UKAEA has provided pathways back into the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) sector for experienced professionals. Through work with Hampshire-based STEM returners, a number of opportunities have been created across the organisation.
With the STEM sector rapidly evolving, returning to a career can be challenging. The STEM Returners programme helps to address this through providing a route back into STEM careers, rebuilding networks and skills, and access to other resources needed to thrive.
Fusion Week 2026 began on 14 September with a coordinated programme of events and announcements. The series of activities across the week gave policymakers, industry leaders, investors and international partners the opportunity to engage with each other, reinforcing the UK’s position as one of the most active and collaborative fusion ecosystems in the world.
On Wednesday, Culham hosted the second Fusion X Innovation, which connected investors with 15 early‑stage organisations seeking initial or follow‑on funding. The event provided a platform for the exhibitors to present their technologies, business models and investment needs directly to interested parties. They were able to discuss opportunities in depth, and the atmosphere was one of active engagement and optimism. The hope is that many of these initial conversations will continue beyond the event, supporting the growth of a vibrant commercial fusion supply chain and opportunities in adjacent sectors.
Fusion Week 2026 demonstrated the strength, ambition and international reach of the fusion ecosystem. From government‑level agreements and strategic partnerships to industry forums and investor engagement, the week highlighted how scientific capability, policy alignment and commercial interest are coming together around the shared goal of commercial fusion energy. That this took place in the UK highlights the commitment of government, UKAEA, private fusion companies and suppliers to be global leaders in the effort to bring fusion energy from research to reality.
On Tuesday, attention shifted to the private sector as the Fusion Industry Association hosted the UK Fusion Forum. The event brought together more than 300 participants from across the UK and international fusion communities, including technology companies, investors, the supply chain and policymakers. Discussions focused on the UK’s capabilities and the key enablers required to deliver commercial fusion in the 2030s. Themes included regulatory frameworks, market design, skills pipelines, manufacturing readiness and the importance of long‑term partnerships between government and industry. The scale and diversity of attendance demonstrated the growing maturity of the fusion sector and the UK’s role as a convening hub for global collaboration.
UKAEA and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) signed a Joint Declaration of Intent to explore linking UKAEA’s mission‑focused AI supercomputer, SUNRISE, with PPPL’s STELLAR‑AI platform. This partnership – the SUNRISE–STELLAR‑AI Federation – signals a new era of AI‑enabled fusion research, where modelling, simulation and design can be accelerated through shared computational power and joint scientific workflows.
The Summit concluded with a joint statement signed by Michael Shanks MP, Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, and Darío Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy. The statement reaffirmed the UK–U.S. commitment to deepening cooperation across fusion science, technology development and commercial readiness.
The week opened in the City of London’s Mansion House with the Global Fusion Policy Summit, jointly hosted by DESNZ and the U.S. Department of Energy. This flagship conference brought together senior delegates from around the world to discuss how international collaboration between public and private organisations can accelerate the commercialisation of fusion. The tone was one of pace and opportunity: fusion is progressing rapidly, and governments are increasingly recognising the need for shared regulations, data and scientific capability.
The Summit also served as a platform for major bilateral announcements.
UKAEA has provided pathways back into the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) sector for experienced professionals. Through work with Hampshire-based STEM returners, a number of opportunities have been created across the organisation.
With the STEM sector rapidly evolving, returning to a career can be challenging. The STEM Returners programme helps to address this through providing a route back into STEM careers, rebuilding networks and skills, and access to other resources needed to thrive.
Intermediate Level Waste. By removing tritium, they can be reclassified as Low Level Waste. This is up to 10 times less expensive to dispose of and it can even be recycled for future fusion or fission machines.
Fusion Week 2026 began on 14 September with a coordinated programme of events and announcements. The series of activities across the week gave policymakers, industry leaders, investors and international partners the opportunity to engage with each other, reinforcing the UK’s position as one of the most active and collaborative fusion ecosystems in the world.
Intermediate Level Waste. By removing tritium, they can be reclassified as Low Level Waste. This is up to 10 times less expensive to dispose of and it can even be recycled for future fusion or fission machines.