Get Involved
ITER and the investment in the development of fusion energy technologies come with many business opportunities. F4E works together with European industry, SMEs and research organisations to provide a wide range of high-technology components, as well as engineering and support services for ITER and other projects. With Europe contributing to nearly half of the ITER project, the prospects of being part of this unique international collaboration are infinite.
Industry, SMEs and research organisations are the backbone of this project and without their commitment, commercial fusion will remain a distant dream. Getting the business sector on board and finding the best possible way to work together is our priority.
Between 2008 and 2025, F4E signed more than 1400 contracts involving more than 3000 companies and 75 R&D organisations, amounting to an overall value of more than 7 billion EUR. In the coming years, more investment will be made through industrial and R&D contracts for the completion of ITER and the construction of other projects like IFMIF-DONES.
Beyond the commercial value, working in fusion generates a number of benefits for companies: entering new markets, developing new skills and stimulating innovation, transferring know-how and generating applications, building international collaboration and commercial partnerships, setting a new benchmark for fusion technology.
Companies participating in ITER are part of an unprecedented supply chain offering them the prospect of commercial partnerships with significant financial benefits.
Marianna Ginola
SIMIC
Due to the scale and complexity of the ITER project we need to think out of the box. This one-of-a-kind scientific partnership will help European companies to harness innovation by acquiring new skills and broaden their expertise.
Suzanne Roy,
Air Liquide
F4E awards contracts through public procurement and grants in line with the principles of transparency, proportionality, equal treatment and non-discrimination. All economic operators established in the EU – and when specified from the rest of the world – are eligible to apply.
F4E launches regular competitive tenders looking for appropriate suppliers to obtain services, goods and works related to the EU contribution to the construction of ITER, the manufacturing of systems and components, as well as other administrative goods and services. Procurement contracts are awarded according to EU public tender procedures which take one of the following forms: open procedure, restricted procedure, negotiated procedure, competitive dialogue, competitive procedure with negotiation and innovation partnership.
View the latest F4E calls
There are also business opportunities through direct contracts with ITER Organization, which is regularly looking for appropriate industrial suppliers for goods and services necessary for the construction, assembly and operation of ITER. The EU candidate suppliers are nominated by F4E following a specific request by the ITER Organization. The nominated companies may afterwards be invited by the ITER Organization to respond to different Calls described below.
View the latest ITER Calls
For both F4E and ITER Organization calls, candidates must be established in the territory of a Member of F4E (EU Member States and Switzerland) and must have work experience and a recognised level of expertise, competence and references in the study field.
The flexibility, innovation and unique skillsets of small and medium enterprises (SME) are essential for Europe to succeed in fusion. F4E is determined to increase their involvement in the supply chain, through a set of measures to lower entry barriers, simplify procedures and assist in
In addition, F4E has reinforced its outreach to smaller companies through market surveys, information days and a network of Industry Liaison Officers. Beyond growth and expertise, these firms have been able to develop new products and services, enter high-tech markets and strengthen their reputation.
Grants are direct financial contributions in order to fund R&D actions in support of F4E tasks.
F4E provides part of the cost of the action, the rest coming from own resources. Grants should not result in any economic profit.
For an overview of all ongoing Calls visit the Industry and Fusion Laboratories Portal.
All calls for proposals are published on the F4E Industry and Fusion Laboratories Portal.
A network of Industrial Liaison Officers (ILOs) from different European countries works together with F4E to raise awareness regarding funding schemes and ways to get involved in the ITER project. Information days and seminars are planned throughout the year to report on the roadmap of the different procurement packages and facilitate partnerships between companies.
All the key documents related to the different procurement procedures – including model contracts, general terms and conditions and quality assurance documentation – can be found in this section: Key Procurement Documents