our Mission for Commercialisation
Through the development, protection and commercialisation of Intellectual Property (IP), UK Fusion Energy is helping to build a world-class, UK-centred fusion industry, bringing together industrial partners and supply chains to deliver the technologies, systems and capabilities required for future fusion power plants.
As the systems integrator for STEP Fusion, we are orchestrating the development of the UK’s prototype fusion power plant, working with industrial partners to co-develop the technologies, supply chains and industrial capabilities needed to enable the deployment of fusion energy at scale.
The knowledge, expertise and intellectual property generated through this work extends beyond fusion energy itself. By solving complex engineering challenges and integrating advanced technologies into a whole-plant solution, we are creating capabilities with applications across multiple sectors.
We are actively seeking opportunities to share, disseminate and transfer STEP technologies and wider programme knowledge to industry, supporting commercialisation through licensing and helping to build a world-class, UK-centred fusion industry. Through these partnerships, we aim to maximise the value of STEP innovation for the UK economy while supporting the development of future fusion power plants around the world.
Our Vision
We are helping to build a thriving UK fusion industry that can compete in global markets, ensuring the organisations involved in STEP Fusion are well positioned to support a future fleet of fusion power plants and unlock advanced applications beyond fusion energy itself. By protecting intellectual property developed through the STEP programme and enabling its transfer to industry, we aim to accelerate the growth of a world-class, UK-centred fusion ecosystem. Through the responsible sharing and dissemination of programme IP, we are creating the foundations for long-term economic growth, industrial capability and technological leadership.
Our Portfolio
Since 2019, we have built an agile, end-to-end design capability spanning every discipline required to deliver a fusion power plant, underpinned by a digital backbone that transforms design into manufacturing reality. Our portfolio spans both the key systems of STEP Fusion and our wider capabilities in systems engineering, integration and whole-plant design. Through this work, we are generating intellectual property with applications across fusion and adjacent sectors, including healthcare, infrastructure, space, defence and future energy systems. By seeking value throughout the journey to fusion, we are building a portfolio of technologies, expertise and know-how with the potential to deliver benefits far beyond the delivery of a single power plant.
Innovation Tracking 2025/26
92
Technology disclosures submitted
40
Patent applications filed
2
Published patent applications
Recent IP news
This is what it takes to build a fusion power plant
From fuel cycle and plasma control to power generation, cooling and grid connection – STEP Fusion brings together an extraordinary range of systems into a single integrated whole. Our ‘system of systems’ shows the scale and complexity behind the UK’s prototype fusion power plant, illustrating the opportunities fusion-led developments will have for driving value in adjacent markets. Expand image.
Beyond a fusion power plant
We will maximise the impact and value of STEP Fusion for the UK economy by prioritising the capture, protection and commercialisation of intellectual property developed through the programme.
Alongside technology and systems development, the design, integration and delivery of the STEP Fusion prototype is generating significant intellectual property, expertise and know-how. Through the sharing and dissemination of programme IP, we are helping to build a world-class, UK-centred fusion industry and supply chain.
Benefits of accessing STEP Fusion IP may include access to demonstrated technologies, reduced technical and commercial risk, the development of fusion-ready capabilities and products, and opportunities to apply fusion-derived innovation in adjacent sectors.
STEP Fusion innovation in action ACROSS ADJACENT SECTORS
Innovation developed through STEP Fusion has the potential to create benefits far beyond fusion energy itself. Advances in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets, driven by fusion applications, offer transformative opportunities across energy transmission, healthcare, life sciences and other high-value sectors.
In healthcare, more powerful HTS magnets can improve Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems by reducing scan times and enhancing image quality, particularly for complex applications such as brain imaging. The global MRI market is forecast to be worth $23.4 billion by 2035.
The impact extends beyond MRI. HTS magnet technology also has the potential to improve particle therapy systems used in cancer treatment and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) technologies used in drug discovery and development. These markets are expected to be worth $4.2 billion and $2.6 billion respectively by 2035.
This is just one example of how STEP Fusion is generating intellectual property, expertise and technologies with the potential to create economic and societal value far beyond the delivery of a fusion power plant.
