Fusion energy is moving from long-term ambition to near-term opportunity. The shift is not just for power generation, but for a wide range of industrial, scientific and medical applications. As global investments surge and pilot-scale technologies emerge, companies face new strategic questions: where to position themselves in the value chain, how to validate novel concepts and what it takes to operate in extreme environments. With in-depth experience in fusion experiments, nuclear systems, materials science and remote operations, we help clients across sectors prepare for and shape the future of fusion.
Key facts
Independent insight for confident decisions: We provide objective, science-based assessments that help investors, suppliers and developers reduce uncertainty, validate concepts and make informed strategic choices in a fast-moving fusion landscape.
Access to deep expertise and major programmes: With over 100 experts contributing to projects like ITER and EUROfusion, we are your direct link to the latest European research, tested methods and practical know-how in reactor technologies, materials and remote operations.
Accelerated entry into the fusion value chain: From material qualification to component validation and remote maintenance strategies, we help you enter and scale in the fusion market with the right tools, reviews and partnerships.
Why fusion matters now
Fusion energy is rapidly becoming a strategic frontier in energy and technology. As the world seeks clean, safe and scalable alternatives to fossil fuels, fusion energy presents a future-proof solution with game-changing potential. But it is not only about power. Fusion also enables applications in medicine, industrial diagnostics and advanced materials research from isotope production to neutron-based imaging and testing. The technologies under development today will shape the markets and supply chains of tomorrow. As part of the global fusion roadmap, now is the time for companies to position themselves, build competencies and explore emerging opportunities in this domain.
Emerging use cases require new expertise and partnerships
Whether you are a reactor developer, component supplier, investor or policymaker, VTT helps you reduce uncertainty, verify designs and accelerate innovation. Our applied research in fusion energy enables scientific and industrial actors to move forward with confidence. Our clients benefit from:
Independent insight rooted in applied research that supports decision-making
Technical validation of designs, models and materials
Access to research-based tools for remote operations, simulation and maintenance
Enhanced credibility through due diligence and expert reviews
New opportunities in neutron-enabled applications for medtech and industry
Support for integrating fusion developments into broader energy innovation strategies
VTT bridges complex technologies with applied research know-how
We bring a unique combination of capabilities to fusion research and development. With over 100 professionals engaged in fusion-related research, we are one of the largest applied science contributors to the European fusion ecosystem. Our expertise spans fusion experiments and modelling, advanced materials modelling, remote operation systems, nuclear codes and complex diagnostics.
We draw on decades of fission experience and adapt it to fusion challenges using proprietary tools, cross-disciplinary methods and in-depth understanding of reactor operations.
Our approach stands out for its versatility. It covers analysing plasma and plasma-wall interaction, neutronics and balance-of-plant and confirming material performance and structural integrity. We also design remote maintenance strategies as well as implement and test systems for fusion reactor operation and maintenance in harsh conditions without a line of sight.
Our teams tackle problems that merge the domains of nuclear physics, material science, robotics and human-machine interaction. These same techniques are relevant in extreme settings like space or deep-radiation environments.
As the national lead of the FinnFusion project and an active contributor to projects like EUROfusion and ITER, we are deeply embedded in Europe’s fusion research and innovation landscape.
Case: St1 – Accelerating fusion energy in the Nordics
Based on its extensive expertise in fusion and plasma physics, VTT assisted St1 in carrying out a technical due diligence assessment prior to the energy company’s investment in Novatron Fusion Group. With its investment, St1 accelerates the development of the Nordic fusion industry.
Targeted services for fusion developers, suppliers and investors
We work with clients at different stages of the fusion innovation cycle from early design to operational readiness. Our services are modular, research-driven and tailored to your needs.
Our fusion offering supports technology acceptance, strengthens international collaboration and accelerates the pathway from concepts to commercialisation.
We deliver knowledge, tools and partnerships that help you navigate and thrive in the emerging fusion economy.
