Alliance aims to accelerate the future of fusion energy

Transatlantic partnership signed to accelerate fusion energy research, innovation and workforce.

Higher education institutions in the United States and the United Kingdom have established a transatlantic partnership to advance research, skills, and policy in fusion energy.

Signed on 14 September 2026 at the Global Fusion Policy Summit in London, the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishes a collaborative framework between the US-based University Fusion Association and a coalition of 16 UK universities including the University of Edinburgh. The flexible structure of the agreement invites further institutional participation, allowing additional universities to join the initiative in the coming months.

The agreement focuses on critical pillars required to realise commercial fusion energy:

• Research and Innovation: collaborative scientific discovery, technology development, and engineering deployment
• Workforce & Skills Development: multilevel educational and training initiatives designed to build a robust, inclusive, and diverse talent pipeline for the fusion sector over the next decade and beyond
• Economic Impact: promoting entrepreneurship and commercialisation pathways to generate economic benefit
• Policy & Society: advancing science-informed policy and serving the interests of society at large.

Anchored in shared values, the signatory institutions have pledged to uphold high standards of ethics and research integrity while prioritising student and trainee welfare. The framework emphasises collegiality across institutions to support career development, individual wellbeing, and the global fusion research community.

David Capper, Director for New Nuclear Strategy and Fusion Energy, UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ) said:

Delivering fusion will require collaboration across academia, industry, and government, alongside a strong pipeline of skills and talent. Universities have an important role in making fusion possible which is why we welcome partnerships like the one being forged today.

Matthew Lanctot, Acting Research Division Director, US Department of Energy (DoE), Fusion Energy Services said:

This partnership will strengthen the publicly funded research base that drives fusion innovation while helping develop the talent and technology needed for a competitive private fusion sector. By connecting expertise across the Atlantic, this partnership can help close critical gaps on the path to commercial fusion.

Dr Anna Lisa Varri, Co-Director of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Plasma Theory, and based in both the School of Physics and Astronomy and School of Mathematics, said:

Barely a year after establishing our Centre for Plasma Theory, we are especially proud to help shape this ambitious international collaboration. We look forward to making the University of Edinburgh a new focal point for plasma research, teaching, and innovation.

Dr Moritz Linkmann, Co-Director of the University of Edinburgh's Centre for Plasma Theory, and based in the School of Mathematics, said:

This collaboration is a significant step forward for the Centre and for both the School of Mathematics and School of Physics and Astronomy. It strengthens Edinburgh's increasing visibility within the global fusion community and will accelerate and facilitate substantive progress on the physics and mathematics relevant to magnetic confinement fusion.

By bringing together leading academic institutions across the Atlantic, this agreement establishes a unified foundation to train the next generation of scientists and engineers, accelerate technical breakthroughs, and strengthen the global fusion energy landscape.