Renaissance Fusion Teams Up with DIFFER and VDL Groep
to Accelerate Fusion Industralization in
the Netherlands

Grenoble, France, 24 September 2026 | Renaissance Fusion has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research (DIFFER) and VDL Groep to collaborate on the development and industrialization of fusion energy systems in the Netherlands.  
 
The agreement brings together three complementary strengths: Renaissance Fusion’s expertise in enabling fusion technology and system integration, DIFFER’s scientific knowledge, and VDL’s advanced engineering and high-tech manufacturing capabilities. 

With the partnership, Renaissance Fusion envisages a phased approach, beginning with joint development activities and progressing toward a more structured industrial consortium to advance fuel cycle and breeding blanket solutions and, subject to technical and financing milestones, a high-field simplified stellarator demonstrator.  

The collaboration reflects a general evolution of the fusion sector. As fusion technologies mature, scientific progress must increasingly be matched by industrial capabilities able to manufacture, test and deploy critical fusion systems at scale. 

Building an Industrial Fusion Ecosystem in the Netherlands 

The Netherlands offers a strong foundation for this phase, combining a well-established fusion research base, advanced design and manufacturing capabilities and a dedicated academic talent pipeline. 

Renaissance Fusion will contribute its experience in blanket technologies and fuel cycle, as well as its expertise in system integration for simplified stellarators.

DIFFER will provide scientific expertise, particularly in plasma physics, plasma-facing components, and liquid metals. For DIFFER, collaboration creates an opportunity to connect scientific research more closely with the engineering and technology-validation challenges that will determine how fusion technologies can ultimately be deployed at scale.  

VDL Groep will bring its experience in advanced engineering, precision manufacturing, high-tech assembly, and industrial scale-up.   

From European Fusion Science to European Fusion Industry  

The MoU represents the starting point for a broader industrial effort. The ambition is to contribute to Europe’s transition from fusion science to fusion industry, developing the technologies, manufacturing capabilities and supply chains that will support the next generation of fusion systems.  

 Quotes

 — Sam Guilaumé, CEO, Renaissance Fusion   

“At Renaissance Fusion, we have built deep expertise in fusion blankets, fuel cycle, lithium enrichment as well as in system integration for simplified stellarator modules. We believe the next step is to bring these capabilities into an industrial platform that can attract the right partners, capital, and manufacturing expertise. Our ambition is to create a scalable industrial model where specialized partners come together to develop and manufacture the technologies that future fusion systems will require.”  

 — Hans Priem, VP Business Development, VDL Enabling Technologies Group 

“Industrializing fusion will require much more than a single company or technology. It will require an ecosystem able to bring together advanced engineering, precision manufacturing, specialized suppliers, and research capabilities. The Netherlands, and the Brainport region in particular, has built a strong high-tech ecosystem around exactly these capabilities. This cooperation is an opportunity to leverage that ecosystem and apply its experience to some of the industrial challenges fusion will need to solve.”   

 — Marco de Baar, Director, DIFFER   

“Progress toward fusion energy requires us to connect scientific understanding with the technologies and engineering solutions that will ultimately operate inside a fusion system. By working closely with technology developers and industrial partners, we can help validate promising approaches, understand their behavior under relevant conditions and accelerate the path from scientific research toward industrial application.”  
 

About Renaissance Fusion 

Renaissance Fusion develops and scales enabling technologies for the global fusion industry.
The company is pioneering wide-format high-temperature superconductors (HTS) manufacturing for fusion magnets, advancing critical fuel cycle, breeding blanket, and lithium enrichment solutions, and bringing system integration expertise.  

Founded in 2020, Renaissance Fusion has grown into a European group that employs nearly 120 people of 27 nationalities, between its headquarters near Grenoble (France) and its office in Pisa (Italy). 
www.renfusion.eu 

About DIFFER 

DIFFER (Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research) is the Netherlands' leading institute for fundamental energy research. It conducts pioneering research on fusion energy and sustainable chemical energy to support the transition to a carbon-neutral energy system. Based in Eindhoven, DIFFER works closely with universities, research organizations, and industry partners in the Netherlands and internationally. The institute also operates world-class research facilities and contributes to major international fusion programs. 
www.differ.nl 
 

About VDL‍  ‍Groep

Strength through cooperation. That is the foundation of VDL Groep, the international industrial family business headquartered in the Brainport Eindhoven region. Founded in 1953, the company has been led by the third generation of the Van der Leegte family since 2017, 70 years after its founding. VDL Groep employs more than 14,000 people and operates in 20 countries. 

www.vdlgroep.com