IPFN Receives Distinction for Contribution to ITER and Big Science
Portugal is celebrating a historic achievement in the field of nuclear fusion by securing €100M in contracts awarded by Fusion for Energy (F4E) and the ITER Organisation. This achievement was recognised during the Fusion Industry Conference, held at the IST Nuclear and Technological Campus (CTN) in Loures. IPFN was honoured with the Big Science distinction, which recognises the contribution of this extraordinary success.
The conference, designed to strengthen the position of the nuclear fusion sector, debate its future and foster industrial cooperation and innovation, gathered leading speakers such as the Secretary of State for the Economy, Dr João Rui Ferreira, the Secretary of State for Science, Prof. Ana Paiva, the Deputy Director-General of the ITER Organisation, Alain Bécoulet, and the Director of Fusion for Energy, Marc Lachaise.
The contributions of national companies were celebrated as a cornerstone of this achievement. Among the distinguished were ISQ, Martifer, Critical Software, Active Space Technologies, A. Silva Matos, HBK FiberSensing, LusoSpace, and Blocotelha Steel Constructions. In collaboration with IPFN, these organisations demonstrated Portugal’s exceptional ability to thrive in the highly competitive landscape of international Big Science projects.
Bruno Gonçalves, IPFN’s President, during his keynote about ‘The European Nuclear Fusion Roadmap and the Portuguese contribution’, expressed his profound satisfaction with IPFN's contribution to ITER. In a reflection on his former position as Industrial Liaison Officer for ITER - a role he fulfilled with distinction until 2019 and which is now ably filled by José Antão - Bruno remarked, “The €100M milestone emphasises the excellent technical and scientific competence of both our industry and IPFN'.
The event also covered the global transformation in the field of nuclear fusion, highlighting the emergence of start-up companies committed to the development of commercial fusion power units. Many of these companies are university-based and play a fundamental role helping the academic community to promote innovation, educate qualified professionals and stimulate know-how exchange. The collaboration between IPFN and these start-ups further strengthens the link between fundamental science and practical applications in the field of nuclear fusion.
The Big Science distinction to IPFN reinforces the institute’s vital role in advancing nuclear fusion and elevating its standing in the global scientific arena.
