2025 was a year of world records and collaborations that put EUROfusion far beyond Europe. We have collected the major achievements and milestones from the European fusion research programme and turned it into “snackable” slides. Click here and enjoy the progress we made while bringing the Sun down to Earth in order to power up this planet!
1. EUROfusion and ITER celebrate new cooperation
Here we go to power the Sun! In October, EUROfusion and ITER signed a high-level cooperation agreement to strengthen their relationship.
ITER will be the most advanced fusion experiment to date and will demonstrate that fusion energy is feasible. Once it switches on, it will show that a fusion reaction can produce more energy than it consumes. ITER is an international endeavour, requiring global collaboration to bring the Sun down to Earth. It therefore brings together seven main members. Alongside China, India, Japan, Korea, Russia and the United States, the European Union acts as one entity to make fusion work.
https://euro-fusion.org/eurofusion-news/eurofusion-iter-cooperation-agreement/
2. Engineering and Researcher Grants
EUROfusion’s commitment to excellence, diversity and long-term capacity building was once again demonstrated through its grants for Europe’s young fusion professionals. As Europe prepares for the fusion power era, EUROfusion awarded grants to 23 early-career researchers and engineers: nine postdoctoral Bernard Bigot Researcher Grants and fourteen Engineering Grants, strengthening Europe’s talent pool in fusion science and reactor technology.
The recipients, drawn from institutions across Europe, will work on cutting-edge topics ranging from plasma physics to materials for future fusion reactors, helping to translate scientific research into practical engineering solutions. Congratulations!
https://euro-fusion.org/eurofusion-news/2026-researcher-and-engineering-grants/
3. BEST Research Plan
Europe is extending its collaborations towards the East with a fully-fledged plan. On 24 November 2025, EUROfusion and ASIPP (the Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences) formally published the first edition of the joint Research Plan for the new tokamak device BEST.
BEST is a superconducting tokamak currently being built near Hefei, China. Its capabilities are seen as complementary to Europe’s existing fusion programme, filling important gaps. The collaboration is governed by a dedicated Technology Management Plan, ensuring Europe retains influence over design choices, operational planning and technology development. The data and knowledge gained from BEST could directly benefit Europe’s long-term fusion roadmap, including preparations for ITER and the future European demonstration reactor, DEMO.
https://euro-fusion.org/eurofusion-news/eurofusion-asipp-best-research-plan/
4. European Fusion Experiments Hit the Spotlight
In April, EUROfusion once again introduced its experimental machines across Europe and highlighted their individual strengths. JET, WEST, TCV, ASDEX Upgrade, Wendelstein 7-X and MAST Upgrade are the heroes of humanity’s quest for fusion energy. What makes each of these machines unique can be read here:
5. Wendelstein 7-X Achieves New World Record
In May, Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X), EUROfusion’s most well-known stellarator in Greifswald, set a new world record for the “triple product” during a long plasma discharge. High-performance fusion plasma was sustained for 43 seconds—longer than previous tokamak records of comparable duration.
The result combined high plasma density, temperature and confinement time over an extended period. This marks a critical step in demonstrating stellarators as a viable basis for future fusion power plants.
6. Slovenian Fusion Association Turns 20
They may not be the largest EUROfusion Research Unit, but their contributions have significantly advanced European fusion research. On 24 June, the Slovenian Fusion Association (SFA) celebrated its 20th anniversary.
In 2025, the association also proudly counted an award winner among its members: Julian Peric, who received the Fusion Engineering and Design Student Award for his work at the Slovenian facility Katana. Over the past two decades, the Slovenian Research Unit has evolved from a modest initiative into a respected and dedicated partner within the European fusion landscape.
7. European Tokamak WEST Holds Longest Plasma
Another European machine made headlines this year: WEST, the W (tungsten) Environment in Steady State Tokamak. The French CEA set a new world record for sustained fusion plasma by achieving 1,337 seconds over 22 minutes of stable hydrogen plasma in the WEST tokamak.
This breakthrough demonstrates Europe’s growing capability to control long-duration plasmas, a key prerequisite for ITER and future fusion power plants. Beyond its scientific significance, the achievement reinforces Europe’s position as a global leader in fusion research and brings the EU one step closer to realizing fusion as a clean, safe and virtually limitless energy source.
https://euro-fusion.org/member-news/cea/world-record-fusion-plasma-in-europe/
8. Fernanda Rimini, a key fusionist at JET
In an interview, we introduce leading fusion scientist Fernanda Rimini. She has worked at the Joint European Torus for decades and received the prestigious Fusion Technology Award from the IEEE Nuclear & Plasma Sciences Society in 2024.
https://euro-fusion.org/eurofusion-news/fernanda-rimini-at-the-forefront-of-fusion-research/
9. Polish Research Unit Becomes AI Pioneer and Turns 20
In September, EUROfusion’s Polish Research Unit celebrated 20 years of contributions to European fusion research. In December, we highlighted its groundbreaking work on the implementation of artificial intelligence for monitoring fusion operations.
Since its establishment in 2005, the association has grown from five institutions to more than a dozen partners across Poland, collaborating within the National Centre of New Energy Technologies (CeNTE). The Polish Association, EURATOM–IPPLM, is coordinated by the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM) in Warsaw. Read more here:
https://euro-fusion.org/member-news/20-years-of-polish-contributions-to-european-fusion-research/
10. Powering Satellites with Fusion Research Results
In fusion research, high-performance magnets must operate under extremely harsh conditions. Their effectiveness relies on superconducting coils, a technology refined by fusion scientists over decades.
These advanced materials may now benefit satellite technology, which also operates under demanding conditions in orbit around Earth. A German company has manufactured a first test demonstrator for satellite propulsion based on this fusion-derived superconducting expertise.
https://euro-fusion.org/eurofusion-news/propellant-free-satellite-propulsion-gains-a-boost-from-fusion-superconductor-expertise/
