The fusion energy landscape has changed – shifting from long-term research toward industrialization. Private industry has emerged as a vital contributor to this transformation, bringing new technologies, speed, and investment into a field once dominated by public institutions. The need for collaboration across disciplines, fusion concepts, and borders is more urgent than ever.

At Fusion Energy Forward in Stockholm, hosted by Novatron Fusion Group and Big Science Sweden, Pietro Barabaschi, Director-General of the ITER, underscored this shift. Together with Benoît Fourestie, Acting Head of Unit ITER at the European Commission, the keynotes highlighted how Europe’s fusion agenda is evolving to support broader collaboration and a more diverse range of fusion approaches, reflecting a growing recognition of the role private initiatives play in shaping the future of energy.

Panel discussions tackled practical challenges – such as building a European supply chain and closing the competence gap – with valuable insights from experts, including Carolina Losin, Business Developer at Westinghouse Electric Company; Linda Werner, Head of Investments & Innovations at St1 Nordic Oy; Sverker Werin, Professor Accelerator Physics at Lund University; Mats Engwall, Professor of Industrial Management at KTH Royal Institute of Technology; and Karl Thedeen, CEO of Studsvik. Their contributions highlighted the urgency of preparing the workforce and infrastructure needed to support fusion energy at scale.

The conversation continues at the Nordic Fusion Forum in Helsinki on October 20.