The b.NEXT consortium (Assystem, Egis, and Empresarios Agrupados) has signed with Fusion for Energy (F4E), the EU organisation managing Europe’s contribution to major international fusion projects, a multi-million deal running until 2030, for activities relating to design and construction management at ITER – the biggest international fusion experiment.
ITER aims to demonstrate the feasibility of nuclear fusion by building an industrial scale device using magnetic confinement.
Innovation was at the heart of the b.NEXT tender, with the use of cutting-edge digital technologies such as systems modelling and artificial intelligence, aimed at automating engineering and project management processes.
Stéphane Aubarbier, deputy CEO of Assystem, commented: “The ITER project is the most ambitious nuclear research programme in recent decades. We are convinced that fusion technologies are crucial to maximising sustainable, low-carbon electricity production worldwide, while offering promising career prospects for current and future generations.” Marc Lachaise, director of Fusion for Energy (F4E), said: “Europe’s participation in ITER offers companies a unique opportunity to be involved in the biggest international fusion project, which will influence the energy mix of the future. They will be part of a large supply chain managed by F4E, which will strengthen their skills, boost their competitiveness, and provide them with first-hand experience in developing tomorrow’s fusion devices. Building on our previous collaboration with b.NEXT partners, we rely on their expertise and renew our commitment to excellence and timely delivery.”
For more information, go to: Fusion for Energy
