U.S. Fusion Forum Recap: American Leadership in Fusion Energy

The Fusion Industry Association (FIA)’s U.S. Fusion Forum on October 15th brought together nearly 300 people, including leaders from national laboratories, universities, government, and private industry, to discuss the state of fusion energy development and what’s needed to advance progress in the sector. 29 speakers and 15 exhibitors, mostly leading fusion companies, attended the event to explore progress and challenges shaping the path to commercialization as well as educate the audience on the various fusion technologies being developed today.

The forum reinforced the importance of U.S. leadership in fusion science and technology, spotlighting the release of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fusion Science and Technology Roadmap, a landmark plan outlining a unified national strategy to accelerate fusion commercialization by the 2030s. Unveiled the same week, the roadmap signals a new era of coordinated public and private progress toward sustainable fusion energy. Following the October 14th SCSP AI + Fusion Summit, many of the same themes resonated throughout discussions. The consensus was clear: America needs an abundant, reliable energy source to secure its economic and national future, and fusion is the technology capable of delivering it.

A Defining Moment for U.S. Fusion Leadership

The event, held in the nation’s capital, was opened up by DOE leadership, including Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil, who highlighted three key areas the roadmap will uncover. “The U.S. will: Build key infrastructure to address critical fusion materials and technology (FM&T) gaps; Innovate and advance the science and engineering of fusion; and Grow the U.S. fusion ecosystem through domestic and international public-private partnerships, fostering new regional consortia and building research FM&T infrastructure, supply chains, and fusion manufacturing networks.”

Gil was joined by DOE Chief Science Officer Jean Paul Allain and ARPA-E Director Conner Prochaska, who emphasized the importance of collaboration between government, private companies, and national labs to build a competitive fusion ecosystem. Gil described this as “a moment of historic alignment between public goals and private ambition.”

The panelists focused on the U.S.’s unique model of private-sector-led fusion development supported by public investment. The DOE roadmap, developed in collaboration with over 600 scientists and engineers, identified milestones and metrics for success as well as six core Challenge Areas to unlocking commercial fusion energy.

DOE Fusion Science & Technology Roadmap, Figure 6. The core Challenge Areas

Why Fusion, and Why Now? 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as both a catalyst and a beneficiary of fusion energy. According to the honorable Jay Obernolte, U.S. Representative for CA and Christofer Mowry, CEO of TypeOne Energy, AI will enable fusion’s commercialization by informing advanced plasma stabilization while simultaneously creating unprecedented energy demand that only fusion can sustainably meet. The U.S. faces a critical window to maintain technological leadership against international competitors, particularly China.

Momentum from private industry has been unprecedented. Fusion companies have doubled in number and raised five times more capital since 202 while achieving regulatory clarity through the NRC's separate fusion pathway. The convergence of high-temperature superconducting magnets, computational capabilities, and proven ignition at national labs has moved fusion from a far-off scientific dream to a near-term commercial reality, with power purchase agreements already signed for the late 2020s. This moment represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to establish American leadership in what could be the most transformative energy technology since the Industrial Revolution. Capturing the economic and geopolitical advantages of fusion will require coordinated public-private partnerships and strategic investments made now.

While progress has been remarkable, we still have a long way to go. Congressman Don Beyer noted that we need to educate Congress about fusion, suggesting that we should all actively engage our representatives and ask them to sponsor fusion-related legislation or join the Fusion Caucus. He believes this grassroots approach can help secure the necessary funding and political support to drive fusion energy forward.

Lessons from Other Technologies

A recurring message throughout the forum was that the U.S. cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of its past, where it pioneered technologies only to lose manufacturing dominance overseas, as was the case with solar and batteries, and in both the semiconductor and quantum industries. The new DOE roadmap for fusion reflects this lesson, aligning research and development with commercial end-goals from the start. 

The DOE has already engaged more than 600 scientists and engineers to coordinate fusion R&D, attracting investment and accelerating market readiness here at home, so that America can capitalize on commercial fusion energy.

Building a Fusion Workforce and Supply Chain

Federal, state, and industrial leaders at the forum agreed that the economic prosperity and security of America’s energy future requires us to quickly scale fusion’s supply chain. With China already controlling much of the global component market, forum participants emphasized the need for domestic investment in foundational materials, high-voltage components, and advanced manufacturing. Regional innovation hubs like those emerging in Washington State’s Tri-Cities region demonstrate how local partnerships can generate jobs and attract subcontractors, mobilizing talent.

The DOE and national laboratories outlined new mechanisms for public-private collaboration, including apprenticeship programs along with regional consortia and milestone-driven contracting. The projected demand for 28,000 new skilled fusion workers over the next decade underscores the industry’s potential to boost manufacturing and economic opportunity while strengthening U.S. energy security.

Fusion, AI, and National Security

Congressman Jay Obernolte, co-chair of the House Fusion Caucus and House AI Task Force, highlighted fusion’s strategic role in the AI era: “AI and fusion are inseparable. Abundant energy drives intelligence—and intelligence will help us realize fusion faster.” The DOE’s Connor Prochaska, Director of ARPA-E, added, “AI is just accelerating energy demand. The question isn’t if we need more power, but how fast we can supply it.” The takeaway here is that fusion is no longer a niche technology. Its influence will reach every corner of America’s energy independence, economic leadership, and defense resilience.

America’s Fusion Moment Has Arrived

With the release of the DOE’s roadmap and bipartisan support in Congress, the U.S. Fusion Forum signaled that the fusion sector is ripe and ready for rapid scale. Participants called for at least $10 billion in federal investment to accelerate fusion R&D and build a comprehensive supply chain strategy. As FIA CEO Andrew Holland summarized, “Fusion is not science fiction—it’s a strategic industry of the 21st century. The world is watching, and America is ready to deliver.”