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Contract between EC and EUROfusion is signed

Contract between EC and EUROfusion is signed

633053...

That is the magic number of the Grant Agreement that was signed today in Brussels between the European Commission and EUROfusion. The tagline of the newly established consortium: realising fusion electricity to the grid by 2050!

The Grant Agreement between the Commission and EUROfusion is signed

European Commission launches EUROfusion

After months of preparations, the European Consortium for the Development of Fusion Energy (already better known by its acronym: EUROfusion) is finally fully established. The signing of the grant agreement between the European Commission (EC) and EUROfusion today in Brussels, marks an important milestone in Europe's quest to develop fusion power as a sustainable energy source.

An important step hereto was made two years ago, when the EU research laboratories jointly drafted the 'Roadmap to the Realisation of Fusion Electricity', laying out a goal-oriented programme to realise fusion energy to the grid by 2050.

27 countries work on a common goal: fusion electricity

The formation of the EUROfusion consortium was meant to allow Europe to work efficiently towards the goals of the roadmap. It replaces the EFDA agreement and related 29 separate bilateral Association agreements between the EC and the research institutes. These 29 partners are now united in a single, more closely integrated consortium.

This contract between the Commission and EUROfusion provides €424M in funding from the EU Horizon 2020 programme 2014-18 and the same amount from member states. Thereby the consortium established a 5-year joint programme with an overall budget of €850 million, to follow the agreed roadmap.


The new EUROfusion logo

EUROfusion and FuseNet prepare workplan for European fusion education

FuseNet is already working together with EUROfusion to prepare the coming generation of scientists and engineers to achieve the two main aims of the roadmap: preparing for ITER experiments in order to ensure that Europe makes best possible use of ITER and to develop concepts for a fusion power demonstration plant DEMO.

In cooperation with EUROfusion, FuseNet has developed a workplan to align the European fusion education system to the needs the roadmap will bring about. The workplan is expected to be launched later this month, following the signing of the contract thereto with FuseNet.

Several schemes are under preparation that will stimulate, support and coordinate fusion education in Europe, aiming to attract students to fusion and to provide them with the highest quality education in the field.

After all... to reach the aims of the roadmap, much depends on the current and coming generations of students, who have to carry out the research in universities and research centres, and more than before, get involved with industry in finding technical solutions to the challenges ahead.

"Fusion is cool enough to excite students" said Niek Lopes Cardozo, Chair of FuseNet, in a discussion on fusion education at the launch of EUROfusion in Brussels today.