Furukawa Electric and Tokamak Energy will expand work on high-temperature superconducting (HTS) tape in the United Kingdom, beginning with research, development, prototyping, and feasibility studies for potential UK-based manufacturing capability.
The agreement was signed in the presence of UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. The work will examine HTS tape development, manufacturing processes, and future options in the UK.
Initially, the program will focus on tape research, development, prototyping, and feasibility assessment. If the results support further work, the program could help establish future HTS tape manufacturing capability in the UK.
Furukawa Electric and Tokamak Energy have received letters of support from the UK Government and UK Fusion Energy (UKFE). The UK Government said it supports the companies’ plans to develop HTS tape capability in the UK and intends to continue working with them as those plans progress. UKFE, which leads the STEP program, also expressed support for UK-based HTS tape capability and its potential role in future fusion development.
Hideya Moridaira, president and CEO of Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., said: “We have long been dedicated to the research and development of superconducting technologies, applying them across a wide range of fields. We are encouraged by the potential of this collaboration with Tokamak Energy and look forward to exploring how HTS capability – including future HTS tape manufacturing capabilities – could be developed in the UK.”
Warrick Matthews, CEO of Tokamak Energy Ltd, said: “Tokamak Energy has built a strong relationship with Furukawa Electric in recent years, and we greatly value the expertise the company brings in superconducting technology and manufacturing. Together, we are exploring how HTS tape capability in the UK could help commercialize fusion energy and unlock new levels of performance in a range of other industries, while strengthening our future HTS systems manufacturing capabilities.”
Lord Vallance, Minister for Science, Innovation, Research and Nuclear, said: “Britain is a world-leader in the fusion industry and this partnership between Furukawa Electric and Tokamak Energy will develop crucial capability to drive forwards progress in fusion energy. This is supported by our Fusion Strategy, helping to secure our future energy independence, champion innovation and research, and provide the skilled clean energy jobs of the future for British people.”
Dan Bishop OBE, UKFE’s chief commercial officer, said: “UKFE welcomes this collaboration, the close working between Furukawa Electric and Tokamak Energy as our Magnets Partner, and the opportunity it presents to strengthen partnerships and explore pathways towards future HTS capability in the UK in support of a secure, sustainable, safe, cost-effective national energy supply.”
Source: Tokamak Energy
About Furukawa Electric Group
Furukawa Electric Group, based in Tokyo, Japan, has been in operation since 1884. With over 140 years of experience, the company develops and manufactures products including optical fibers and cables, power transmission systems, automotive wire harnesses, magnet wires, superconducting cables, semiconductor materials, and construction-related components. Its offerings are used across industries such as telecommunications, energy infrastructure, automotive, electronics, and building systems. The group operates globally and supports both large-scale industrial systems and emerging infrastructure demands. In the fiscal year ending March 2025, Furukawa Electric reported revenue of approx. ¥1.20 trillion (around $8.3 billion USD). The company employs about 51,000 people worldwide. Its headquarters at Tokiwabashi Tower serves as a hub for coordinating R&D, manufacturing, and global operations, reflecting a structured approach to long-term technology development and industrial support.
About Tokamak Energy
Tokamak Energy, founded in 2009 as a spin-off from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, is a private company headquartered in Milton Park, Oxfordshire, UK. Specializing in the development of compact spherical tokamaks and high-temperature superconducting (HTS) magnets, the company aims to deliver commercially viable fusion energy solutions. Serving industries focused on clean energy and advanced scientific research, Tokamak Energy has achieved significant milestones, including operating the ST40 tokamak, that reached plasma temperatures exceeding 100 million degrees Celsius in 2022. In addition to its fusion energy endeavors, the company collaborates on projects utilizing HTS magnet technology for various applications, such as silent marine propulsion systems. Tokamak Energy employs over 260 individuals.