO and future reactors. Achievements during the preparation phase—such as the acceleration of 125 mA deuteron beams at LIPAc and operation of the world’s largest lithium loop—demonstrate technological readiness.
The experimental programmes integrate fusion materials testing with applications in nuclear medicine, fundamental physics, and industry, ensuring broad societal and scientific return. DONES-ConP1 facilitates partner access to national funding and secures their participation as contributors to the DONES Programme.

Some DONES ConP1 project members during the 2st Technical Meeting hold in Granada

Some DONES ConP1 project members during the 1st Technical Meeting hold in Zagreb

Presentation of a poster describing the project at the IPAC 2024 congress

Our Project Leader captured during the recording of some communication videos about the project