Higher education institutions in the United States and United Kingdom have established a transatlantic partnership to advance research, skills, and policy in fusion energy. A landmark agreement was signed on 14 September 2026 at the Global Fusion Policy Summit in London, establishing a collaborative framework between the US-based University Fusion Association and a coalition of 16 UK universities. The agreement focuses on four pillars critical to realising commercial fusion energy which has the potential to deliver a safe, reliable and low-carbon energy supply:Research and Innovation: Collaborative scientific discovery, technology development, and engineering deployment.Workforce & Skills Development: Multilevel educational and training initiatives designed to build a robust, inclusive, and diverse talent pipeline for the fusion sector over the next decade and beyond.Economic Impact: Promoting entrepreneurship and commercialisation pathways to generate economic benefit.Policy & Society: Advancing science-informed policy and serving the interests of society at large. Representatives from UK & US universities, the US Department of Energy and UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero at the signing at The Mansion House, London. (Image credit: UK Atomic Energy Authority) The agreement strengthens the global fusion energy landscape, accelerating technical breakthroughs, and establishes a unified foundation to train the next generation of scientists and engineers while prioritising student and trainee welfare. The signatories also commit to closer cooperation on regulating fusion energy.The announcement comes as the government publishes its UK Fusion Investment Prospectus, setting out the plans to turn Britain’s world-leading fusion research into a new clean energy industry, attracting companies to invest and create more than 10,000 skilled jobs in the UK by 2030.Dr Moritz Linkmann, Interim Head of School and Co-Director of the Centre for Plasma Theory, says, "This collaboration is a significant step forward for the Centre and for both the School of Mathematics and School of Physics and Astronomy. It strengthens Edinburgh's increasing visibility within the global fusion community and will accelerate and facilitate substantive progress on the physics and mathematics relevant to magnetic confinement fusion".David Capper, Director for New Nuclear Strategy and Fusion Energy, UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says, "Delivering fusion will require collaboration across academia, industry, and government, alongside a strong pipeline of skills and talent. Universities have an important role in making fusion possible which is why we welcome partnerships like the one being forged today".Matthew Lanctot, Acting Research Division Director, US Department of Energy, Fusion Energy Services, says, "This partnership will strengthen the publicly funded research base that drives fusion innovation while helping develop the talent and technology needed for a competitive private fusion sector. By connecting expertise across the Atlantic, this partnership can help close critical gaps on the path to commercial fusion".The agreement invites further institutional participation, allowing additional universities to join the initiative in the coming months.Learn more:UK and US fusion strike partnership to accelerate clean energy | GOV.UKGlobal Fusion Policy Summit: joint statement on fusion energy | GOV.UKCentre for Plasma Theory | The University of Edinburgh Tags Applied and Computational Mathematics Energy Staff success This article was published on Wednesday 30 September 2026
