Proxima Fusion and Fujikura Partner to Explore Superconductor Manufacturing in Germany

German fusion energy company Proxima Fusion and Japanese technology manufacturer Fujikura have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore establishing industrial-scale production of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape in Germany. Announced on 28 October 2026, the agreement was signed in Tokyo in the presence of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The collaboration combines Fujikura's superconducting technology and manufacturing expertise with Proxima Fusion's anticipated demand for materials used in next-generation fusion power plants.

HTS tape is a critical component of the powerful superconducting magnets used to confine plasma inside stellarator fusion reactors. Proxima Fusion estimates that its Alpha fusion demonstrator will require approximately 20,000 kilometres of HTS tape, while each planned Stellaris commercial power plant could require around 40,000 kilometres. Expanding production capacity will be essential to meeting these requirements as fusion technology progresses towards commercial deployment.

 

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Under the agreement, the companies will assess the technical, commercial and economic feasibility of developing a manufacturing facility in Lower Saxony, Germany. The proposed collaboration aims to establish a reliable European supply chain for HTS materials, reduce dependence on geographically concentrated manufacturing and support industrial cooperation between Germany and Japan. Dr Francesco Sciortino, CEO and Co-founder of Proxima Fusion, said, "A fusion power plant’s supply chain has to be ready years before the plant itself."

Fujikura will contribute its experience in superconducting materials and industrial manufacturing, while Proxima Fusion will provide technical requirements and visibility into future demand from its stellarator programme. Naoki Okada, President and CEO of Fujikura, said, "The deployment of fusion energy will require an industrial foundation capable of supplying high-performance HTS tape reliably and at scale." The initiative could help Europe develop the manufacturing capabilities needed to translate fusion research into commercial energy infrastructure. However, the MoU represents an exploratory agreement, and the companies have not announced a final investment decision, manufacturing capacity or construction timeline.

 

Source: Proxima Fusion