We offer:
Advanced materials modelling and AI-assisted alloy screening for high-radiation environments
Fusion experiment and modelling expertise ranging from confinement experiments to fast particle modelling
Development of remote operation strategies and robotics concepts for fusion maintenance through review, engineering, virtual testing and experiments
Technical due diligence and technology risk assessments for investors and public actors
Advisory services for companies seeking to supply components to fusion projects
Strategic reviews of reactor and system concepts, including tools and validation support
Insight into early-stage applications such as radiopharmaceuticals, high-temperature process heat and neutron diagnostics
Expertise in fusion waste considerations, energy policy impacts and the integration of quantum computing methods where relevant
Related projects and ecosystems
European fusion laboratories collaborate through a consortium called EUROfusion - the European Consortium for Development of Fusion Energy - in line with the long-term strategy set out in the European research roadmap to the realisation of fusion energy.
FinnFusion is Finland’s national fusion energy network coordinated by VTT. It brings together Finnish research and industry actors to strengthen national capabilities and contribute to international fusion projects such as EUROfusion and ITER.
ITER is the world’s largest fusion experiment and a key step towards commercial fusion energy, where over 30 countries work together to build a fusion reactor and resolve critical scientific and technical issues around fusion as an energy source.
How to work with us
We are happy to collaborate with you throughout the entire journey, from the initial idea to implementation, or anywhere in between. We customise the project to suit your specific needs. Following an initial assessment, we can offer you a range of options, including the following:
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Customised partnership
Every research case is unique, and we’re happy to tailor our services to your needs. We’ll take you from idea to prototype without hassle.
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Cooperative project
We frequently participate in research and development projects with multiple business partners and funding agencies. In cooperative projects the risk is split between multiple organisations, and everyone benefits from the results.
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Our networks and ecosystems at your disposal
We are happy to put you in touch with the ideal sparring and development partner.
Contact us here!
Frequently asked questions
How far is fusion from commercial deployment – and when should we act?
Electricity production is still approaching the pilot phase, but applications like neutron sources for medical imaging and industrial diagnostics are emerging sooner. Now is the time to build competence, test technologies and secure your position in the future fusion value chain.
Can you validate our fusion reactor design or simulation results?
Yes. We offer independent, science-based assessments of reactor configurations, modelling tools, and system behaviour. This includes adapting and running VTT’s own simulation codes to evaluate specific design parameters and performance claims.
Why should a reactor technology developer be interested in remote handling?
As soon as a fusion reactor is started, the system becomes rather hostile due to radioactivity. And after the reactor is shut down, it must cool down until a human can manually access it. Therefore, remote maintenance must be comprehensively taken into account in the facility design. Moreover, it is difficult to add remote handling capabilities afterwards, hence this must be considered early on.
We want to supply components to the fusion sector. What do we need to know?
We help companies understand the demanding conditions of fusion environments including radiation, thermal loads and regulatory expectations. We support material selection, performance testing and design validation so your components meet fusion-grade requirements.
How can we develop a remote operation strategy for fusion maintenance?
We can offer collaboration in all phases of the remote operation strategy and system implementation: review, engineering, virtual testing and experiments. We support the planning of the access to components, robotic interfaces and tooling, and control systems to work with heavy loads in very tight spaces. Our expertise comes from work on e.g. EUROfusion’s and ITER’s control systems, and we can involve engineering and manufacturing companies with whom we have successfully collaborated in these projects.
Do you offer technical due diligence for fusion investments?
Absolutely. We’ve conducted deep-dive reviews for investors assessing fusion startups, including the technical feasibility of alternative reactor concepts. We identify bottlenecks, risks and realistic development pathways.
What kind of materials development services do you offer for fusion?
We develop and simulate radiation-tolerant materials, including AI-assisted alloy screening. Our ProperTune platform enables accelerated discovery and optimisation of alloys suited for fusion walls and other high-load components.
