On November 7, 2024, the launching ceremony for the co-establishment of the Advanced Fusion Science and Technology Innovation Joint Research Institute — jointly founded by the Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Fusion New Energy (Anhui) Co., Ltd., and Western Superconducting Materials Technology Co., Ltd. — was successfully held at the China Western Science and Technology Innovation Harbor. Li Jiangang, President of the Institute of Energy and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, along with Academicians Qiu Aici and Yuan Liang of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and Academicians Xuan Yimin and Wan Baonian of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, attended the ceremony. Also present were Yan Junjie, Member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee and Vice President of Xi'an Jiaotong University; Li Xiaohu, Vice Dean of the Research Institute; Su Guanghui, Dean of the School of Energy and Power Engineering; Hu Haomin, Executive Vice President of the Institute of Energy; and more than 40 experts and scholars from the co-founding institutions. The ceremony was chaired by Xu Dakai, Deputy Director of the Research Institute of Xi'an Jiaotong University.

Vice President Yan Junjie delivered a welcome speech. He stated that Xi'an Jiaotong University has achieved numerous accomplishments in nuclear fusion research. In the future, relying on the platform of the Advanced Fusion Science and Technology Innovation Joint Research Institute, and focusing on the national layout and development direction of fusion science and technology industry, the university will carry out in-depth industry-academia-research-application cooperation and build the Joint Research Institute into an important base for cultivating top innovative talents, conducting high-level scientific research, and promoting international cooperation and exchanges in China’s fusion science and technology field.

Academician Li Jiangang emphasized in his speech that fusion energy, as an important component of future clean energy, holds great significance for achieving energy structure transformation and safeguarding national energy security. The joint establishment of the Advanced Fusion Science and Technology Innovation Joint Research Institute by the four parties will further gather top scientific research forces from home and abroad, integrate advantageous resources from industry, academia, and research, focus on key technical challenges in fusion energy, carry out cutting-edge scientific research, core technology tackling, and high-end talent cultivation, and promote the integrated development of education, science, and talent.

On behalf of the cooperating parties, Hu Haomin, Executive Vice President of the Institute of Energy, Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center; Cui Shaozhang, Deputy General Manager of Fusion New Energy (Anhui) Co., Ltd.; Feng Yong, General Manager of Western Superconducting Materials Technology Co., Ltd.; and Li Xiaohu, Vice Dean of the Research Institute of Xi'an Jiaotong University, signed the cooperation agreement for the Joint Research Institute. Academicians Qiu Aici and Li Jiangang jointly unveiled the plaque to launch the construction of the Joint Research Institute.

The meeting also featured discussions on strategies for cultivating high-end talent in fusion development. Experts and scholars in attendance engaged in in-depth exchanges on building an effective education and training system and fostering students’ innovative thinking.