The DONES programme is one of the key European initiatives supporting the development of fusion energy and research in plasma physics. It is now entering a further stage of institutional and technical maturation. At the Steering Committee meeting in Misawa, Japan, attended by representatives from 14 countries and European institutions, a series of decisions were made to strengthen programme governance and accelerate the implementation of the IFMIF-DONES infrastructure, which will be a high-performance neutron source for materials research in thermonuclear fusion reactors.

The most significant outcome for Poland is the granting of observer status to the CeNTE (Scientific and Industrial Centre for New Energy Technologies) consortium, coordinated by the Institute of Plasma Physics and Laser Microfusion (IPPLM). Including CeNTE in the DONES framework is an important step towards increasing the participation of Polish scientific and industrial institutions in international nuclear fusion research and the development of advanced materials technologies for future fusion reactors.

A revised programme governance structure was also approved during the meeting, including key leadership appointments and the establishment of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC). The STAC will provide independent expert advice to support the scientific and technical excellence of the project. Discussions also focused on assessing technical and organisational progress, updating key performance indicators and planning subsequent implementation phases.

The IFMIF-DONES facility, which is set to be built in Granada, Spain, is expected to play a pivotal role in investigating the impact of intense neutron radiation on structural materials, which is one of the most significant challenges in developing fusion energy systems.

The decisions made in Japan confirm the increasing momentum of the DONES Programme and its position as a global platform for scientific collaboration. The involvement of the Polish CeNTE consortium also strengthens Poland's position within the European and international fusion energy research ecosystem.

Source: IFMIF-DONES, IPPLM