Europe's struggle to lead in nuclear fusion energy race
While fusion promises a cleaner, safer, and virtually limitless source of power, the EU's fragmented approach and lack of high-level political leadership are raising alarms among experts and policymakers.
At a recent conference in Barcelona, several speakers highlighted the mismatch between Europe's scientific capabilities and its strategic direction, pointing to the fact that only a small fraction of global private investment in fusion is currently flowing to Europe.
Although major projects like ITER in France demonstrate Europe's technical ambition, critics argue that progress remains slow due to bureaucratic inertia and the absence of a unified vision.
Calls are growing for a clear, EU-wide fusion strategy that includes strong political backing, public-private partnerships, and a regulatory framework distinct from nuclear fission.
Without a coordinated roadmap from research to commercialisation, many warn that Europe could miss its opportunity to shape the future of global energy and fall behind more agile competitors like the United States.
Read this Event Report to find out more about the EU's Nuclear Fusion ambitions.
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