The global trade association representing private fusion energy companies, advocating for supportive regulatory frameworks and tracking the rapid growth of commercial investment in the sector.
The Fusion Industry Association (FIA) is the trade organization representing the growing private-sector fusion energy industry. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the FIA serves as the collective voice of fusion companies in policy discussions, public communications, and industry coordination. Its membership has expanded from a handful of early-stage startups to more than 40 companies worldwide, reflecting the sector's dramatic growth in private investment and technical ambition.1
The FIA's core mission is to accelerate the commercialization of fusion energy by fostering a supportive policy and regulatory environment, promoting public understanding of fusion technology, and facilitating collaboration among its member companies. The association engages with legislators and regulatory agencies in the United States and internationally, advocating for fusion-specific regulatory frameworks that distinguish fusion from traditional fission nuclear power.2
A signature contribution of the FIA is its annual industry survey, "The Global Fusion Industry," which provides the most comprehensive publicly available snapshot of private fusion activity. The survey tracks total private investment, projected timelines for net energy and grid electricity, workforce size, and the diversity of technical approaches being pursued across the industry.
One of the FIA's most consequential achievements has been its advocacy for a risk-proportionate regulatory framework for fusion in the United States. Working alongside the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and congressional allies, the association supported the development of regulatory guidance that would treat fusion devices under a framework distinct from conventional fission reactors, reflecting the fundamentally different risk profile — notably the absence of meltdown risk and the minimal long-lived radioactive waste associated with most fusion fuel cycles. The NRC issued a policy statement in 2023 indicating its intent to regulate fusion machines under a byproduct materials framework rather than the more burdensome Part 50/52 reactor licensing process.4
The FIA's membership spans a broad spectrum of technical maturity and approach. Leading companies such as Commonwealth Fusion Systems, TAE Technologies, Helion Energy, General Fusion, and Tokamak Energy each pursue distinct confinement and heating strategies, while newer entrants explore concepts including laser-driven inertial fusion, magnetized target fusion, and Z-pinch configurations. The association does not endorse any particular technical pathway, maintaining a technology-neutral stance that emphasizes the value of a diverse portfolio of approaches.
While headquartered in the United States, the FIA operates with a global perspective. It participates in international forums, coordinates with fusion associations in Europe and Asia, and has engaged with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on the development of international fusion safety standards. The association has also established working groups on supply chain development, workforce training, and public engagement — recognizing that commercializing fusion will require not only scientific breakthroughs but also industrial infrastructure and public trust.5