The UK government has announced plans for an ambitious and cutting-edge new research and development programme to support the UK's thriving nuclear fusion industry. This comes after the UK decided not to take part in the Euratom research and training programme and Europe's fusion energy initiative, but the government said it was still open to working with the EU and other international partners.

To achieve this package, the UK government plans to invest £650 million by 2027, subject to an assessment of commercial viability. Further details of the plan will be announced later in the autumn. This follows the UK government's announcement in November 2022 of £126 million to support the UK Fusion research and development programme.

The UK's new fusion R&D programme will include: building new facilities, in particular developing new fusion fuel cycle capabilities and supporting innovation; Develop new fusion skills packages to ensure the development of the skills and capabilities needed to achieve fusion strategies; Further support for projects to strengthen international cooperation; Other measures to speed up the commercialisation of fusion include advancing the UK's world-leading spherical tokamak programme for energy production.

Given the delays in the EU's fusion R&D programme, the UK could seize the opportunity to drive fusion industry jobs, investment and growth to deliver the UK's fusion strategy. And Britain is open to international co-operation, including with the EU and ITER, a huge international fusion experiment being built in France. However, the UK believes it can make the biggest difference in global fusion research outside the Euratom R&D framework.

Sir Ian Chapman, chief executive of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), welcomed the UK government's announcement of nuclear fusion plans. UKAEA welcomes the clarity on the UK's future relationship with Euratom's R&D programme, which provides the certainty the industry needs. The UK government's commitment to an ambitious R&D programme will be extremely important in maintaining the UK's leading position in fusion R&D and developing the industrial capacity to deliver the fusion power plants of the future. We welcome this substantial UK R&D initiative to maintain and even strengthen our international partnerships." Editor/Xu Shengpeng