The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) marked a milestone in clean energy innovation with the inauguration of its first-ever Collaborating Center for Fusion Energy Research and Training in Chengdu, Sichuan Province. The facility opened during the Second Ministerial Meeting of the IAEA World Fusion Energy Group, coinciding with the 30th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference.
Located in China's southwestern technology hub, the center aims to accelerate global fusion energy development through international cooperation. IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized its role in "bridging scientific discovery with practical applications for a sustainable future." Chinese officials highlighted the project as a testament to cross-border collaboration in addressing climate challenges.
Fusion energy, often called the 'holy grail' of power generation, promises near-limitless clean electricity without long-lived radioactive waste. The Chengdu facility will train specialists from over 30 countries and regions while conducting cutting-edge plasma physics research. This development comes as Asian nations lead in fusion investment, with China doubling its related R&D spending since 2020.
