In a report published on Thursday 7 March by Trinomics, a consultancy specialising in the energy sector, the European Commission analyses the possibility of fostering public-private partnerships in order to bridge the technological gaps in fusion energy, increase industrial investment and give priority to innovation and technology transfer.
Thanks to recent technological breakthroughs in the field (see EUROPE 13347/25), the number of private companies investing in fusion projects is increasing. According to the Commission, industry can become the driving force behind the development of fusion, rather than simply being a supplier of components or services.
“Until now, the EU funding process in the field of fusion has mainly been led by public bodies investing huge resources in major projects. Industry has tended to play a much more passive role, only becoming active once it has received contracts for the supply of services or components”, summarises the European Commission in a press release.
By analysing existing programmes, the needs of stakeholders and the current political and financial landscape, the report recommends that the Commission implement a public-private partnership through three instruments: - a so-called Co-Programmed European Partnership (CPEP) within Horizon Europe; - the F4E Innovation Partnerships, the European Atomic Energy Community Joint Undertaking responsible for the EU’s contribution to the ITER project; - calls for projects via the Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) of the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT).
The report also stresses the importance of developing a European innovation strategy for fusion which “will help to create a positive and coherent landscape for fusion innovation across the EU and also define the role of the main stakeholders and each of the instruments to be used”.
To see the report: https://aeur.eu/f/b7j (Original version in French by Pauline Denys)