The FAST (Fusion by Advanced Superconducting Tokamak) project has been launched in Japan with the aim of achieving fusion-based power generation by the end of the 2030s.

Leadership of the UK's STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) programme has transitioned to UK Industrial Fusion Solutions Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the UK Atomic Energy Authority.

Developed in collaboration with the Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics specifically for the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator, Thales's TH1507U gyrotron has achieved a significant milestone by reaching a total output of 1.3 megawatts in radiofrequency at a frequency of 140 gigahertz for 360 seconds.

Construction of the SMART tokamak is under way at the University of Seville in Spain, aimed at exploring negative versus positive triangularity prospects in spherical tokamaks. Meanwhile, New Zealand startup OpenStar Technologies has successfully powered its core component utilising onboard charging of the floating magnet.

The UK-based company gave first details of a high-field spherical tokamak plant "capable of generating 800 MW of fusion power and 85 MW of net electricity" as part of the USA's Bold Decadal Vision for Commercial Fusion Energy programme.

The Oxford Robotics Institute autonomy platform controlled a Boston Dynamics Spot quadruped robot to inspect the UK Atomic Energy Authority's Joint European Torus (JET) facility for more than a month.

The UK's Tokamak Energy has set up TE Magnetics as it seeks to commercialise its high temperature superconducting magnet technology for both fusion and non-fusion applications.

The UK Fusion Skills Council - created by a partnership between the UK Atomic Energy Authority and 19 companies and academic institutions - aims to boost apprentices, graduates and post-graduate training opportunities.

Canadian Nuclear Laboratories and Business Development Bank of Canada have announced a lead investment of CAD10 million (USD7.3 million) each in Canadian private fusion developer General Fusion. Meanwhile, the US Department of Energy has awarded USD4.6 million in 17 awards to fund public-private partnerships for fusion research.


 

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Japan's National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology have completed the production of a prototype outer vertical target, one of the key components of the divertor to be used in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. MHI said it is now ready for series production.

British inertial fusion energy developer First Light Fusion has hosted a delegation from the Japanese government, headed by State Minister Soichiro Imaeda from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology. The visit comes as the UK and Japan seek closer collaboration on commercial fusion energy research.

The Global Fusion Industry in 2024 report says that more than USD900 million has been invested in the fusion industry in the past year, and more than 1000 jobs created.