Productive high-level visit to ITER – Sweden has the relevant expertise

The status of the visit was raised even further by the participation of Håkan Åkesson, the Swedish Ambassador to France. In his introduction, he emphasised the importance Sweden attaches to the technological development taking place at ITER.

The purpose of the trip was to strengthen relations between ITER and Swedish stakeholders, thereby increasing Swedish engagement and ensuring long-term support for ITER.

Sweden has the expertise that ITER needs

The Director General of ITER, Pietro Barabaschi, and Chief Scientist Alain Bécoulet reported on the current status and upcoming needs of the facility. The ways in which Sweden can help to meet these needs became clear during the afternoon focus sessions in power electronics, neutron diagnostics, and advanced materials.

Within each area discussed, Sweden has the specialist expertise that ITER needs for its future development. The discussions focused on both business needs and future projects, and included in-depth technical discussions.

Advantage of holding discussions on site

Max Collins, Business Developer at Big Science Sweden, emphasises how important it is that companies and researchers get the chance to meet representatives from ITER at the facility itself.

“It’s a great advantage to meet in person and have the time to build up relationships and discuss ways forward, both for research collaborations and future business.”

The visit included a worksite tour of the facility. Max Collins has visited ITER previously, but never fails to be impressed.

“It’s so massive, yet at the same time you know it’s the tiny details, the precise tolerance levels, that are so crucial. It’s both dizzying and impressive.”

Top centre: Max Collins, Big Science Sweden, and Magnus Göhran, System/Analysis Officer at ITER.

Top right: Pär Strand, Chalmers, and Alain Bécoulet, Chief Scientist at ITER

Bottom right: Catarina Sahlberg, Big Science Sweden and Anna Svensson, Senior Vice President, Hitachi Energy Sweden. In the background: Pietro Barabaschi, Director General of ITER, and Håkan Åkesson, Ambassador to France, Swedish Embassy.

Plans for new meetings and a visit to Sweden

All participants agreed that they wanted to meet again at ITER, to follow up the discussions and take more concrete steps towards future collaborations.

The ITER representatives also expressed an interest in coming to Sweden. They want to meet established companies and researchers here, but also discuss how to reach out to a new young generation and arouse their curiosity for advanced technology and the research to be conducted at ITER.

Max Collins sees this as a general challenge.

“At Big Science Sweden we’re working actively in our Outreach Programme, to spread information about the growing Big Science sector and the exciting research that people can become involved in. Like many organisations, ITER is undergoing a generational shift. A lot of highly experienced people are approaching retirement, and it’s important to ensure that their knowledge is not lost.”