Simon Woodruff, President of Woodruff Engineering, recently attended the second ITER Private Sector Fusion Workshop, held on April 22–23, 2025, at the ITER site in Cadarache, France. This dynamic event brought together leaders from the private fusion sector and the global fusion supply chain to explore how best to work together in accelerating fusion energy development.
The workshop was an excellent opportunity to engage with a broad mix of stakeholders—ranging from cutting-edge startups to major industrial suppliers—and to gain insights into how the sector is evolving. Here are Simon’s top three takeaways from the event, all of which hold particular relevance for Woodruff Engineering’s work in fusion system design and development.
1. Bridging the Gap Between Private Fusion Startups and Established Suppliers
A key success of the workshop was fostering meaningful dialogue between emerging fusion companies and established suppliers. These conversations helped suppliers understand how their existing capabilities might serve new fusion clients, while private companies were able to identify where they could leverage proven technologies instead of reinventing the wheel. This kind of cross-sector exchange is essential to building momentum and efficiency in fusion system development.
2. Identifying and Addressing Supply Chain Gaps
Participants also discussed specific challenges where the fusion supply chain currently lacks capacity. Critical areas include advanced materials that can withstand extreme operational environments, thermal management technologies, and solutions for complex fuel cycle requirements. By identifying these gaps, the sector can better direct R&D efforts and strategic investments to strengthen supply resilience.
3. Leveraging ITER’s Knowledge-Sharing Initiatives
ITER is actively expanding its knowledge-sharing initiatives to support private-sector growth. From assembly processes to diagnostic systems and compliance frameworks, ITER’s decades of experience are now being made more accessible to innovators. This spirit of collaboration reduces duplication of effort and shortens development timelines—an encouraging step for all stakeholders working to bring commercial fusion energy closer to reality.
At Woodruff Engineering, we see enormous value in participating in forums like the ITER Private Fusion Workshop. As the fusion industry evolves, collaboration across sectors will be the key to accelerating progress—and building the supply chains of the future.