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European Fusion Association

EFA

EFA is the association of European companies and stakeholders in the field of fusion energy, where the term “European” in these Articles of Association refers to the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA), Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Lobbying Activity

Meeting with Miguel Jose Garcia Jones (Cabinet of Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra)

3 Jul 2025 · Nuclear Fusion, Innovation Fund

Meeting with Ditte Juul-Joergensen (Director-General Energy)

2 Jul 2025 · Fusion Energy, ITER

Meeting with Koen Van De Casteele (Director Competition)

2 Jul 2025 · Exploratory meeting requested by EFA to identify the most adequate SA measures/framework to finance nuclear fusion technologies

Response to EU Fusion Strategy

30 Jun 2025

The European Fusion Association (EFA), a Brussels-based, non-profit industry association established in October 2024, represents 60 European companies spanning the entire fusion value chain. Our mission is to foster collaboration across science, finance, and policy to accelerate the transition of fusion energy from the laboratory to the electricity grid. EFA advocates for European leadership in fusion and a clean energy-driven industrial renaissance. One of the key challenges EFA identifies is the lack of clear European fusion governance: Currently, fusion responsibility is fragmented across multiple EU Directorates-General, leading to diluted strategic direction and limited accountability. This fragmentation hinders industrial investment and the development of First-of-a-Kind fusion (FOAK) plants. EFA recommends that fusion be designated as a standalone priority in the next Multiannual Financial Framework, integrated into Horizon Europe and InvestEU. EFA calls for the creation of a dedicated Fusion Innovation Fund, which would support long-term public-private co-financing. EFA suggests introducing strategic procurement contracts, classifying fusion as a green technology under the EU Taxonomy, and ensuring industry has a direct role in fusion governance. EFA also highlights the importance of bridging the gap between research and commercialization by coordinated public-private co-investment and risk-sharing mechanisms which are critical. Establishing a dedicated EU Fusion Innovation Fund, Fusion Green Bonds, and risk-sharing guarantees will encourage private capital to flow into fusion projects. EFA further suggests that fusion demonstration projects should be included under Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEIs), and that models like F4Es Innovation Partnership be expanded to strengthen collaboration between industry and research bodies. To maintain European leadership in fusion technology, it is essential to protect critical capabilities and prevent the loss of talent to international competitors. Fragmented strategies and unclear intellectual property frameworks put Europes fusion competencies at risk. EFA recommends issuing an EU-level declaration recognizing fusion as a strategic technology, leveraging publicly funded research to benefit European industry, and investing in supply chain sovereignty, particularly for critical materials like lithium-6. In addition, a European Fusion Materials Initiative should be launched to ensure long-term access to these raw materials. The full spectrum of fusion technologies requires support, as well as infrastructure to scale up FOAK projects. One major obstacle is the limited availability of large-scale testing facilities for critical fusion components. EFA believes that a comprehensive European Fusion Roadmap, which includes both magnetic and inertial confinement technologies, should be prioritized, alongside the establishment of pan-European testing facilities. Providing shared access to these facilities for SMEs and startups will be essential. EFA also points out the absence of a dedicated European fusion-specific regulatory framework, which creates uncertainty and delays in licensing processes: EFA recommends establishing a European Fusion Regulatory Sandbox to enable early safety dialogue and clear distinctions between fusion and fission regulations. This would speed up development timelines, while ensuring consistent safety standards across Member States, which is crucial for reducing risks for FOAK developers. Finally, the fusion workforce must evolve to meet future deployment needs. The current mismatch between academic programs and industry demand must be addressed. EFA urges the creation of EU-funded fusion engineering education trackse.g. at leading facilitiesfocused on systems engineering, safety, and industrial standards. Dual-education models, apprenticeships, and cross-border mobility should be supported to build a capable and agile workforce.
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