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Dr. Cyd Cowley and Caroline Anderson discuss high temperature superconductors (HTS) - explaining how the technology works and why it matters for commercial fusion energy. Plus, a behind the scenes look at Tokamak Energy’s DEMO-4 machine with Product Development Manager, Nadia Gjerdingen. About Tech Now: Tech Now is a new podcast series from the Fusion Industry Association. Each month, Caroline Anderson, Director of External Affairs, Fusion Industry Association, and Dr. Cyd Cowley, Fusion Principal, digiLab will take a closer look at a game-changing technology accelerating commercial fusion energy.

Adrian Carrillo, Master's Student at the University of Washington focusing on computational plasma physics, gives today's global Fusion News update. As usual, links to the stories discussed are below. 1. CFS places a major superconducting tape order for ARC https://cfs.energy/news-and-media/commonwealth-fusion-systems-places-largest-single-/ 2. ITER receives its final vacuum vessel sector https://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/news/europes-final-iter-vacuum-vessel-sector-delivered/ 3. A bipartisan bill proposes ten billion dollars for fusion https://trahan.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=3850 4. Daedal raises funding for fusion plasma diagnostics https://www.daedalsystems.com/funding-announcement Bonus: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/30/governor-newsom-signs-legislation-to-accelerate-californias-fusion-industry-announces-major-investment-for-quantum-research/ https://www.pppl.gov/news/2026/openstar-technologies-and-pppl-are-building-partnership-advance-fusion-energy https://www.pppl.gov/news/2026/novel-path-fusion-ignition-heat-first-then-add-fuel

To kick off the People in Fusion series, Fusion Industry Association CEO Andrew Holland sits down with Dr. Tim Bestwick, outgoing CEO of the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA). They talk about the UK's long history of fusion leadership and its evolving role as industry moves toward deployment, lessons Tim gained from his career bringing tech to market in other early industries, and his vision for the "quest" to commercialization. People in Fusion is a new podcast series from the Fusion Industry Association, featuring conversations with the people behind fusion energy's acceleration.

Carli Smith, Fusion Researcher at Kyoto Fusioneering, gives this week's global Fusion News update. Links to the stories are included below. 1. First Light Fusion achieves major fuel compression milestone https://www.niauk.org/first-light-fusion-achieves-major-step-forward-for-flare/ 2. Fusion leaders meet in London for the UK Fusion Forum and Global Policy Summit https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fusion-leaders-convene-in-london-for-global-policy-summit-and-fia-uk-fusion-forum/ 3. Compact fusion company nT-Tao gets a step closer to pushing core plasma temperature limits https://interestingengineering.com/energy/nuclear-fusion-gets-50-mw-pulse-upgrade?mc_cid=a9d6340062 4. Proxima Fusion plans Europe’s first high temperature superconducting tape factory https://www.neimagazine.com/news/germany-plans-europes-first-hts-factory/ Bonus: https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/opportunities-for-architects-in-fusion-energy/ https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2026/research/transatlantic-partnership-fusion/

Dr. Cyd Cowley, working at the intersection of fusion and AI at FIA affiliate member digiLab, gives this week’s global Fusion News update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. The $14 Billion Bet to Bring Fusion Out of the Lab https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2026-09-09/fusion-gets-14-billion-bet-energy-source-can-be-commercialized 2. Tokamak Energy completes 13.7T fusion magnet tests https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/tokamak-energy-completes-137t-fusion-magnet-tests 3. Helical selected for Japanese fusion demonstration project https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/helical-selected-for-japanese-fusion-demonstration-project 4. Tennessee issues licence for fusion plant https://world-nuclear-news.org/articles/tennessee-issues-licence-for-fusion-plant  Bonus story: FIA white paper guides Agreement States on fusion regulation: https://www.ans.org/news/article-8374/fia-white-paper-guides-agreement-states-on-fusion-regulation/

Dave Thomas, editor of Fusion News and fusion filmmaker covering the industry for over a decade, gives this week’s global Fusion News update.  Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. Pacific Fusion’s next fusion machine could clear a key hurdle to commercial power https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/25/pacific-fusion-next-fusion-machine-could-clear-key-hurdle-to-commercial-power/ 2. Kyoto Fusioneering raises $162 million https://kyotofusioneering.com/en/news/2026/08/24/4350 3. Marathon Fusion tackles one of fusion’s biggest fuel problems https://heatmap.news/climate-tech/marathon-fusion-lithium-tritium 4. Inertia Enterprises cuts fusion fuel production from days to hours https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/20/inertia-enterprises-finds-a-way-to-make-its-fusion-fuel-fast/ Bonus stories: STEP passes 50 fusion patent applications https://stepfusion.com/uk-fusion-energy-hits-major-ip-milestone/ Eni sees fusion as its “next refinery” https://www.ft.com/content/e6a069b6-69f8-4a21-9873-3cc0736d27e2?syn-25a6b1a6=1

