Recent advances in fusion energy research have sparked renewed excitement and a surge in investment, but significant hurdles remain in making fusion a practical reality. 

In the paper “What Fusion Energy Can Learn From Biotechnology,” MIT professors Andrew W. Lo and Dennis G. Whyte propose five initiatives for accelerating progress in fusion based on lessons learned from the last 50 years of  biotechnology industry history. Their insights provide a practical roadmap for stakeholders in the fusion energy sector. 

“We’re at an inflection point—similar to when scientists first developed recombinant DNA in the 1970s—where we’re now asking ourselves, ‘Can we actually adapt the fusion process into a new source of energy?’ which would completely transform the energy landscape,” said Whyte. 

Five key initiatives to accelerate fusion’s progress

Standardize fusion energy milestones along with fusion rating agencies to certify their achievement. Similar to the clinical trials process in biotech, establish a set of milestones—agreed upon by all key stakeholders including regulators, researchers, and fusion companies—for achieving commercially relevant fusion.

Create a university intellectual-property consortium. Incentivize a virtuous cycle of progress and develop stronger ties between academia and industry by streamlining the commercialization of fusion-related university intellectual property, providing opportunities for academics to learn more about establishing a startup and building a company, and create new dedicated fusion investment funds focused on business ideas coming out of a consortium of universities and research labs.

Develop new financing and business models to fund the various stages of fusion progress. Develop a commercialization ecosystem and foster collaboration by aligning the interests of investors, policymakers and regulators, fusion and fusion-supporting startups, and “Big Energy” through securitization, structured financing, new derivatives markets, and other financial incentives tailored to the risk–reward profile of each stakeholder community.

Create a coordinated plan for two-sided outreach, education, and engagement at all levels from K–12 to policymakers and the general public. Promote open communication and collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and the public to build trust, share knowledge, and address societal concerns about fusion energy.

Manage fusion initiatives as part of a broader ecosystem. Recognize that commercially viable fusion power will be the product of multiple stakeholders in an ecosystem that promotes adaptation and resilience through environmental stability, biodiversity, and sufficient external “energy”—in this case, human and financial resources—to support population growth and innovation.

“Applying these historical lessons today can accelerate the development of fusion towards the same level of commercial success and human impact that biotech has achieved,” Lo said. 

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Source: MIT Sloan