The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $134 million in funding for two programs aimed at advancing fusion energy research and strengthening collaboration between private industry, national laboratories, and universities. The announcement is part of DOE’s ongoing efforts to foster innovation in the American energy sector.
“Under President Trump’s leadership, DOE is unleashing the next frontier of American energy,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Fusion power holds the promise of limitless, reliable, American-made energy—and programs like INFUSE and FIRE ensure our innovators have the tools, talent, and partnerships to make it a reality.”
Of the total funding, $128 million will go toward seven teams under the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) collaboratives. These teams are tasked with building a fusion energy science and technology innovation ecosystem by forming virtual teams that bridge basic science research with industry growth.
An additional $6.1 million has been allocated for 20 projects through the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program. This initiative aims to speed up private-sector development by easing collaboration between businesses and national labs or universities. Selected projects include work in materials science, laser technology, high temperature superconducting magnets, artificial intelligence for fusion modeling and simulation, and other enabling technologies intended to support progress toward economical fusion energy.
Fusion energy works by replicating processes found in stars like the sun to produce power on Earth. Following passage of the Energy Act of 2020, DOE’s Fusion Energy Sciences (FES) program has worked with private partners on initiatives such as INFUSE and FIRE to accelerate commercial viability.
According to DOE officials, these investments are designed to help maintain U.S. leadership in fusion research while supporting domestic manufacturing supply chains critical for national security and defense interests. The funding aligns with President Trump’s executive order focused on expanding domestic energy production.
A full list of funded projects can be accessed via the Fusion Energy Sciences program homepage: https://science.energy.gov/fes/.
For INFUSE awards, proposals were solicited from industry participants and selected through a competitive peer review managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.
DOE expects overall investment in FIRE Collaboratives could reach up to $220 million over four years; however, future allocations depend on congressional appropriations.
The agency notes that selection for award negotiations does not guarantee funding until final agreements are reached.
