From the three standpoints of the strategic promotion of advanced science and technology, the enhancement of knowledge bases human resource development and the creation of an innovation ecosystem, the Integrated Innovation Strategy covers nine areas to be promoted by public-private cooperation, including fusion energy. Prime Minister Kishida asked Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy TAKAICHI Sanae, as well as other relevant agencies and ministries, to make concerted efforts to promote bold policies speedily.
The meeting of the council was linked live to the Central Control Room of the JT-60SA, a superconducting-coil tokamak plasma test device at the Naka Fusion Institute in Ibaraki Prefecture.
The National Institute for Quantum and Radiological Science and Technology (QST) aims to confine plasma at the JT-60SA for the first time this fall. The council expressed encouragement to the people at the site, where integrated test operations were resumed on May 30. A demonstration on fusion energy was also conducted.
The Integrated Innovation Strategy 2023 includes future courses of actions in the fusion energy area based on the Fusion Energy Innovation Strategy, which had been put forward in April after discussions including persons from industrial circles.
At a press conference held after the June 9 Cabinet meeting, State Minister Takaichi emphasized the significance of “industrializing fusion energy,” saying that the challenge was to take advantage of Japan’s technology to create business opportunities “in the process of power generation.” She then said that she would work as a “control tower” (guiding hand) for the government to steadily implement the strategies.
