Munich-based Proxima Fusion is partnering with Japanese industrial partners Fujikura and Kyoto Fusioneering to build a commercial fusion power supply chain, aiming to produce 5,000 kilometers of high-temperature superconducting tape annually by 2030. This strategic collaboration, signed in Tokyo, seeks to secure Europe’s energy independence by transforming scientific research into industrial manufacturing capability.
The move signals a major geopolitical shift in the race for clean energy supremacy. While the promise of fusion—replicating the sun’s power through super-heated plasma—has long been a scientific holy grail, the struggle is moving from the laboratory to the factory floor. As Ann Mettler, president of the Brussels-based think tank Catalyse Europe, noted, Europe is a resource-poor geography heavily dependent on China, making the development of fusion a strategic imperative.
The race is on to build the world’s first commercial fusion power plant — and one of Europe’s leading contenders in the field has just received a boost. Munich-based Proxima Fusion signed memoranda of understanding with two Japanese industrial partners, Fujikura and Kyoto… pic.twitter.com/lvRUMSujFO
Tokyo agreements cement a new energy axis
The memoranda of understanding were finalized in Tokyo on October 28, carrying significant diplomatic weight. The signing was attended by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who was visiting Japan to deepen trade ties.
Proxima Fusion is focusing on a specific type of magnetic device called a stellarator, designed to confine plasma for extended periods. To make this work, the company needs two critical components: high-power microwaves to heat the plasma and massive, specialized magnets to control it. According to CNBC, the agreement with Kyoto Fusioneering will advance work on next-generation gyrotrons, which generate these essential microwaves. Meanwhile, the partnership with 141-year-old Fujikura targets the production of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape.
The fusion energy race just moved from theoretical research into a heavy industrial sprint. Munich-based Proxima Fusion is teaming up with Japanese giants Fujikura and Kyoto Fusioneering to bridge the gap between lab breakthroughs and actual power plants.
Here is why that tape matters: it is a specialized metallic material that carries electrical current with virtually no resistive losses. These tapes are wound into coils to create the powerful magnets required for the stellarator. Francesco Sciortino, CEO and co-founder of Proxima Fusion, told CNBC that Fujikura, a leader in manufacturing high-temperature superconductors that built its reputation in optical fibers, views this HTS tape as having the potential to become the next optical fiber.
Scaling the European fusion supply chain
Building a fusion plant requires an astronomical amount of material. Proxima Fusion’s roadmap involves massive industrial scaling to meet these demands. The company is currently studying plans to establish a €140 million ($160 million) manufacturing facility in Lower Saxony, Germany. This facility would be partially funded by the proceeds from a $468 million funding round completed in July, which valued the company—backed by Alphabet-owned Google—at $2.7 billion.
1/12 🇩🇪Proxima Fusion hat in 🇯🇵Tokio zwei Vereinbarungen mit japanischen Partnern geschlossen. Mit Fujikura wird eine HTS-Bandfertigung in Deutschland geprüft, mit Kyoto Fusioneering die Zusammenarbeit bei Plasmaheizung und Brennstoffkreislauf ausgebaut.🧵 pic.twitter.com/uHY1M9s4Ds
The scale of the required infrastructure is immense. Proxima Fusion anticipates needing roughly 20,000 kilometers of HTS tape for its “Alpha” fusion demonstrator and an additional 40,000 kilometers for its planned “Stellaris” power station. To meet this, the German facility aims to produce 5,000 kilometers of tape every year by 2030.
| Project Phase/Requirement | Estimated HTS Tape Needed | Target/Status |
|---|---|---|
| Alpha Fusion Demonstrator | 20,000 km | Planning/Development |
| Stellaris Power Station | 40,000 km | Future Planning |
| Annual Production Goal (2030) | 5,000 km | Proposed Lower Saxony Facility |
Establishing this production within Europe is a deliberate attempt to avoid the pitfalls of the past. Mettler told CNBC that while Europe has historically excelled in scientific leadership, it has traditionally struggled to convert that science into “euros” and industrial dominance. By building the supply chain in Germany, Proxima Fusion hopes to ensure that the expertise stays within the continent.
A high-stakes race among global titans
The race to the first commercial pilot plant is far from a one-horse race. While Sciortino expressed confidence that Proxima Fusion could be the first to turn on a pilot plant, he emphasized that profitability depends on operational simplicity rather than design complexity. He is aiming for net energy gain in the early 2030s.
But the competition is well-funded and geographically diverse. The following are included:
- United States: Commonwealth Fusion Systems (also backed by Google) and Helion Energy.
- Canada: General Fusion.
- China: State-backed entities, most notably China Fusion Energy Co.
- Japan: Tokyo-based Helical Fusion, leading the domestic push.
This competition is not just about who reaches the finish line first, but who controls the “switch.” As Mettler pointed out, the supply chain for fusion must be built years in advance; it is not a technology that can be deployed instantly once the science is solved. The ability to manufacture the specialized components—the tapes, the gyrotrons, the magnets—will likely determine which nation holds the keys to the next era of global energy.
The tension between scientific breakthrough and industrial execution remains the primary hurdle. If Europe can turn its fusion research leadership into industrial capability through partnerships like the ones with Japanese partners, it could gain a significant advantage.
