The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $134 million in funding for two programs aimed at advancing fusion energy research and supporting collaboration between the private sector, national laboratories, and universities.
According to DOE Secretary Chris Wright, “Under President Trump’s leadership, DOE is unleashing the next frontier of American energy. 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 funds announced, $128 million will go to seven teams through the Fusion Innovative Research Engine (FIRE) Collaboratives. These teams are tasked with building an innovation ecosystem that connects basic science research with growing fusion industries by forming virtual, centrally managed groups.
An additional $6.1 million is allocated for 20 projects under the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy (INFUSE) program. This initiative seeks to speed up private-sector development in fusion energy by easing collaboration between businesses and public research institutions. Selected projects cover areas such as materials science, laser technology development, high temperature superconducting magnet assessment, artificial intelligence applications for modeling and simulation in fusion research, and other enabling technologies needed for economical fusion energy.
Fusion energy works by replicating processes found in stars like the sun to provide a potential source of abundant and reliable power. After Congress passed the Energy Act of 2020, DOE’s Fusion Energy Sciences program increased efforts to accelerate commercial viability for fusion technologies through industry-focused initiatives including INFUSE and FIRE.
These new investments are intended to strengthen U.S. leadership in fusion research while also supporting domestic manufacturing supply chains important for national security and defense interests. The selections follow President Trump’s executive order on Unleashing American Energy and are part of ongoing efforts to boost domestic production capabilities within the American fusion sector.
A complete list of funded projects can be accessed on the Fusion Energy Sciences program homepage.
The INFUSE awards were determined through a competitive peer review process managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory. Each selected project will receive between $100,000 and $500,000 over one year.
For FIRE Collaboratives, DOE anticipates investing up to $220 million over four years if future congressional appropriations allow; this includes $31 million set aside for Fiscal Year 2025. Selection does not guarantee final funding or award—negotiations must be completed before any funds are distributed.