Jasmine Mund, mechanical design engineer with a key interest in the fusion industry, gives today’s global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. Kyoto Fusioneering to Relocate U.S. HQ to Tennessee and Deliver UNITY-3 with ORNL, a First-of-Its-Kind Facility to De-Risk Fusion Technology https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260811349799/en/Kyoto-Fusioneering-to-Relocate-U.S.-HQ-to-Tennessee-and-Deliver-UNITY-3-with-ORNL-a-First-of-Its-Kind-Facility-to-De-Risk-Fusion-Technology 2. Fusion energy developer TAE signs helium-3 future fuel supply option agreement https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/fusion-energy-developer-tae-signs-helium-3-future-fuel-supply-option-agreement-2026-08-05/ 3. MIT scientists’ new framework could make fusion power a commercial reality https://interestingengineering.com/energy/mit-scientists-economic-framework-fusion-power-reality 4. Fusion fuel tech makes commercial leap https://www.neimagazine.com/news/fusion-fuel-tech-makes-commercial-leap/ 5. Latest MAST Upgrade experiments achieve milestones https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/latest-mast-upgrade-experiments-achieve-milestones 6. Fuse Touts ‘Highest’ Neutron Yield by Any Fusion Company https://www.powermag.com/fuse-touts-highest-neutron-yield-by-any-fusion-company/ Bonus stories: Fusion machines benefit from first-ever silver crystal tritium separation https://interestingengineering.com/energy/nuclear-fusion-reactors-get-first-silver-tritium Fusion energy expert Prof Dennis Whyte appointed next UKAEA CEO https://www.niauk.org/fusion-energy-expert-prof-dennis-whyte-appointed-next-ukaea-ceo/

Adrian Carrillo, Master's Student at the University of Washington focusing on computational plasma physics, gives today’s global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. Commonwealth Fusion Systems raises $1 billion in equity funding https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/us-fusion-energy-company-commonwealth-raises-1-billion-equity-funding-2026-07-30/ 2. Thea Energy lands a $20 million federal award to build its fusion magnet production line https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/27/thea-energy-lands-20m-federal-grant-to-build-its-magnets-for-fusion-reactors/ 3. Europe delivers a new fuel source for JT-60SA https://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/news/jt60sa-fuel-source-centrifuge-accelerator-f4e-sener/ 4. DOE announces the first Genesis Mission awards supporting AI-driven fusion research https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/doe-announces-first-genesis-mission-awards-supporting-ai-driven-fusion-research/ 5. UKAEA supports fusion inclusion into postgraduate education https://www.ukaea.org/news/supporting-fusion-inclusion-into-postgraduate-education/ Bonus stories: ITER upper launcher design ready for manufacturing https://fusionforenergy.europa.eu/news/iter-upper-launcher-design-ready-for-manufacturing/ The Energy Gang: Is fusion power here at last? https://www.woodmac.com/podcasts/energy-gang/can-fusion-finally-deliver/

Carli Smith, fusion researcher at Kyoto Fusioneering, gives today's global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. Fusion industry funding hits an annual record https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/global-fusion-energy-annual-investments-hit-record-nearly-45-billion-2026-07-13/ 2. General fusion makes history in the stock market https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/13/investors-send-general-fusion-soaring-in-debut-as-first-publicly-traded-fusion-company/ 3.Quantum computers make headway in solving fusion’s fuel problem https://phys.org/news/2026-07-quantum-fusion-fuel-material-configurations.html 4. Inertia opens world’s first fusion factory to commercialize inertial confinement fusion https://www.axios.com/pro/climate-deals/2026/07/13/inertia-fusion-facility-livermore Bonus stories: General Atomics Secures California Tax Credit for San Diego Fusion Blanket Test Facility https://newatlas.com/energy/general-atomics-test-key-fusion-reactor-component/

Dr. Cyd Cowley, working at the intersection of fusion and AI at FIA affiliate member digiLab, gives today's global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. US fusion startup makes history by converting plasma energy directly into electricity https://interestingengineering.com/energy/us-nuclear-fusion-makes-history 2. UKAEA and Eni launch RH3OVA to advance fusion industry https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ukaea-and-eni-launch-rh3ova-to-advance-fusion-industry 3. General Fusion targets Italy https://www.neimagazine.com/news/general-fusion-targets-italy/ Bonus stories: 2026 Fusion Industry Association supply chain report https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-launches-2026-fusion-industry-supply-chain-report/

Adrian Carrillo, Master's Student at the University of Washington focusing on computational plasma physics, gives today’s global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. UK and Japan deepen fusion cooperation with new agreement https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-japan-fusion-partnership-strengthened-by-ukaea-and-qst 2. Helion clears key regulatory milestone for Orion power plant https://www.helionenergy.com/newsroom/helion-clears-key-regulatory-milestone-on-the-path-to-building-and-operating-the-worlds-first-fusion-power-plant 3. First Light Fusion recreates orbital impact velocities in Texas tests https://firstlightfusion.com/media/first-light-fusion-successfully-recreates-orbital-impact-velocities-at-texas-am-engineering-experiment-station/ 4. Energy Department Releases Finalized Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap to Accelerate Commercial Fusion Power https://www.energy.gov/articles/energy-department-releases-finalized-fusion-science-and-technology-roadmap-accelerate Bonus: How fusion is powering UK prosperity – Episode 5: First Light Fusion https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLNTcdlQoAo Interview with SHINE: A Revenue-Backed Roadmap on the Path to Fusion (FusionX:Americas) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGISpdJDwTM

