The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has extended its four-year Embedded Engineering Resource Framework, worth up to £9m ($12m), with seven companies, signaling a deepening commitment to collaborative innovation in fusion energy. This renewal builds on a successful initial partnership that integrated over 80 engineers from specialised firms into key UKAEA projects, fostering skill development and cross-industry collaboration.
The framework’s expansion, now with increased capacity, aims to accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy by leveraging technical expertise from industrial partners. Gary Stables, UKAEA engineering frameworks contract project manager, emphasised the mutual benefits: “Embedding engineers within UKAEA is a win-win. The embedded engineers help to progress key fusion projects, while gaining valuable skills and experience in fusion. Boosting fusion expertise across the engineering sector is vital for the development of fusion energy and maximising the benefits to industry.”
The participating companies—Amentum Clean Energy, AtkinsRėalis, BakerHicks, Demcon Multiphysics, and Oxford Sigma—bring diverse expertise in mechanical, process, electrical control, instrumentation engineering, materials engineering, and systems engineering. This multidisciplinary approach is crucial for advancing UKAEA’s mission, particularly in areas like the Joint European Torus decommissioning and repurposing (JDR), remote applications in challenging environments (RACE), and the mega amp spherical tokamak (MAST) upgrade.
Dean McGarragel, a mechanical engineer from M5tec, highlighted the project’s impact on his career: “Working on this project has furthered my knowledge of fusion technologies, particularly the materials required in a fusion environment and their properties. I also gained insight into modern UK additive manufacturing, the material deposition technology sector, and the capabilities and constraints associated with these technologies. Working with a team of engineers, embedded within UKAEA, from a range of companies and backgrounds, was an inspiring example of cross-collaboration to advance fusion energy and position the UK as a global leader in the industry.”
The renewal of this framework comes on the heels of UKAEA’s £200m ($244m) investment in the Lithium Breeding Tritium Innovation (LIBRTI) programme in January 2025. LIBRTI is part of the broader Fusion Futures project, which aims to drive innovations in fusion fuel and strengthen industry capabilities through international collaboration.
This renewed commitment not only underscores the importance of public-private partnerships in advancing fusion energy but also sets the stage for further innovation and collaboration. As the sector continues to evolve, such initiatives will be pivotal in shaping the future of energy production, positioning the UK at the forefront of global fusion technology.