Fusion for Energy manages Europe’s contribution to ITER and supports the development of fusion energy. As part of F4E’s annual assessment, CSIL led a study of how its activities relate to economic performance and industrial competitiveness in the fusion sector. The assessment covered 2018–2024, with a modelled outlook to 2039, and examined impacts on the wider economy, supplier firms and European industrial capabilities.
As consortium leader, CSIL coordinated the assessment with F4E and partners Trinomics and Cambridge Econometrics. It developed an assessment framework covering five impact pathways: scientific knowledge, innovation and technological spillovers, supply-chain development, skills and workforce development, and wider economic effects. The mixed-methods study combined E3ME macroeconomic modelling and expenditure analysis with an online supplier survey, stakeholder interviews, Orbis-based firm-level econometric analysis, bibliometric and patent analysis, supply-chain mapping, company case studies and SWOT assessments of eight fusion technology and service groups. It also examined procurement, project management and technology-transfer practices, benchmarking F4E’s approaches against those of CERN and ESA.
CSIL designed and implemented the survey, prepared interview guides and conducted interviews. The team analysed supplier learning and market outcomes and brought together quantitative and qualitative evidence to develop conclusions and recommendations on industrial competitiveness, impact tracking, procurement and F4E’s future strategy.