Tokamak TT-1 at the Thailand Institute of Nuclear Technology (TINT), a long-standing participant in the IAEA Coordinated Research Project on the Network of Small and Medium Sized Devices for Fusion Research, contributing to international collaboration, research and capacity building. (Photo: JP Cayol/IAEA)
Building on the success of the earlier project, the IAEA has launched a new Coordinated Research Projects (CRP) to strengthen global fusion device networks and support coordinated experiments, diagnostics and training for the next generation of fusion researchers.
As more countries explore fusion as a future source of clean and reliable energy, ensuring broad access to experimental facilities and expertise is becoming critical for developing fusion programmes.
The IAEA plays a central role in enabling this access by convening global research networks, supporting coordinated research and building technical capacity across regions.
Through its CRPs, the IAEA strengthens international collaboration, supports capacity building and facilitates the sharing of knowledge and expertise in fusion research.
Small and medium-sized fusion devices are central to this effort. While large flagship facilities remain essential, smaller devices offer flexible, accessible platforms for experimentation, innovation and training, which makes them valuable for countries developing or expanding their fusion programmes.
To support this global ecosystem, the IAEA coordinated a five-year CRP, "Network of Small and Medium Sized Magnetic Confinement Fusion Devices for Fusion Research," which officially concluded in 2026. Building on the work of earlier CRPs, the project brought together 24 institutions from 18 countries, enabling collaboration through 17 research contracts, 6 research agreements, and 1 technical contract.
The network connected 14 laboratories operating fusion devices, including tokamaks, stellarators, plasma focus devices and linear plasma devices.
Participants from Bulgaria, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Iran, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mexico, Pakistan, Portugal, Russian Federation, Singapore, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Ukraine and the United Kingdom contributed to coordinated experiments, technology development, modelling and training activities.
"The IAEA's CRPs provide a unique platform to bring together facilities and expertise from across the world, enabling experiments and knowledge exchange that would not be possible otherwise," said Tzanka Kokalova Wheldon, Director of the IAEA Physical and Chemical Sciences Division. "This strengthens both scientific outcomes and the capacity of Member States to participate in future fusion programmes."
Advancing Research Through Coordinated Global Experiments
The CRP supported a wide range of coordinated research activities across fusion-relevant fields, demonstrating the value of international collaboration.
Joint experimental campaigns and comparative studies were conducted on multiple devices worldwide, focusing on plasma turbulence, magnetohydrodynamic activity, plasma heating, edge physics and plasma-wall interactions.
Many of these activities contributed to research areas relevant to the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and future fusion reactors.
A highlight of the project was a coordinated experimental campaign at the TJ-II stellarator in Spain, where researchers from several countries carried out joint studies on plasma transport, turbulence, electric fields and diagnostics techniques.
"Access to facilities like TJ-II through international collaboration allows researchers from smaller programmes to actively contribute to high-impact experiments," said Danas Ridikas, Head of the IAEA Physics Section. "This kind of cooperation is essential to advance fusion science globally."
The CRP also supported advances in diagnostics and modelling. Participants developed and tested new tools, including soft X-ray tomography systems, microwave diagnostics and machine learning approaches for plasma analysis. They also developed computational models that improved understanding of plasma behaviour and enabled real-time data analysis.
Research on plasma-facing materials contributed to fusion technology development, with coordinated experiments investigating liquid lithium and tin components, tungsten performance and material resilience under extreme heat loads.
Building Capacity and Expanding Participation
A key achievement of the CRP was its contribution to capacity building and workforce development in Member States, an essential element for the future of fusion energy.
Through the IAEA's coordination, the project enabled participation from a diverse range of countries, including some with emerging fusion programmes. Training activities included international schools, workshops, student exchanges and hands-on experimental campaigns, allowing young researchers to gain practical experience in plasma physics and diagnostics.
Participating institutions organized summer schools on plasma-surface interactions, regional workshops, and university-level programmes, using the CRP framework to connect education with cutting-edge research.
Smaller devices proved especially valuable for training, offering accessible platforms where students can engage with experiments and develop technical skills.
Impact and Relevance
The project supported international progress towards the realization of fusion energy. It strengthened a global network of magnetic confinement fusion laboratories and demonstrated how coordinated activities among small and medium-sized devices can contribute to plasma physics research, experimental support technologies and diagnostics development, materials testing and modelling relevant to future fusion facilities.
The CRP also highlighted the importance of maintaining experimental diversity within the fusion community. Smaller and medium-sized devices provide flexible platforms for innovation, rapid testing, proof-of-concept experiments and training that complement the capabilities of larger flagship facilities such as ITER.
