Energy decision makers meet at MIIFED 2013

The Monaco International Fusion Energy Days (MIIFED) celebrated their second anniversary between 2-4 December gathering 350 guests from policy, industry and research at the Grimaldi Forum. The aim of MIIFED is to offer a platform for further cooperation in the fields of energy-related research across a wide web of actors. The Principality of Monaco is also linking this event to the financing of five Post-Doctoral Fellowships awarded every year.

Since the last time, the event has grown in size and ambition. Prestigious keynote speakers at the opening ceremony launched interesting debates which continued in the 20 roundtable sessions. Press activities and virtual ITER visits resuscitated the curiosity of the media about the manufacturing of components, safety and technological spin offs. Delegations from different ITER Domestic Agencies and ITER International Organization took this opportunity to report on the state of the project and their respective procurement packages. The global energy landscape, the policies and the industrial challenges we still face as well as the opportunities ahead, were at the centre of this conference.

F4E’s Director, Professor Henrik Bindslev, acted as moderator at the round table discussion exploring the views of industry on ITER and the need to develop new technologies. The business opportunities and the return on invested capital in terms of know-how were also addressed. Two of F4E’s Industrial Liaison Officers, Kurt Ebbinghaus and Dan Mistry, joined him sharing their expertise on how to get industry better involved in this international collaboration. Leonardo Biagioni presented the state of play of ongoing and future procurement packages planned by F4E. Alessandro Bonito-Oliva contributed at the round table “Manufacturing the largest magnet in the world” and reported on the Torroidal and Poloidal Field Coils that Europe has to deliver. Victor Saez explained how F4E views the protection of Intellectual Property and how it can benefit those who generate it. Patrick Lorenzetto elaborated the view of F4E in relation to the ITER’s tungsten divertor and the collaboration with the WEST project.

Apart from specific contributions to round tables, F4E was also present by means of an exhibition stand where new publications like the 2012 Annual Report, the Broader Approach brochure and the leaflet on the recently adopted industrial policy were unveiled. Audiovisual material reporting on the construction progress, the ITER convoy exercise and manufacturing was also projected in order to help visitors grasp the progress on all fronts. MIIFED was also an opportunity to take the pulse of our stakeholders’ engagement. Aris Apollonatos, interviewed 12 representatives from industry, laboratories and SMEs to hear their views on the direct benefits from their involvement to ITER. The new clips will be released next year.

The topics addressed at MIIFED are high on the agenda and will remain relevant in the near future. Energy, environment and the transition from a fossil fuel economy to a more sustainable energy mix will require a lot more planning, investment and a great deal of mutual understanding, which is developed in conferences like MIIFED where policy makers interact with technical experts and identify tomorrow’s energy roadmap.