Jasmine Mund, mechanical design engineer with a key interest in the fusion industry, gives this week’s global Fusion News update. As always, links to the stories mentioned are included below. 1. Record funding for European fusion https://www.neimagazine.com/news/record-funding-for-european-fusion/ 2. The world’s largest privately owned laser just turned on https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/03/the-worlds-largest-privately-owned-laser-just-turned-on/ 3. Thea Energy Raises $100 Million in New Funding to Advance Fusion Technology https://www.powermag.com/thea-energy-raises-100-million-in-new-funding-to-advance-fusion-technology/ 4. Commonwealth Fusion Systems says papers validate its quest to generate power https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/commonwealth-fusion-says-papers-validate-its-quest-generate-power-2026-06-04/ 5. Helion hits $15.5B valuation with $465M in new cash as it aims to commercialize fusion this decade https://www.geekwire.com/2026/helion-hits-15-5b-valuation-with-465m-in-new-cash-to-commercialize-fusion-this-decade/#:~:text=Helion%20Energy%2C%20a%20startup%20racing,now%20valued%20at%20%2415.5%20billion. Bonus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTH0kJ6dSaE https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/02/pacific-fusions-latest-prototype-packs-440-gigawatts-into-an-80-nanosecond-burst/ https://interestingengineering.com/energy/nuclear-fusion-durability-breakthrough-scan https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/iter-magnet-test-facility-begins-operation https://interestingengineering.com/transportation/world-first-floating-fusion-reactor-powered-vessel

Adrian Carrillo, Master's Student at the University of Washington focusing on computational plasma physics, gives today’s global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. CFS announces an agreement with Singapore's A*STAR to develop technologies for commercial fusion devices https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/worlds-largest-nuclear-fusion-firm-partners-astar-to-develop-commercial-power-plant-tech 2. Thea Energy Announces Successful Operation of Full-Scale Planar Shaping Coils https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/05/13/3293984/0/en/Thea-Energy-Announces-Successful-Operation-of-Full-Scale-Planar-Shaping-Coils.html 3. NIF researchers project over 10x increase in fusion yields after planned laser energy upgrade https://www.aip.org/scilights/a-look-back-at-over-a-decade-of-inertial-confinement-fusion-experiments https://pubs.aip.org/aip/pop/article/33/5/050503/3391665/Key-metrics-of-progress-in-the-NIF-ignition 4. Xcimer Energy Builds Leadership Team for Industrial Fusion and National Security Applications https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260512727044/en/Xcimer-Energy-Builds-Leadership-Team-for-Industrial-Fusion-and-National-Security-Applications Bonus stories: https://www.axios.com/2026/05/22/fusion-energy-simpler-federal-review?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosgenerate&stream=top https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/fia-submits-response-to-nrcs-proposed-rulemaking-and-draft-guidance-for-us-fusion-regulations/ https://www.avalanchefusion.com/machines/lando https://www.cnbc.com/video/2026/05/20/nuclear-fusion-without-massive-land-use-huge-fuel-costs.html https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSmSVYm0eT4 https://www.cleanenergywire.org/news/germany-joins-eu-s-nuclear-fusion-push-europe-looks-energy-security

Carli Smith, fusion researcher at Kyoto Fusioneering, gives today's global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. British-US consortium aims to build UK fusion plant https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/british-us-consortium-aims-to-build-uk-fusion-plant 2. Grid connection requested for US fusion power plant https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/grid-connection-requested-for-us-fusion-power-plant  3. European Fusion and Industrial CEOs Call for a EU Fusion Strategy That Ensures Energy Security https://www.fusionindustryassociation.org/european-fusion-and-industrial-ceos-call-for-a-eu-fusion-strategy-that-ensures-energy-security/ 4. ITER Magnet Milestone Tests Fusion’s Construction Supply Chain https://www.enr.com/articles/62975-iter-magnet-milestone-tests-fusions-construction-supply-chain  Bonus: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsOF-D5Lyvw

Dr. Cyd Cowley, working at the intersection of fusion and AI at FIA affiliate member digiLab, gives today's global fusion news update. Links to all of the stories mentioned are included below. 1. The ‘dumb machine’ promising a clean energy breakthrough https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yvm11xrn6o 2. UKAEA backs First Light Fusion in £25m funding round https://www.theengineer.co.uk/content/news/first-light-fusion-raises-25m-for-commercial-fusion-push 3. US firm to scale laser-based fusion ‘breakthrough’ with new partnership https://interestingengineering.com/energy/laser-nuclear-fusion-moves-to-private-sector 4. $95M Tokamak Energy deal moves UK closer to building a fusion power plant https://interestingengineering.com/energy/uk-fusion-tokamak-energy-magnet-contract Bonus: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69e87bd8d36883a64473b7ec/ukaea-strategy-2026-2030.pdf https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3AK_yi-Hww