Arrival, introductions and informal networking.

• New Zealand’s position in global deep-tech and energy innovation
• Fusion as an industrial, engineering, and infrastructure opportunity
• From niche research capability to globally relevant technology platforms

Levitated dipole systems remain one of the least explored but potentially most commercially disruptive magnetic confinement approaches. This session examines the technical logic behind the dipole concept, why it disappeared from mainstream fusion research for decades, and why it is re-emerging now.

• What differentiates a levitated dipole from tokamaks and stellarators?
• Does simpler geometry materially reduce engineering complexity and cost?
• How important are HTS magnets in making dipoles commercially viable?
• What are the major unresolved plasma physics and engineering risks?
• Can smaller, faster iteration cycles create a commercial advantage?

New Zealand does not have a large nuclear sector or fusion ecosystem, but it does possess strengths in superconductivity, precision engineering, software, cryogenics, advanced manufacturing, and venture-backed deep-tech.

• Which fusion-adjacent capabilities can New Zealand realistically lead globally?
• How can universities, institutes, and private cos collaborate more effectively?
• Can fusion become a catalyst for broader advanced industrial capability?
• What lessons can be drawn from Rocket Lab & other NZ deep-tech successes?
• What infrastructure gaps still need to be addressed?

Connect with fellow attendees and network over coffee.

Fusion financing remains concentrated in the US and parts of Europe, but smaller markets may still play an important role through specialist capital, sovereign participation, and strategic industrial partnerships.

• How can New Zealand investors access global fusion opportunities?
• What types of capital are best suited to long-duration deep-tech infrastructure?
• Can government support accelerate fusion capability without distortions?
• What milestones matter most in attracting international investment?
• Where do smaller fusion companies compete most effectively for capital?

Fusion-related technologies may create nearer-term commercial opportunities outside utility-scale electricity generation, including neutron applications, superconducting systems, space, defence, and industrial power.

• Which non-grid applications can commercialise first?
• Could compact fusion systems support remote or industrial energy use cases?
• How important are neutron and materials applications commercially?
• Where might fusion intersect with AI infrastructure and data centres?
• Which enabling technologies may become major segments in their own right?

An informal networking lunch.

Delegates will visit OpenStar Technologies for a guided tour of the company’s levitated dipole fusion programme, engineering facilities, and experimental systems. The visit will include exploration of:

• Overview of the levitated dipole approach and machine architecture
• HTS magnet systems and levitation concepts
• Engineering, diagnostics, and plasma control systems
• Scaling pathway from experimental device to commercial reactor systems
• Manufacturing, assembly, and test infrastructure
• Discussion on timelines, milestones, financing, and commercialisation strategy
• Technical Q&A

with OpenStar leadership and engineering teams

All delegates are invited to a Networking Drinks Reception.