Fusion energy and ITER

Fusion in Europe

Fusion science and technology have a long history in Europe and their development was accelerated from 1957 by the Euratom Treaty, which established a European atomic energy community. 

Euratom coordinates European fusion research through funding for its Joint Undertaking Fusion for Energy and for EUROfusion - a pan-European consortium with 30 members in 29 countries - with the aim of developing fusion as an energy source as quickly as possible.  

European fusion research follows a long-term strategy set out in the European research roadmap which outlines the general path for achieving fusion energy on the grid in the second half of the century.

In February 2025, the Commission published a study that aimed to evaluate Euratom’s contribution to ITER through Fusion for Energy, with a particular emphasis on the period from 2021 to 2023. 

A new fusion landscape

In recent years, the fusion landscape has changed significantly due to technological breakthroughs and the emergence of new private initiatives working to achieve fusion energy, moving beyond reliance on large public research investments. As indicated in Mario Draghi’s report (2024) on the future of European competitiveness, we need to create ‘a stable and predictable fusion ecosystem for industrial innovation, leveraging the ITER project, while ensuring a clear technology development roadmap.’ 

A coherent EU-level approach should be adopted to facilitate research and technology innovation, incentivise private sector engagement, de-risk investments when necessary, and create the environment where private companies and publicly funded research organisations work hand in hand towards a common goal – bringing fusion energy to the grids.

EU Fusion Strategy

The EU’s first-ever Fusion Strategy is planned for publication by early 2026, positioning Europe at the forefront of global fusion development and accelerating commercial fusion energy in the EU. It will deliver on commitments made in the Clean Industrial Deal and the Affordable Energy Action Plan and also build on recommendations from the Draghi Report on European Competitiveness.

Although the EU remains a global leader in fusion through its central role in the ITER project and sustained efforts under the Euratom Research and Training Programme, global competition is growing. Countries such as the U.S., UK, China, and Japan, have launched national fusion strategies and attracted growing levels of private investment.

To help inform the preparation of the strategy, the Commission collected valuable insights through several stakeholder consultations including a Call for Evidence, which ran between 3 June and 1 July 2025.

The strategy is expected to be built on elements such as improved fusion governance, the ITER project (the cornerstone of fusion R&D), research and innovation, the industrial ecosystem, the regulatory framework and international cooperation. 

ITER – governance and goals

While the birth of ITER is hard to define, the Summit between US President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet Union’s General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev in Geneva in 1985 was an important milestone. At that meeting, Gorbachev proposed establishing international cooperation to develop fusion energy for peaceful purposes, which later developed into ITER. 

The ITER agreement was signed by China, Euratom (represented by the European Commission), India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA in 2006. Together, they govern the ITER Organization, which is responsible for constructing and managing the project. The main governing body of the ITER Organization is the ITER Council where the 7 members meet twice a year to guide and steer the project.

As a low-carbon, climate-friendly solution, fusion could work in tandem with renewable energy sources to create a balanced and sustainable mix. To further support fusion innovation and development, the EU allocated €5.6 billion to the project in the EU budget for 2021-2027.

Investing in education

The EU is investing not only in cutting-edge fusion research, but also in education and outreach. Each year since 2023, the Commission has organised visits to ITER for secondary school teachers from across the EU. Since its launch, the programme has engaged more than 260 teachers who have reached an estimated 9 700 students, providing dedicated lessons and presentations on fusion and ITER.

Key figures on ITER

Fusion for Energy and industry engagement

ITER Members have a domestic agency that manages their contributions to the project. The EU’s domestic agency is Fusion for Energy (F4E) in Barcelona, Spain. It is responsible for delivering Euratom’s contribution to the ITER project and the Broader Approach (EU-Japan agreement on fusion), and works with companies and research organisations in the EU to achieve this.

By participating in ITER, the EU makes a substantial investment in European industry. More than €6 billion has already been invested in this way, which has a strong and positive impact on the European economy in terms of economic growth, boosting employment and technological innovation. 

In September 2024, Fusion for Energy and EUROfusion launched the European Fusion Technology Marketplace, with the aim of facilitating the transfer of fusion-related technologies to other domains. The platform offers companies and experts a diverse portfolio of market-ready technologies developed by F4E’s industrial partners and EUROfusion affiliated laboratories.

A study on the impact of ITER and other fusion projects under the Broader Approach on the EU economy found that ITER generated a net impact of €104 million between 2008-2019. Moreover, companies that have produced components and provided services for ITER have reported being able to expand their facilities, upgrade equipment, and hire additional staff.

EU businesses and fusion

The ITER project, besides strengthening EU leadership in fusion research, also creates new skills, jobs, and business opportunities for both small and established companies in Europe. 

Over the past few years, the European Commission has organised a series of events at the national level to better inform European businesses about ITER and the procurement opportunities it offers, while actively working to involve SMEs in Europe’s fusion supply chain. 

• 3-4/7/2024 - EU Fusion Business Forum in Berlin (DE)
• 29-30/3/2022 - The Nordic ITER Business Forum in Copenhagen (DK)

The Broader Approach

In parallel to their collaboration on the ITER project, the EU and Japan are working together under a separate agreement since 2007, referred to as the Broader Approach. It covers cooperation on 3 fusion-related projects, all located in Japan, aiming to complement ITER and accelerate the development of fusion power. 

Broader Approach Agreement

Documents