STRATEGIC ALLIANCE FOR BUILDING EUROPEAN FUSION ENERGY PARTNERSHIP

Project Information

GO4FUSION

Grant agreement ID: 101212737

EC signature date 16 December 2024

Start date 15 January 2025

End date 14 January 2027

Funded under

• Euratom Research and Training Programme (EURATOM)

Total cost

€ 1 500 000,00

EU contribution

€ 1 500 000,00

Coordinated by

AGENZIA NAZIONALE PER LE NUOVE TECNOLOGIE, L'ENERGIA E LO SVILUPPO ECONOMICO SOSTENIBILE
Italy

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GO4FUSION (STRATEGIC ALLIANCE FOR BUILDING EUROPEAN FUSION ENERGY PARTNERSHIP)

Reporting period: 2025-01-15 to 2026-01-14

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The GO4FUSION project, Strategic Alliance for Building European Fusion Energy Partnership, aims to strengthen the European fusion ecosystem at a crucial stage of technological development. Although Europe is a global leader in fusion research, a gap remains between scientific advances and industrial market readiness. Bridging this gap is essential for fusion to become a viable, grid-connected energy source. GO4FUSION therefore acts as a catalyst to enhance collaboration across the European fusion community and prepare the creation of a future PPP with the EC. This partnership aims to mobilise funding for research and industrial development, accelerate technology maturation, and strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and strategic autonomy in the global energy sector.

A central component of the project is the EFSP, which brings together research institutions, industrial actors, and innovative start-ups across the fusion value chain. The platform provides input on regulatory frameworks, infrastructure needs, and strategic priorities. Within the first months of the project, the EFSP reached more than fifty members and became an active forum for stakeholder engagement. It also supports mapping the European fusion ecosystem, leading to the identification of 196 technological capabilities required for future fusion power plants.

The project is developing a SRIA to guide the future PPP. The SRIA defines research priorities across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons and identifies ten key technological gaps limiting fusion deployment, including plant design, tritium systems, diagnostics and control, magnets and cryogenics, and high-performance lasers. These challenges are analysed through TRL to define pathways toward industrial applications.

An important milestone is the creation of the FUSION NOW Association, an industry-led international non-profit established under Belgian law. FUSION NOW will represent the European fusion sector and act as the legal entity for establishing the future PPP.

By aligning research priorities, strengthening industry participation, and developing a coordinated governance framework, GO4FUSION supports the future deployment of first-of-a-kind fusion power plants and the long-term commercialisation of fusion energy in Europe.

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

A key achievement was the creation of the EFSP, a voluntary forum bringing together research organisations, industrial companies, and start-ups involved in fusion technologies across Europe. The platform, in its first phase, has grown to more than fifty members and provides structured dialogue on technological priorities, infrastructure needs, and regulatory challenges, through the discussion around the SRIA.

Another major milestone was the development of the Master Capabilities List, mapping 196 technological capabilities required for a grid-connected fusion power plant across areas such as heating systems, magnet technologies, cryogenics, and tritium fuel cycles. This mapping provides an overview of the European fusion ecosystem, identifies technological gaps, and supports industrial collaboration.

The project also produced the first draft of the SRIA, defining research priorities for both magnetic and inertial confinement fusion. Through consultation with EFSP stakeholders, ten key technological gaps were identified, including plant design, tritium systems, diagnostics and control, magnets and cryogenics, and high-performance lasers. Technology Readiness Levels were analysed to define priority research actions.

An important institutional milestone was the establishment of the FUSION NOW Association as an international non-profit under Belgian law. The association provides a unified voice for the European fusion industry and will support the creation of a future PPP with the EC.

The project also began analysing intellectual property management and technology transfer opportunities, particularly synergies between magnetic and inertial fusion approaches and cross-cutting technologies such as robotics, advanced manufacturing, and cryogenic systems.

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)

GO4FUSION advances the European fusion sector beyond the current state of the art by creating a coordinated framework that links research, industry, and policy in the development of fusion energy technologies.

A key innovation is the mapping of technological capabilities required for future fusion power plants. The Master Capabilities List provides a structured overview of the technical building blocks needed for commercial fusion and identifies capability gaps that must be addressed through targeted research and industrial collaboration. This mapping supports better alignment between European research capacities and the technological needs of future fusion energy systems.

The project also strengthens strategic coordination through the development of the SRIA. By integrating both magnetic confinement fusion and inertial confinement fusion pathways into a unified roadmap, the SRIA promotes a more coherent approach to technology development and highlights shared challenges and synergies between different fusion concepts.

Another important advancement is the establishment of the FUSION NOW Association as an industry-led organisation representing the European fusion sector. This structure provides a governance mechanism that enables industrial stakeholders to participate in strategic decision-making and long-term planning. By preparing the creation of a future PPP with the EC, the project helps establish the framework needed to mobilise investment and accelerate the transition from research to industrial deployment.

Through these results, GO4FUSION contributes to building a stronger and more integrated European fusion ecosystem capable of supporting the future deployment of first-of-a-kind fusion power plants.