The program included technical presentations, B2B meetings between Croatian, Spanish, and Japanese companies, and visits to industrial facilities related to fusion and accelerator technologies.

 

IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility - DEMO Oriented Neutron Source) is a European strategic project worth more than 700 million euros. At the initiative of Croatia and Spain, it was declared a scientific infrastructure of strategic importance for the EU in 2018, within the framework of the European Strategy Forum for Research Infrastructures (ESFRI). Since then, Belgium, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, Germany, Poland, Portugal, and Sweden have expressed interest in joining DONES, and Japan holds observer status as a special partner of the EU in the development of fusion energy.

 

The DONES Project is the largest European venture in the field of fusion energy, which is crucial for the development of future fusion power plants. Croatia, together with Spain, plays a key role in this endeavor. It is essential for the advancement of fusion technology, specifically, the development of advanced materials for fusion reactors in the future DEMO power plant as well as various fusion technologies related to tritium production, radiation-resistant sensors and electronics, heat transfer using liquid metals, and their management.

 

The goal of DONES Project is to enable research on the resistance of fusion materials to intense neutron radiation, an essential step in constructing a future power plant that will generate electricity using the fusion process.

 

The presentation of the DONES Project served as an initiative for cooperation and knowledge exchange among scientists from various fields, creating a unique foundation for research with long-term implications for a sustainable energy future.

 

As part of World Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan, a DONES Day was held to promote the IFMIF-DONES Project and strengthen industrial cooperation between Japan and the European Union.

 

The event was attended by the Minister of Science, Education, and Youth, Prof. Radovan Fuchs, Ph.D., reaffirming Croatia’s strong commitment to the development of fusion energy and its active role in one of the most significant scientific infrastructure projects in Europe. Also in attendance were Mr. Takashi Kiyoura, Deputy Director-General at Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ms. Eva Ortega, Secretary of State for Research at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain.

 

The IFMIF-DONES Project, currently under construction in Granada, is a key element in developing future fusion reactors. Croatia, together with Spain, is a leading project member and actively participates in both its construction and scientific direction. During the presentation in Osaka, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of the Kingdom of Spain, regarding collaboration on the development of the DONES Project. This act marked Japan’s expression of interest in joining Spain and Croatia as a project partner.

 

On this occasion, Minister Fuchs stated:

 

“Croatia is proud to be part of this major European and global effort toward the creation of sustainable, safe, and clean energy for the future. DONES is not only a scientific, but also a geostrategic project that brings together countries, scientific institutions, and industry around a common goal. Cooperation with Japan in this context is extremely valuable and opens new doors for scientific and economic exchange.”

 

Fusion energy represents one of the most promising responses to global challenges related to climate change and energy security. DONES Day during EXPO in Osaka marked an important step in the international promotion of the project and the deepening of cooperation with one of the world’s leading technological nations.