More than 88% of the primary energy production in the world is based on fossil fuels. The disadvantages are well known: risk of irreversible changes to the climate system, limited reserves, dependency in supply. New technologies need to be developed, aiming at contributing to an energy mix that will meet the global energy demand with acceptable levels of risk, in terms of pollution and safety. Controlled fusion research aims at developing such a technology since the successful development of fusion energy holds the promise of a safe means for large scale electricity production, with very large and well distributed resources, limited radioactive waste and no atmospheric pollution.