Open Innovation at CFS
Fusion power will draw together many technologies, from cryogenics and artificial intelligence to neutron detectors and high-voltage transistors. It will also draw together many types of people and organizations, from many backgrounds and across many locations — from U.S. National Labs with billion-dollar budgets to foreign research organizations to three-person startups.
CFS believes the fastest path to commercial fusion is leveraging best-in-class technologies, people, and institutions, wherever they may be. That is why we have built a dedicated Open Innovation team to support our position as an open and collaborative partner and build the fusion future by discovering, recruiting, and engaging partners and capabilities around the world.
Partnerships Bring Results
CFS has established dozens of public and private research partnerships, supported by both private and public funding won from research agencies in open competition. These programs have built hardware, launched careers, and solved problems on the way to the first commercial fusion electrons. We routinely publish work we complete with our partners in peer-reviewed journals, including:
- A collection of papers outlining the physics basis for the SPARC tokamak, demonstrating that its design is expected to reach energy break-even if appropriate high-field magnets can be built.
- A demonstration of a high-field magnet enabling SPARC, part of a larger collection of papers to be published.
- A new cable technology capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of a fusion device.
- An approach to monitoring cable operational safety using fiber optics.
Partnership Opportunities
CFS continues to develop its partner network and relationships, with technical focus falling into three broad categories:
- SPARC – Because SPARC will produce a burning plasma and reach plasma energy gain by mid-decade, it is an attractive platform for public science and an emerging new destination for scientists and research programs. Opportunities range from plasma physics to operations and diagnostics.
- ARC – ARC will be our first commercial power plant, building on the experience gained through SPARC and adding power extraction systems built around a molten salt loop. It will leverage novel materials and manufacturing, blanket and fuel cycle, and remote maintenance technologies.
- Other applications – Our unique magnet technology and manufacturing capability is enabling technology programs beyond the tokamak and outside of fusion altogether.
To support these programs, we have a successful track record of establishing partnerships supported by a variety of financial instruments, including INFUSE, ARPA-E, FAIR, and RENEW.
Are you interested in working with us? Email us.