Knowledge Hub

To develop the world's first nuclear fusion rocket engine — an aneutronic thruster that would emit particles at hundreds of km/s, making interplanetary travel a matter of weeks. In December 2025, secured European backing to advance its propulsion technology.

To develop the Direct Fusion Drive (DFD) — a fusion propulsion engine that could reduce travel time to Mars from 6-9 months to 90 days, and open the way for missions to the outer solar system in years, not decades.

To build Europe's first commercial fusion power plant based on computationally optimized stellarators. In February 2026, signed an agreement with Bavaria, RWE, and IPP Max Planck to build Stellaris — the world's first commercial stellarator plant.

To develop compact nuclear fusion using shear-flow-stabilized Z-pinch — no external magnets, no lasers. The design is inherently simpler and potentially cheaper than tokamaks, with applications for both terrestrial energy and space propulsion.

To build the first commercially viable fusion reactor, using field-reversed configuration (FRC) with deuterium-helium-3 fuel. In February 2026, the Polaris prototype became the first private fusion machine to demonstrate D-T fusion and reach 150 million degrees Celsius.

To build SPARC — the world's first commercially relevant fusion tokamak — and then ARC, a 400 MW grid-connected plant. As of June 2026, SPARC was 75% complete in Devens, Massachusetts.

The only company with an NRC-approved SMR design. In September 2025, together with TVA and ENTRA1, announced a 6 GW SMR program — one of the largest nuclear commitments in recent American history. Operates Energy Exploration Centers for hands-on SMR student training.

To develop the Natrium reactor — a 345 MW sodium reactor with integrated molten salt energy storage — at the retired coal plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. In March 2026, received NRC construction approval, the first for a commercial American reactor since 2018.

To develop the KP-FHR reactor — fluoride salt-cooled, with TRISO fuel — as a low-risk alternative to pressurized water reactors. In 2025, installed the pressure vessel for the third Hermes test reactor in Oak Ridge, and Google signed a 500 MW energy partnership.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Nuclear Energy leads federal research, development, and demonstration of nuclear technologies. It manages the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program (ARDP) and the Reactor Pilot Program — created in June 2025 to achieve criticality in at least three advanced reactors by July 4, 2026. The DOE's FY2026 budget allocates $1.785 billion to nuclear energy, with a national goal of growing nuclear capacity from ~100 GW today to 400 GW by 2050.

Independent federal agency created by Congress in 1974 to protect public health and the environment through the licensing, inspection, and regulation of commercial nuclear power plants and research facilities. Every reactor built or operating in the United States requires NRC approval — making the NRC the gatekeeper of the American nuclear renaissance.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration is the principal federal agency for energy statistics and analysis. It collects, analyzes, and disseminates independent energy data — including detailed nuclear power statistics — to promote sound policymaking and public understanding. Its data is freely available and widely used by researchers, journalists, and educators worldwide.

To catalyze the research and technologies needed for humanity to reach other star systems this century. Combines serious technical research with an Educational Academy that connects young people to the frontier of interstellar science.

Latin American Network for Education in Nuclear Technology — an IAEA-coordinated network that promotes, manages, and preserves nuclear knowledge in Latin America and the Caribbean. It facilitates sharing of educational materials, identifies gaps in regional nuclear education, and attracts young talent to the field.

To advance research in breakthrough interstellar propulsion — the physical concepts that could, in theory, enable travel to other stars within centuries. Founded by a former NASA researcher, it combines scientific rigor with openness to the public.

One of the world's largest producers of PhDs in plasma physics. Fundamental research in plasma and fusion, from basic to applied. Maintains an active education and outreach program for high school students for over 20 years.

Brazil's main nuclear research institute, linked to CNEN and associated with USP. Research in reactors, health, materials, and nuclear technology applications. Leads the development of the Brazilian Multipurpose Reactor (RMB), whose construction began in February 2025.

Federal agency responsible for regulating, researching, and authorizing the use of nuclear technology in Brazil since 1956. Coordinates the National Nuclear Fusion Program (PNFN) with USP participation, and supervises IPEN, IEN, and other nuclear research institutes.

State-owned company, subsidiary of Eletrobras, responsible for operating Angra 1 and Angra 2 and constructing Angra 3 — which, when completed in 2031, will make Brazil the only country in the Southern Hemisphere with three nuclear reactors in simultaneous operation.

National American laboratory for plasma physics and fusion, managed by Princeton University for the Department of Energy. Combines frontier research with one of the sector's most active outreach programs, including K-12 school visits and an online intensive course open to the public in June 2026.

Operates the DIII-D — one of the largest tokamaks in the U.S. and the primary source of experimental plasma data feeding ITER's design and next-generation machines. Contributes to understanding plasma instabilities, heating, and disruption prediction using artificial intelligence.

Japan's national fusion institute, operates the Large Helical Device (LHD) — one of the world's largest stellarators and the primary source of experimental stellarator design physics data. Conducts annual public outreach with open campus events and active communication with students.

Operates KSTAR — the Korean 'artificial sun' — which holds the world record for plasma confinement at 100 million degrees. Target for 2026: 300 continuous seconds. In March 2026, KSTAR hosted ITER's plasma control system for its first operational test on a real tokamak.

One of Europe's 4 major fusion centers, operates the TCV tokamak in Lausanne. Under the direction of Prof. Paolo Ricci (since 2024), developed a 3D real-time visualization system for TCV plasma — making the interior of a fusion reactor visible in video-game-quality graphics.

European fusion research consortium with 25 members, coordinating fusion research across Europe. Operated JET — the world's largest tokamak until 2023. In October 2025, Germany's €2B Fusion Action Plan was approved, targeting the world's first commercial fusion power plant in Europe by 2040.

The largest scientific experiment in human history. 35 nations building a 23,000-tonne tokamak in Cadarache, France — designed to demonstrate that fusion can produce 500 MW of fusion power from 50 MW of input (Q=10). D-D operation planned for 2035.

Association bringing together all major private fusion companies worldwide — CFS, Helion, Proxima, Zap Energy, Xcimer, Type One, and others. Publishes the annual Global Fusion Industry Report, advocates for fusion-friendly policies, and connects the private fusion community with governments and research institutes.

China's leading fusion institution, operates EAST — the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak. Leads the CFETR project, China's fusion demonstration reactor targeting the 2030s. China is now the country with the largest national fusion program in terms of investment.