Westinghouse has signed a contract worth USD180 million with the ITER Organization for the assembly of the vacuum vessel for the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor under construction in Cadarache, southern France.

A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the UK and Japan for partnership on fusion energy - as companies in the two countries announce new collaborations.

Germany's Wendelstein 7-X - the world's largest stellarator-type fusion device - has achieved a world record in a key parameter of fusion physics: the triple product. This value now exceeds previous tokamak records for long plasma durations.

Global supply chain spending by fusion companies increased by 73% in 2024 to USD434 million, compared with about USD250 million in 2023, according to the Fusion Industry Association. Spending is projected to grow by another 25% this year to USD543 million.

US fusion energy developer Type One Energy announced it has successfully completed the first formal design review of Infinity Two, its 350 MWe fusion pilot power plant using its stellarator technology.

Fabrication and testing of the sixth and final 110-tonne superconducting magnet for the ITER fusion machine's 18-metre-tall central solenoid has been completed in the USA. Assembly of the central solenoid is expected to begin soon.

The new kit was demonstrated at the Monaco Clean Fusion Forum, which also saw a memorandum of understanding signed with eight universities and research institutions who will each use one of micro-fusion specialist Alpha Ring's Alpha-E devices.

British inertial fusion energy developer First Light Fusion and systems, engineering and technology company Frazer-Nash Consultancy have announced plans for collaborative research to advance fusion energy.

The UK government has announced GBP20 million (USD25.5 million) to kickstart Starmaker One – a British private fusion investment fund that it says will help fusion businesses and start-ups in the sector grow and commercialise at scale.