Call for Visioning Event Participants: Engineering Research Opportunities to Enable Commercial Fusion Energy

This is an in-person visioning event for one and a half days.

This event is intended for transdisciplinary experts with respect to engineering disciplines, sectors, and stakeholders interested in the future of fusion energy. This is an opportunity for you to impact the nation’s engineering research priorities on this important topic.

Overview

Fusion energy has the potential to deliver carbon-free, always-available power at scale to meet rapidly growing global energy demands. Recent breakthroughs—including achieving ignition, the development of high-field magnetic confinement devices enabled by Rare-earth Barium Copper Oxide (REBCO) superconducting magnets, advanced/additive manufacturing, and high-performance computing supporting whole-device modeling (WDM)—have created a pivotal moment for engineering innovation.

This convening will bring together leaders from universities, national laboratories, and industry to examine the engineering barriers to commercial fusion and define research priorities for commercial success over the next two decades. Participants will identify critical gaps, enabling technologies, and cross-sector opportunities in areas including:

• Advanced materials for plasma-facing components, magnets, fuel capsules, and tritium breeder blankets to enable durable, high-performance fusion systems
• Advanced design, diagnostics, manufacturing, control systems, remote handling, and fuel cycle technologies

ERVA is now accepting nominations for visioning event participants. Participants are invited to contribute their expertise and insights on how engineering can drive this transformation. Nominate yourself or a colleague to join the discussion using the link below.

Decisions regarding nominee invitations to participate will be guided by the overall objective of ensuring a successful visioning event. Following a review of nominations, ERVA will notify candidates who are selected to participate. This could also include further contributions during or beyond the scope of the visioning event. Those nominees not selected for this event will be considered, as appropriate, for future ERVA visioning events and other activities.

The Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA), an initiative funded by the National Science Foundation Engineering Directorate, will host a visioning event to identify critical areas of engineering research with potential for major benefits. The goal of the event is to collectively develop strategic visions for high-impact, high-reward, pre-competitive engineering research-led opportunities that will advance the United States’ competitiveness and prosperity. The event outcomes will inform future research directions and attract resources across the nation in industry, academia, federal agencies, national labs, and other stakeholders.