Next Step Fusion, Lisbon’s IST Sign Agreement to Advance Fusion Energy Research

On Tuesday 23 July 2024, Luxembourg-based Next Step Fusion and Lisbon's Instituto Superior Técnico (IST) announced they signed an agreement to collaborate on the development of fusion energy research.

Under this agreement, the two institutions will reportedly focus on improving plasma control in IST's ISTTOK tokamak device. This partnership marks a significant milestone in IST's research and development (R&D) efforts, granting access to advanced real-time plasma control systems powered by machine learning.

Founded in 1911, the Instituto Superior Técnico is the largest school of engineering in Portugal, distinguished by its number of enrolled students, faculty size, scientific output and patents. The institution aims to contribute to societal development by promoting excellence in higher education within the fields of architecture, engineering, science and technology, through its robust Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) activities.

Next Step Fusion is a pioneering Luxembourg-based company specialising in machine learning-based control systems and digital twins for magnetic fusion devices and future fusion power plants. Given the complexity of plasma confinement and control, Next Step Fusion seeks to leverage machine learning for plasma simulation and control, as well as for tasks like monitoring and analysis, disruption predictions, maintenance planning and personnel training.

The ISTTOK tokamak at Instituto Superior Técnico, a research infrastructure of Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear (IPFN), operational since 1990, is Portugal's sole fusion device. ISTTOK conducts numerous physics studies, from material science with liquid metals to edge turbulence. Its main goals, beyond education and training in nuclear fusion, include cutting-edge engineering and technology advancements, the development of new diagnostic techniques, control and data acquisition concepts and physics modelling.

IPFN is a research unit of the University of Lisbon’s Instituto Superior Técnico with expertise in plasma physics, engineering technologies, controlled fusion, lasers, photonics and advanced computing. IPFN is the only Portuguese R&D institution in the field of plasma science and engineering and is one of the top physics laboratories in the country (hosting researchers based at different Portuguese universities). It has more than 30 years of experience in fusion R&D.

Aleksei Zolotarev, Founder and CEO of Next Step Fusion, stated: "The agreement with IST initiates a new era in fusion research in Portugal and Europe. Fusion research and development have been ongoing for several decades. Now, with modern technologies and platforms using machine learning and data from multiple fusion devices worldwide, we may be at a turning point to unlock the full potential of fusion. At Next Step Fusion, we are confident that broader cooperation, including startup and commercial projects, is crucial to advancing fusion progress and achieving commercial fusion power by 2030."

Bruno Soares, President of Instituto de Plasmas e Fusão Nuclear, IST, said: "Efficient plasma control remains one of the most challenging aspects of developing fusion devices. With access to real-time control systems and advanced simulation, the predictability of plasma behaviour can reach new heights. The partnership with Next Step Fusion opens a significant phase for IST, providing our scientists with new data, tools and systems to enhance the scientific progress of our fusion facility."

This agreement sets the stage for substantial advancements in fusion energy research, promising to accelerate progress toward sustainable and commercial fusion power.