Business opportunities for UK plc from Fusion and ITER

Date added: 29 July 2010

As work begins on the construction of the International Tokamak Experimental Reactor (ITER) at Cadarache in France the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE) and UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) are holding an event to outline the procurement process and the procurement opportunities that are arising from the programme.

ITER is an international tokamak (magnetic confinement fusion) engineering research project that could help to make the transition from today's studies of plasma physics to future electricity-producing fusion power plants. Its objective is to demonstrate the feasibility of fusion power, and to prove that it can work without negative impact.

The construction of ITER is estimated to cost well over 5bn euros and it will take ten years to build. The project will require conventional and also specialist engineering expertise.

Europe’s domestic agency for ITER procurement, Fusion for Energy (F4E), has over 800m euros to commit to the programme this calendar year and several billions over the coming years.

At the event being held by CCFE and UKTI on Thursday 23 September at Culham Science Centre there will be speakers from both F4E and the central ITER organisation in France, as well as from CCFE to cover procurement opportunities at Culham.

The event will provide an ideal opportunity for Sandwell businesses to learn about the procurement opportunities arising from this on-going multi-billion euro project. Pre-registered companies will also have the opportunity to meet with the commercial team from ITER-IO and from F4E.

Tours of the accessible areas will also be available for pre-registered individuals to see JET (Europe's flagship programme and the world's largest fusion reactor) and MAST (the UK's own fusion reactor) in which UK industry has played a big role.

For more information about the event or to register your interest please visit our Events page or to learn more about the programme visit www.fusioniteropportunities.org.uk.