CATF announces Steering Committee to guide global fusion materials database MatDB4Fusion 

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) today announced the formation of the Steering Committee for the International Working Group on Materials Database for Fusion (IWG MatDB4Fusion), a global initiative designed to accelerate fusion energy development through improved access to high-quality, standardized materials data. 

MatDB4Fusion is a comprehensive, quality-controlled database for materials used in the fusion energy sector. It provides a centralised platform to share, access, and analyse the physical, thermomechanical, and chemical properties of materials relevant to fusion device design. This includes fusion-specific properties such as neutron irradiation effects, transmutation, plasma–material interactions, and other behaviors critical to the performance and safety of future fusion systems. 

“Establishing the Steering Committee marks a critical milestone in building the MatDB4Fusion platform as a truly integrated, cross-sector effort,” said Sehila Gonzalez de Vicente, Global Director, Fusion at CATF. “By structuring and standardizing access to fusion materials data, we can unlock the application of advanced AI tools and accelerate the discovery and qualification of materials essential for fusion energy commercialization.” 

CATF, through its leadership within the International Working Group on Materials Database for Fusion and in partnership with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA) as the international database host, launched MatDB4Fusion to empower the global fusion community with the data needed to design the next generation of fusion power plants. 

“The success of commercial fusion power depends on the availability of structural materials capable of withstanding fusion’s extreme operating conditions,” said Dr. Arun Bhattacharya, Co-Director of the Fusion Engineering Centre for Doctoral Training and Deputy Head of Research at the University of Birmingham. “MatDB4Fusion will play a vital role in accelerating materials development and qualification by providing critical data to both private fusion companies and government programmes.” 

The newly established Steering Committee will provide strategic oversight and governance for MatDB4Fusion, ensuring it evolves in line with global fusion research priorities while maintaining rigorous data quality and integrity standards. The committee brings together experts from public institutions, private industry, non-governmental organizations, and independent research communities, reflecting the broad coalition required to advance fusion energy. 

“The global fusion materials database from Clean Air Task Force provides a key opportunity to pool crucial knowledge of fusion materials, and accelerate the development of new solutions for all,” said Richard Buttery, Director at DIII-D National Fusion Facility. “We are delighted to be supporting this with key data from DIII-D National Fusion Facility.” 

Members of the Steering Committee include:  

• Andrew Sowder, Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) 
• Arunodaya Bhattacharya, Univ. of Birmingham 
• Cory Hamelin, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) 
• Dirk Radloff, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) 
• Giacomo Aiello, EUROfusion 
• Gregory Sinclair, General Atomics 
• Jan Coenen, Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) 
• Jim Pickles, Tokamak Energy 
• Thomas Davis, Oxford Sigma 
• Trevor Clark, Commonwealth Fusion Systems 

Chair: 

• Sehila Gonzalez de Vicente, CATF  

Secretary: 

• Philipp Lied, CATF / FusionCatalyst 

Permanent Observers: 

• Mark Gilbert, UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) 
• John Echols, US Department of Energy (DOE) 

The Steering Committee will convene for its inaugural meeting in the coming months, where members will finalize operational guidelines, review the current work plan, and begin establishing the Technical Advisory Group. 

For more information, visit www.catf.us/fusion-energy/matdb4fusion/  

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About Clean Air Task Force 

Clean Air Task Force (CATF) is a global nonprofit organization working to safeguard against the worst impacts of climate change by catalyzing the rapid development and deployment of low-carbon energy and other climate-protecting technologies. With 30 years of internationally recognized expertise on climate policy and a fierce commitment to exploring all potential solutions, CATF is a pragmatic, non-ideological advocacy group with the bold ideas needed to address climate change. CATF has offices in Boston, Washington D.C., and Brussels, with staff working virtually around the world. Visit catf.us and follow @cleanaircatf.