Proxima bets €140M on Europe’s fusion supply chain
Proxima Fusion and Lower Saxony plan around €140M of investment in European superconducting-tape manufacturing for future fusion reactors.
Fusion startups may eventually need far more specialised material than today’s supply chain can provide.
What happened
Proxima Fusion and Lower Saxony plan around €140M of investment across the first two phases of a factory producing fusion-grade high-temperature superconducting tape. Funding is expected to be split roughly evenly between public and private sources, with Lower Saxony planning a €21M contribution.
Why it matters
High-temperature superconducting tape is essential for powerful magnetic systems used in several modern fusion designs. Much of today’s supply comes from Asia, while a commercial fusion industry could require dramatically larger volumes.
The bigger picture
Fusion is shifting from a pure physics race toward an industrialisation challenge. Magnets, materials, manufacturing and specialised supply chains could become valuable markets even before commercial fusion plants generate electricity.