Young talent competition "Fusion talents"
BMBF funds academic junior research groups in fusion research
06.02.2025
Source: Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) has published a funding guideline to support academic junior research groups in fusion research.
Entitled "Fusion Talents", the initiative is intended to support young scientists in the early stages of their careers and thus further increase Germany's attractiveness as a research location. The announcement was published in the Federal Gazette on March 7, 2024.
Objective of the funding: Advancing fusion energy
With this measure, the BMBF is supporting the "Fusion 2040 - Research on the way to the fusion power plant" program as part of the Federal Government's energy research program. The aim is to enable innovative projects in the field of both inertial confinement fusion and magnetic confinement. The aim is to address scientific and technical issues as well as the development of an innovation ecosystem for fusion research.
Thematic priorities
Research into fusion power plants is a major technical challenge due to the extreme conditions of the reaction. In order to pave the way for the practical use of fusion energy, the BMBF is funding projects on a wide range of topics, including
- Power plant design and simulations
- Tritium cycle and plasma-wall interactions
- Neutron technology and magnetic field coils
- Laser systems, diagnostics and remote handling
- Cooperation with industrial partners and regulatory framework conditions
The new directive pays particular attention to the training of specialists in order to secure Germany's innovative strength in the long term.
Importance for Germany as a research location
The establishment of efficient junior research groups should not only contribute to the development of new technologies, but also strengthen Germany's position as a leading nation in fusion research. Targeted funding will enable young scientists to put their innovative ideas into practice and set the course for the energy supply of the future.
Further information on the funding guideline can be found here: Homepage - Announcement - BMBF
