Professor Rob Buckingham, Executive Director of UKAEA
"Fusion energy is not just about technology—it is about partnerships that bring together expertise from across the world. Japan and the UK have a long history of collaboration in fusion, and we look forward to strengthening this relationship to accelerate the realization of fusion power."
The following day, we had the pleasure of welcoming the J-Fusion team to our Culham Campus. The visit included presentations from both organisations to discuss areas of mutual interest, as well as an informative tour of UKAEA’s fusion machines—Joint European Torus (JET) and MAST Upgrade (MAST-U)—along with our robotics centre and materials research facility.
Prof. Rob Buckingham, Executive Director of UKAEA, delivered a thought-provoking speech, stating:
“We are like two super tankers embarking on a vast ocean with ropes thrown between us. These ropes will break if we go in different directions. However, when we create the right tension, they will help us move in the same direction. We are leaving the safe harbour of conducting research and setting out on a much bigger journey to build commercial fusion powerplants.”
Reflecting on the event, Satoshi Konishi, a Chair of J-Fusion and CEO of Kyoto Fusioneering, noted:
On 4th March 2025, the Japan Fusion Energy Council (J-Fusion) and the Embassy of Japan in London hosted a Japan-UK Fusion Symposium, entitled “Prospects for fusion energy and how Japan and the UK can drive a new global sector.”
In his opening remarks at the reception, Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki, noted how science and technology cooperation plays an important role in the partnership between the two countries. He also remarked on how fusion energy has the potential to transform our approach to net zero, and how international partnerships, including those between Japan and the UK, are essential to realising this potential.
Ms Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate in the Department of Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), expressed her determination to take the UK to the next stage in fusion, involving government and industry and working with partners like Japan, to make the UK a global hub for fusion energy investment.
Professor Rob Buckingham, Executive Director of UKAEA
"Fusion energy is not just about technology—it is about partnerships that bring together expertise from across the world. Japan and the UK have a long history of collaboration in fusion, and we look forward to strengthening this relationship to accelerate the realization of fusion power."
The following day, we had the pleasure of welcoming the J-Fusion team to our Culham Campus. The visit included presentations from both organisations to discuss areas of mutual interest, as well as an informative tour of UKAEA’s fusion machines—Joint European Torus (JET) and MAST Upgrade (MAST-U)—along with our robotics centre and materials research facility.
Prof. Rob Buckingham, Executive Director of UKAEA, delivered a thought-provoking speech, stating:
“We are like two super tankers embarking on a vast ocean with ropes thrown between us. These ropes will break if we go in different directions. However, when we create the right tension, they will help us move in the same direction. We are leaving the safe harbour of conducting research and setting out on a much bigger journey to build commercial fusion powerplants.”
Reflecting on the event, Satoshi Konishi, a Chair of J-Fusion and CEO of Kyoto Fusioneering, noted:
On 4th March 2025, the Japan Fusion Energy Council (J-Fusion) and the Embassy of Japan in London hosted a Japan-UK Fusion Symposium, entitled “Prospects for fusion energy and how Japan and the UK can drive a new global sector.”
In his opening remarks at the reception, Ambassador Hiroshi Suzuki, noted how science and technology cooperation plays an important role in the partnership between the two countries. He also remarked on how fusion energy has the potential to transform our approach to net zero, and how international partnerships, including those between Japan and the UK, are essential to realising this potential.
Ms Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate in the Department of Energy, Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), expressed her determination to take the UK to the next stage in fusion, involving government and industry and working with partners like Japan, to make the UK a global hub for fusion energy investment.
