What it does

It is the EU organisation that manages the EU’s contribution to the ITER project, designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power. 

One of its main tasks is cooperating with industry, small and medium-sized businesses and research organisations to develop and provide:

• a range of technology components
• engineering, maintenance and support services to underpin ITER. 

ITER exists to research fusion, the process which powers the sun and the stars. The aim is to develop a safe, limitless and environmentally responsible energy source. The EU is to bear almost half of construction costs, with the remainder being divided equally among the other 6 parties:

• China
• Japan
• India
• the Republic of Korea
• the Russian Federation
• the US.

The project is based in France. 

Fusion for Energy (F4E) supports fusion R&D initiatives through the Broader Approach Agreement signed with Japan. Its function is to prepare for the construction of demonstration fusion reactors (DEMO). 

Structure

The organisation comprises the following 'shareholders':

• Euratom, represented by the European Commission
• Countries belonging to Euratom
• Non-EU countries with Euratom agreements on fusion.

The current members are :

• the EU countries 
• Euratom
• Switzerland. 

Each member sits on the Governing Board, Fusion for Energy's main supervisory body.

Read more about Fusion for Energy's structure.

How it works

To help industry, small and medium-sized businesses and research organisations based in the EU, Switzerland or elsewhere get involved, F4E has 2 contract mechanisms in place: 

• Grants - direct financial contributions to R&D to support F4E tasks.
• Procurement contracts - commercial contracts to provide services, goods and works for F4E. These are awarded through one of the following EU public tender procedures: open procedure, restricted procedure, negotiated procedure or competitive dialogue. 

Both these contract mechanisms satisfy the EU's public procurement principles:

• transparency
• proportionality
• equal treatment
• non-discrimination.

Who benefits

• the general public in the EU - through a broader sustainable energy mix
• Europe’s industry, small and medium-sized businesses and R&D organisations – thanks to strong, competitive participation in the future fusion market
• European competitiveness – thanks to the stimulus to innovation, growth, knowledge and jobs
• the European Energy Union and its international impact.