Each year, EUROfusion launches an Open Call for Demonstrators aimed at enabling the transfer of fusion-based technologies to non-fusion environments. This initiative forms a strategic component of the FUTTA Technology Transfer Programme, offering industrial actors financial support and access to fusion-related expertise.

In 2024, four demonstrator projects have been selected, showcasing the diversity and versatility of fusion-derived capabilities across distinct industrial domains: aerospace engineering, industrial process monitoring, microelectronics, and smart manufacturing.

GDTech (Belgium) and Université Côte d’Azur (France) are collaborating on the numerical validation of MARS, a non-pyrotechnic hold-down and release mechanism designed for satellite subsystems. The project repurposes the NICE code, originally developed for modelling free-boundary plasma equilibria in Tokamaks, to optimise the electromagnetic melting process of a segmented tie-rod under AC excitation. This magnetic mechanism aims to replace conventional explosive devices, offering reduced mechanical shocks and enhanced reliability for deployment operations in orbit. The demonstrator includes a multi-stage simulation pipeline, ranging from axisymmetric magnetic modelling to full 3D magneto-thermal-mechanical validation.

A joint effort between PropheSea and Ikologik (Belgium) explores the application of Bayesian sensor fusion and anomaly detection methods. Originally developed for EUROfusion’s plasma diagnostics to the food processing sector, this approach enables the probabilistic integration of heterogeneous sensor data, allowing precise detection of energy inefficiencies and predictive maintenance across complex industrial setups. The demonstrator targets real-world implementation within a food production plant, offering a scalable framework for generalisation across other process industries.

The Atom XR (France) demonstrator builds on simulation and remote handling technologies developed by the CEA within the framework of the WEST tokamak and the ITER programme. The project focuses on transferring the eXtensible Dynamics Engine (XDE), a real-time physical simulation engine integrated with ROS protocols, from simulated validation to operational deployment. This software, originally designed for robotic interventions in fusion environments, will be integrated with a UR10 robot and Haption’s Virtuose 6D master arm, creating an XR-enhanced platform for precise teleoperation in hazardous environments. Atom XR targets the nuclear decommissioning market, particularly the dismantling of graphite reactors, with the objective of increasing operator safety and efficiency. Support from the CEA includes access to robotic platforms and the underlying technological heritage, while Haption ensures hardware integration and contributes to the development of digital twin functionalities. The demonstrator will also serve as a foundation for a broader industrial offering, including XR training tools, real-time ALARA radiation protection interfaces, and connected digital twin systems. A joint IP valorisation agreement and the creation of a dedicated laboratory between Atom XR and the CEA are planned to foster industrial uptake.

Open Engineering (Belgium) is adapting MUSCLE3, a middleware framework for multiphysics simulation originally deployed in integrated tokamak modelling, to enable strong coupling between fluid dynamics (via openFOAM) and structural mechanics (via OOFELIE::Multiphysics) for RF-MEMS switch devices. The aim is to validate fluid-structure interaction workflows beyond simplified squeeze-film models, providing greater accuracy in the dynamic simulation of MEMS components used in RF communication systems.

All four demonstrators are scheduled to conclude in the second half of 2025. The funding granted under the FUTTA programme has played a decisive role in enabling access to fusion-derived technologies for non-fusion actors. It has facilitated risk-taking, accelerated technological maturation, and strengthened cooperation between research institutions and industrial partners. The demonstrators selected in 2024 confirm the strategic relevance of the programme in catalysing innovation across European industries.