Coordinating CERN’s contribution to advancing fusion technology

The generation of virtually limitless and clean energy through fusion technologies is an ambitious target that the energy sector is striving to achieve. The increase in public and private investment in fusion – visible in the rapid rise of companies developing next-generation devices and the revolution in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnet technology – is reshaping both scientific and industrial domains. CERN consolidated its years-long collaboration with the fusion community through the Fusion Technology Coordination Unit (FTCU), established in 2023 within CERN’s Accelerators and Technology Sector.

Technologies developed for particle accelerators (such as superconducting magnets, cryogenics, materials testing, radio-frequency systems, vacuum engineering, diagnostics, and protection systems, for example) align closely with the needs of those working in the fusion domain. As fusion devices become more ambitious, particularly through the adoption of HTS magnets capable of unprecedented fields and temperatures, CERN’s expertise becomes increasingly relevant. 

Collaboration in the fusion sector also supports the Laboratory’s wider commitment to sustainability through the CERN Innovation Programme on Environmental Applications (CIPEA), which encourages the application of CERN technologies to global challenges, including renewable and low-carbon energy production.

The FTCU was created to coordinate fusion-related interactions across CERN. It acts as a bridge between several CERN departments each with different expertise, identifying areas of synergy, mapping technologies of relevance, and guiding collaboration between CERN and both public institutions and private companies.

Comprising CERN experts working on magnet design, cryogenics, protection systems, materials science, vacuum technology, quality and planning, and governance, the FTCU plays a central role in establishing and managing collaborations. Its activities range from on-site technical exchanges to conceptual engineering and detailed analysis work, as well as from participation to reviews and representation in fusion-related events. 

Recent collaborations completed in 2025 illustrate the unit’s impact. These include feasibility studies for a 20 tesla at 20 kelvin HTS solenoid magnet with the global energy company ENI, Fusion for Energy, EUROFusion and EU universities; quench-protection analyses of the coils of the GIGA stellarator proposed by GaussFusion, one of Europe’s leading fusion power plant commercialisation companies; structural material testing at cryogenic temperatures for the materials manufacturer Rolf Kind; and scoping studies with the European consortium for fusion research, EUROFusion, on HTS magnet applications in both fusion and high-energy physics. A project has also recently started to assess RF coupler production for the International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility (IFMIF) through an agreement signed in 2025 with Fusion for Energy (F4E), who are responsible for managing Europe’s contribution to ITER – the world’s largest scientific experiment on the path to fusion energy.

The Magnet Technology Mapping Workshop, organised in partnership with EUROfusion and F4E, provided a strategic forum in 2025 to assess the current landscape and future needs of magnet technologies across accelerator and fusion communities. Participants reviewed state-of-the-art developments in superconducting materials, manufacturing techniques and testing infrastructure, while identifying synergies between particle physics and fusion programmes. The workshop mapped their capabilities, highlighted gaps and promoted coordinated investment, helping to shape a coherent roadmap for next-generation magnet systems essential to both high-energy physics facilities and future fusion power plants.

In November 2025, CERN and the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) formalised a new cooperation framework covering advanced technologies for accelerator and fusion applications, including the development of Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP). The agreement strengthens ties between two leading research organisations and sets out a shared vision for joint work on robotics, photonics, superconducting magnets, materials science and large-scale research infrastructures.

The Superconductivity for Global Challenges Action (ScGA) event, held in December 2025 at CERN, brought together researchers, industry representatives and policy stakeholders to explore how superconducting technologies can address key societal needs. It highlighted advancements in high-field magnets, medical and energy applications, and featured a dedicated fusion roundtable examining the role of superconductivity in next-generation fusion devices. 

After two years of operation, the FTCU has become the operational CERN-wide coordination point initially envisioned. It is delivering practical outcomes, strengthening strategic partnerships, and advancing technologies that aim to further both fusion and accelerator science.

CERN technical contacts: Luca Bottura, Luigi Scibile, Ray Veness, Bernardo Bordini, Jean-Philippe Tock, Michele Battistin and Roberto Losito.