Welcoming the Fusion Industry Association to Our Lab at NIFS

In late July 2025, Helical Fusion had the pleasure of welcoming Caroline from the Fusion Industry Association (FIA) to our research base in Japan.

Our dedicated laboratory is located within the grounds of the National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS), one of the world’s leading fusion research institutions and the origin of Helical Fusion. At this facility, we are leveraging nearly 70 years of plasma physics and reactor engineering research into the helical stellarator—backed by approximately USD 70 billion of national investment—to accelerate the final stages toward commercialization.

During Caroline’s visit, our team was conducting one of the most important engineering tasks of the Helix Program: testing high-temperature superconducting (HTS) coils. These systems will form the backbone of the world’s first commercially viable net power steady-state fusion plant.

The visit also included a tour of NIFS’s world-class facility, where we saw the Large Helical Device (LHD)—one of the largest stellarators of its kind—as it prepares for its final experimental campaign.

Fusion companies spun out from national laboratories remain rare on the global stage. The exchange offered an opportunity to discuss the significance of robust basic research foundations, the role of public–private partnerships, and the importance of building a strong fusion supply chain to ensure successful commercialization.

We extend our deep appreciation to Caroline and the FIA team for their continued leadership and tireless efforts to accelerate the realization of fusion energy worldwide.

At our lab during HTS coil testing — From left: Helical Fusion Co-Founder & CTO Dr. Junichi Miyazawa, Caroline (FIA), COO Yosuke Kubo, and Science Advisor Prof. Akio Sagara.