The European Commission invests €202 million for the IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator through Fusion for Energy (F4E)
News - 2025.7.14
The Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, during her speech
The European Commission, through Fusion for Energy (F4E), has approved an investment of 202 million euros for the construction and commissioning of the IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator, located in Escúzar (Granada), which represents around 25% of the total cost of the project.
IFMIF-DONES is part of the European roadmap to develop fusion energy, a new model of near-limitless clean energy, like that produced in the heart of the sun and stars.
The Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, welcomed the news and said that "we are taking firm steps in a strategic project that, with the support of the European Commission, tackles the global challenge posed by the energy crisis and places Spain at the forefront of fusion energy research".
Marc Lachaise, Director of Fusion for Energy (F4E), the EU's Barcelona-based fusion organisation, said: "The approval of the European contribution to IFMIF-DONES sends a clear message: Europe is committed to realising, through the F4E teams, the potential of fusion energy and aspires to be a leader in this field".
Lachaise also said that "IFMIF-DONES is now officially part of the European roadmap towards fusion. With this investment of 202 million euros, F4E will involve, via various contracts, European industry, SMEs and research centres. IFMIF-DONES is a project that addresses a strategic technology in the energy field and the European Union has reaffirmed its support".
Funding for the construction of IFMIF-DONES
The contribution, approved at a meeting held on 10-11 July 2025 at the Fusion for Energy (F4E) headquarters in Barcelona, was conditional on Spain securing full funding for the construction of this scientific facility and the development of an appropriate legal framework.
Both conditions have been fulfilled following the declared participation of Croatia, Japan and Italy and the drafting of an agreement that will regulate the collaboration between the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, the IFMIF-DONES Spain Consortium, the European Commission, Fusion for Energy (F4E), Croatia, Japan and other potential participating countries.
The core element of the DONES Programme
The IFMIF-DONES scientific infrastructure is the central element of the DONES Programme, which aims to establish a comprehensive database on fusion materials.
IFMIF-DONES is a neutron source, based on a high-current particle accelerator, for the development, qualification and licensing of materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions to which the components of the first wall of the future fusion reactor will be exposed.
One of the key challenges to realising fusion energy is the development of neutron-tolerant materials that can withstand a neutron flux of up to 14 MeV while maintaining good physical and structural properties for extended periods.
Currently, engineering materials data, properties and standards are based on fission neutron irradiation campaigns and do not fully cover neutron energies, temperature and other operating conditions.
Benefits for different fields of science
The IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator will provide results from which other fields of science and technology, medicine, nuclear physics or various industrial applications, can benefit.
The IFMIF-DONES project is implemented through the IFMIF-DONES Spain Consortium, created through an agreement formalised in 2021 by the Government of Spain and the Junta de Andalucía, attached to the General State Administration.
Non official translation