New CERN-Fusion for Energy agreement

CERN and Fusion for Energy (F4E) sign a framework agreement for collaboration covering areas of common interest

On 10 September 2025, CERN and Fusion for Energy  (F4E) signed a major collaboration framework agreement to advance scientific research and technological development in areas of common interest. F4E is the European Union institution responsible for Europe’s contributions to the ITER experiment, the world’s largest experiment in fusion energy.

The new agreement was initiated by a shared interest between CERN and F4E in high-critical temperature (HTS) superconducting magnet technologies and fusion energy. The framework agreement paves the way for a wide range of collaborations, in particular on the following aspects:

  • Technical design and construction of large scientific instruments and experiments, monitoring of industrial production and quality management;
  • Testing of materials, elements and systems;
  • Organization, planning and monitoring of scientific projects;
  • Knowledge and technology transfer;
  • Research and development in physics, engineering, and technologies relevant to future scientific experiments and demonstration models.

“This collaboration agreement will strengthen our ability to achieve F4E’s objectives, and help us study and address complex questions in the fields of fusion energy and particle physics,” said Marc Lachaise, Director of F4E. By working together, we will leverage the excellence, ingenuity and expertise gained from the large-scale international projects managed by the two organizations respectively. This collaboration is essential for the evolution of the field of fusion energy. This is a real step forward for science.

“We live in a complex and ever-changing world, where the creation of large-scale scientific infrastructures requires a shared vision, synergy in techniques, and organizational resilience,” says Mike Lamont, CERN’s Director for Accelerators and Technology. For decades, CERN and F4E have been facing the same challenges, from cutting-edge magnet technologies to sustainable project execution. This agreement strengthens our partnership, which is built on shared interests and long-term commitment. It was a pleasure to welcome Marc Lachaise and the F4E team to CERN, in order to strengthen a common agenda for science and its impact on society.

This framework collaboration agreement consolidates a partnership between CERN and F4E, which began in 2014 with a collaboration agreement on the impact of radiation on materials. This partnership was extended in April 2025 with a new agreement on radio frequency (RF) power couplers.

In 2023, CERN created a special fusion technology coordination unit bringing together specialists in accelerators, magnet technology and knowledge transfer. It thus embodies the Organization’s growing commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, and highlights its potential impact beyond the framework of particle physics. The new agreement with F4E is a shining example of this.

This post was originally published on the CERN home page.