DOE Commits $134 Million to Advance U.S. Fusion Research

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $134 million to strengthen America’s position in fusion energy, directing funds to two programs designed to accelerate private-public collaboration and technology maturation. The investment supports the next round of Fusion Innovation Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives and new awards under the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE). Together, they aim to close scientific and engineering gaps on the path toward commercial fusion.

According to DOE, $128 million will go to seven FIRE collaborative teams. These virtual, centrally managed teams are structured to bridge fundamental research in the Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program with the growing commercial fusion sector. The remaining $6.1 million will fund 20 INFUSE projects, which lower barriers for companies to work with national laboratories and universities on near-term technical challenges. Projects span materials science, laser technology development, high-temperature superconducting magnet assessment, AI-assisted modeling and simulation, and enabling systems required for economical fusion energy.

DOE notes that these selections build on the Energy Act of 2020 and a strategy to accelerate the viability of commercial fusion in partnership with industry. The department also emphasized the broader goal of strengthening U.S. manufacturing and supply chains tied to advanced energy technologies. While today’s awards start the work, officials underscored standard federal caveats: selection for award negotiations is not a commitment to fund, and final awards depend on successful negotiations and available appropriations.

The department expects the FIRE effort to span four years, with potential total funding up to $220 million, including $31 million in Fiscal Year 2025. INFUSE will issue one-year awards typically ranging from $100,000 to $500,000 apiece through a competitive peer-review process managed by partners at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. DOE framed the combined portfolio as a targeted push to keep U.S. research, supply chains, and early commercial activity aligned around a common outcome—pilot-scale fusion within a credible timeframe.

A full list of selected projects and additional information are available through DOE’s Fusion Energy Sciences program pages.