Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $134 million in funding to support two programs advancing fusion energy technologies and maintaining U.S. leadership in this field. This includes $128 million for the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) collaboratives and $6.1 million for the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program.
The FIRE collaboratives consist of seven teams creating a fusion energy science and technology innovation ecosystem by forming virtual, centrally managed groups that link DOE Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) basic science research with the expanding fusion industry. The INFUSE program selected 20 projects aimed at accelerating private-sector fusion energy development by reducing barriers to collaboration among businesses, national laboratories, and universities.
Selected INFUSE projects focus on areas such as materials science, laser technology development, high-temperature superconducting magnet assessment, artificial intelligence applications for fusion modeling and simulation, and enabling technologies to progress toward economical fusion energy.
Fusion energy, which replicates the process powering the sun and stars, has the potential to provide abundant and reliable energy. The funding aligns with the Energy Act of 2020 and DOE's goal to speed up commercial fusion energy viability through public-private partnerships and programs like INFUSE and FIRE. These initiatives also support U.S.-based manufacturing, supply chains, and technologies critical for national and energy security.
According to DOE, these efforts are part of a broader mission to advance American energy, science, and innovation, ensuring that the development of fusion technologies occurs domestically under current energy policy leadership.