New Market Opportunities Highlighted at EU Fusion Business Forum

Over 150 organizations, including industry leaders, start-ups, and research institutes, gathered at the EU Fusion Business Forum in Berlin. The event, organized by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, brought together Fusion for Energy (F4E) and the ITER Organization to explore the potential of fusion energy and discuss the latest market opportunities from projects like ITER.

The forum underscored the growing interest in fusion technologies, fueled by increasing public and private investments. Participants engaged in valuable exchanges, and the event featured presentations on upcoming tenders and business-to-business (B2B) meetings, adding a strong commercial focus.

One session highlighted F4E's role in the dynamic fusion landscape and strategies to support European companies. F4E Director Marc Lachaise shared, "Since 2008, F4E has partnered with over 700 companies, involving at least 2000 subcontractors. Our investments significantly benefit Europe’s economy and enhance industry expertise by creating a robust supply chain."

Lachaise also outlined F4E’s vision, emphasizing the construction and operation of ITER, talent acquisition, knowledge management, and Europe’s position in the fusion roadmap. He announced that later this year, F4E will launch a new Technology Development Programme to advance key technologies.

F4E colleagues presented sessions on ongoing and future procurements for ITER systems, such as diagnostics and cryogenics. European contractors working on the project also shared their experiences.

The forum was inaugurated by Jan Panek, Director for Nuclear Energy, Safety, and ITER at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Energy, and German Federal Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger. Both emphasized the benefits of fusion and praised the collaborative efforts between public and private sectors to advance this energy source.

Photo attribution: Andreas Praefcke, BMF Europasaal, CC BY 3.0