News

Launch of the new Demonstrator Call 2024

FUTTA III runs an Open Call for Demonstrators to develop and test EUROfusion-based technologies or know-hows applied to non-fusion.

The deadline to submit proposals this year is the 30/07.

A webinar will be organised on April 18th to give detailed information about the call, and B2B meetings will follow for particular questions about your projects. Register for free to attend this event.

NEWS 2024 :

The Open Call for Demonstrator will offer up to 50.000 EUR (38k before) to cover the demonstration technical costs: from fusion technologies to non-fusion applications. Acceptable costs will be linked to the effective development of the project i.e. workforce, materials, meetings, equipment.

EUROfusion Beneficiaries (members and Affiliated Entities) can now be supported up to 25% Full Time Equivalent (3 person months) for fusion scientist/s through the work package FUTTA, in line with the EUROfusion co-funding rules and reimbursement rates.

For this purpose, applicants should make a specific request in the proposal, together with the respective EUROfusion beneficiary or affiliated entity + detail the expected use of the 3PM in terms of work and activities in the proposal.

These resources (max 3 person months) for the EUROfusion Beneficiary or Affiliated Entity will be made available through a EUROfusion task agreement, separately from the contract between InExtenso and the company.

News from the Demonstrator Call 2023

EUROfusion annually initiates an Open Call for Demonstrators aimed at transferring fusion-based technologies to non-fusion applications. This strategic move facilitates EUROfusion’s promotion of the Technology Transfer Program FUTTA, offering non-fusion enterprises the potential for funding to develop and test technology transfers.

In the year 2023, two successful collaborations emerged from the demonstrator call : the Italian company ALMAG, in collaboration with ENEA, a prominent Italian entity in nuclear fusion, and the German company TOMO (Tomorrow’s Motion), collaborating with VESC (Vision Electric Super Conductors), a German firm working in nuclear fusion projects.

Commencing in the latter half of 2023, the projects involve intricate technical pursuits:

ENEA, contributed to the development of a Hydrogen permeation sensor. This sensor aims to measure the concentration of tritium isotopes in Lead Lithium alloys, which serve as fuel for successive nuclear fusion reactions. The technology extends its applicability to other industries, such as metallurgy, where processes necessitate the precise measurement of hydrogen content for purification purposes. ALMAG intends to adapt this sensor for analyzing hydrogen content directly within the brass alloys melting furnace. The challenge lies in accurately identifying the quantity of hydrogen in brass alloys, a significant concern for industrial players like ALMAG, particularly in addressing microchannel issues during the production of various items.

VESC, in collaboration with TOMO, introduced an innovative superconducting technology designed for nuclear reactors, enhancing energy transport efficiency. Simultaneously, TOMO is focused on developing propulsion solutions based on magnetic principles, applicable in space, water, air, and land propulsion. The objective of this technology transfer is to assess the potential of VESC’s technology in enhancing TOMO’s propulsion systems, particularly in space applications. Leveraging VESC’s technology aims to minimize thermal losses, leading to significantly improved thrust in space propulsion endeavors.

News from the Demonstrator Call 2022

EUROfusion annually initiates an Open Call for Demonstrators aimed at transferring fusion-based technologies to non-fusion applications. This strategic move facilitates EUROfusion’s promotion of the Technology Transfer Program FUTTA, offering non-fusion enterprises the potential for funding to develop and test technology transfers.

In 2022, two collaborations were selected as winners of the demonstrator call. One involved the Dutch company Chromodynamics, which partnered with DIFFER, a prominent Dutch entity in nuclear fusion, and EPFL, a Swiss university with a fusion research department. In addition, the French company KAPTEOS worked with ENEA, Italian actor for nuclear fusion.

Both projects commenced in the first half of 2023 and concluded by the end of the same year, focusing on the following objectives:

Chromodynamics concentrated on developing an experimental setup utilizing MANTIS, a fusion-based technology. Their objectives included establishing the experimental setup, gathering multispectral image data, and conducting spectral unmixing of the recorded data. The project involved sampling a total of 50 spectral channels and acquiring multispectral data initially from fluorescent beads and subsequently from real tissue samples. The project demonstrated that dense spectral sampling enables high-plex unmixing, even with standard (“off the shelf”) fluorophores, thereby showcasing the improved speed facilitated by the MANTIS technology.

KAPTEOS pursued two approaches in the frequency domain to calibrate an E-Field probe, both of which encountered limitations at high frequencies: the adiabatic TEM cell method and a hybrid approach. However, these methods were constrained by technical or financial limitations for their intended applications. Consequently, the objective was set to develop an innovative device capable of calibrating any E-field probe in the time-domain over an Ultra-Wide Band. Leveraging an ENEA patent, they developed an E-field probe adapted to ultra-high pressure, now available for commercialization. This novel product underwent performance testing, with further analysis of its characteristics slated for future study.

SOFT Innovation Prize 2024 is open to submission

The SOFT Innovation Prize rewards outstanding achievements in fusion energy research showcasing opportunities of valorisation in the sector. It is intended for researchers and/or industrial actors who find new solutions, possibly with wider applications, to the challenges of fusion. Researchers, research teams or industry players can apply until 16th of January 2024 with a prize value: 1st place: €50,000 2nd place: €30,000 and 3rd place: €20,000

Demonstator Call 2023

FUTTA III runs an Open Call for Demonstrators to develop and test EUROfusion-based technologies or know-hows applied to non-fusion. The deadline to submit proposals is the 29/07.

Technology Transfer Award 2023

A contest to reward the commercial use of fusion technologies in non-fusion markets.

F4E Open Call for Fusion Technology Transfer Demonstrator Proposals

Open to European companies and organisations, this funding opportunity aims at supporting demonstrator projects where a fusion technology or know-how is planned to be used in a non-fusion environment.

Broker meeting in Garching

The Max Planck Institute for Plasma Physics hosted all brokers of the technology transfer program on 22/06 in Garching.

F4E Technology Transfer Day

Open to European companies and organisations, this event aims at connecting fusion technology providers with industries with the ambition to create new products and services based on technologies developed within fusion programmes.

Launch of FUTTA III

Fusion research aims to provide technologies and solutions to meet the future energy demands. The societal long-term impact of these developments is clear. However, what is the short-term return on investment in Fusion and the benefits for European citizens ? With a Consortium featuring 6 brokers, FUTTA III (Fusion Technology Transfer Activities) supports innovative projects in Europe through the promotion of fusion technologies and their applications.