China has launched a new international science program in Hefei aimed at accelerating the development of fusion energy. The program, initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), was officially unveiled on November 24 alongside the Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) Research Plan at a ceremony held in Hefei Future Science Town.
The launch event underscored the importance of global collaboration, culminating in the signing of the Hefei Fusion Declaration by key international partners. Representatives from the ITER Organization, the European Fusion Energy community, and various fusion research institutes worldwide affirmed their commitment to enhanced cooperation in fusion energy research through the declaration.
The Hefei Fusion Declaration recognizes the significant strides made through decades of international collaboration, and the transition from basic scientific exploration to more engineering-oriented research.
It also acknowledges that substantial engineering and physics challenges remain, requiring the shared wisdom and joint efforts of scientists worldwide.
The Declaration calls for openness, knowledge sharing, and mutually beneficial partnerships, inviting researchers from around the world to join Hefei's efforts in advancing fusion energy and the broader vision of clean energy for humanity.
The program, led by the Institute of Plasma Physics (ASIPP) at the Hefei Institutes of Physical Science of CAS, will focus on integrating international resources and attracting top global talent. It will foster collaborative research on cutting-edge topics such as multi-scale turbulence and alpha-particle transport, which are crucial for realizing practical fusion energy.
Through this program and open access to its major fusion devices, ASIPP aims to accelerate progress towards a sustainable energy future powered by fusion.
Global representatives join hands following the signing of the Hefei Fusion Declaration. (Image by ASIPP)
An aerial shot captures ongoing construction at the BEST facility. (Image by ASIPP)
China on Monday launched an international science program focused on fusion burning plasma research in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province, opening several major fusion research platforms to global scientists for joint scientific advancements. This international program, initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Plasma Physics, will provide global access to the country's multiple major fusion research platforms, including the Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST) facility in Hefei.
China has achieved a significant milestone in next-generation "artificial sun" technology development, with one of its key subsystems having passed expert review and acceptance procedures on Monday. The Divertor Prototype of CRAFT was developed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Plasma Physics. It is one of 19 key subsystems of the CRAFT, a platform on which engineers develop and test key components of fusion energy reactors. This milestone marks the successful development of the world's largest divertor prototype component with the highest thermal load, independently developed by China.
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