Arrival, introductions, and a light lunch

A short introduction to the global fusion innovation, industrialisation and investment landscape.

• The core fusion processes, advantages and strategic relevance
• Main technology approaches and their current state of play
• Global funding trends, technical milestones and commercial timelines
• Supply-chain, engineering and talent requirements
• Pathways to pilot plants and commercial deployment

A fireside chat between a major fusion company and one of their investors on the fusion opportunity and investment thesis followed by an interactive Q&A.

• Why is fusion the right bet in the energy transition, and why now?
• What does the road to commercial viability look like for you?
• How does the risk profile of fusion compare to other deep-tech investments?
• How do you assess fusion approaches and teams, and fusion companies vs supply-chain?

Connect with fellow attendees and network over coffee.

Fusion's industrial buildout will run on high-value materials and components, and Australia is well placed to compete across that chain.

• Where does Australia sit in the global supply chain for critical minerals and advanced materials?
• What role can Australian capability play in magnets, precision engineering and major project delivery?
• What industrial and supply chain opportunities exist for Australian manufacturers and exporters?
• How can Australian capital engage across deep-tech, climate-tech and infrastructure?

Capital intensity of fusion and more so of first-of-a-kind (FOAK) power plants present an ongoing challenge.

• What does the funding ladder look like across demos, pilots, and FOAK plants and where are the most critical capital gaps today?
• What capital stack – equity, debt, guarantees, incentives, and insurance – can realistically finance a FOAK plant?
• Which proof-points at the demo and pilot stage will materially compress cost of capital, timelines, and execution risk for FOAK and beyond?
• What can fusion learn from the financing of other novel and complex facilities

A moderated, interactive closing session, translating discussion into actionable takeaways, examining where Australia fits in the emerging global fusion ecosystem today, and what fusion could mean for Australia's economic and strategic future in the decades ahead.

• Where does Australian capability sit in the global fusion ecosystem and which parts of the supply chain, research base, or industrial capability are most worth backing in the near term?
• Which components of a fusion pilot plant are most vulnerable to supply chain disruption, and how should that shape Australia's industrial strategy today?
• How can fusion fit within Australia's future electricity demand and what role could it play in powering energy-intensive industry, data centres, industrial decarbonisation?
• How should Australia approach national capability building and sovereign technology priorities to ensure it is a meaningful participant — not just a customer — in the fusion economy?

All delegates are invited to a Networking Drinks Reception.