At this year’s inaugural UK Global R&D and Science Investment Summit, leaders from government, academia, and industry will gather to discuss one of the UK’s most ambitious energy projects: the drive to commercial fusion power through the STEP Fusion programme.
Hosted at The Royal Society during London Tech Week 2026, The STEP Revolution: Building UK Fusion in the East Midlands will examine how fusion is evolving from a scientific frontier into a cornerstone of industrial strategy, regional growth, and clean energy security.
Taking place on Tuesday 9th June from 9:30–10:30am, the discussion will bring together senior voices from across the UK’s fusion ecosystem. Speakers include:
The session will explore what must happen to make fusion commercially viable as part of the UK’s future energy system – from public investment and private capital to supply chain readiness, skills development, and international competitiveness.
Central to the discussion is the UK Government’s STEP Fusion programme (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production), which aims to deliver a prototype fusion power plant at West Burton, Nottinghamshire.
STEP Fusion represents not only a scientific milestone but also a defining economic opportunity. By combining world-class research capability with industrial investment and strategic infrastructure, the East Midlands is positioning itself at the forefront of the global race to commercial fusion.
The session will also highlight the role universities and research institutions will play in accelerating innovation and building the skilled workforce needed to support the emerging fusion economy. With industry leaders such as Tokamak Energy alongside academic expertise from University of Nottingham, the panel is expected to examine how the UK can translate decades of scientific excellence into commercial leadership.
STEP sits at the heart of the Trent Supercluster initiative, a transformational programme repurposing three former coal-fired power stations in North Nottinghamshire into a globally significant hub for clean energy and advanced technologies.
The scale of ambition is significant. Anchored by STEP, the Trent Supercluster is projected to generate £930 million in gross value added (GVA), create 15,500 jobs, and position the East Midlands as a major exporter of innovation.
Against a backdrop of growing international competition in clean energy technologies, the session will position fusion not simply as an energy breakthrough, but as a catalyst for economic renewal, regional transformation, and long-term industrial resilience in the UK.
Register for your place here: The STEP Revolution: Building UK Fusion In The East Midlands · Luma