The EU invests €202 million in the IFMIF-DONES accelerator in Granada, Spain
The European Commission, through Fusion for Energy (F4E), has approved a contribution of €202 million, equivalent to approximately 25% of the total project cost, dedicated to the construction and commissioning of the IFMIF-DONES particle accelerator located in Escúzar (Granada).
Conditions for funding
IFMIF-DONES (International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility – Demo Oriented NEutron Source) is an essential component of Europe’s roadmap for fusion energy development. The initiative is being carried out by the IFMIF-DONES Spain Consortium, established in 2021 through an agreement between the Spanish central government and the Junta de Andalucía, and affiliated with the State Administration.
The EU contribution was approved during a meeting held in Barcelona on July 10 and 11, 2025. Its approval depended on Spain securing full funding for the facility and establishing an adequate legal framework. These conditions have been met, thanks to support from Croatia, Japan, and Italy, as well as the signing of an agreement governing collaboration among all parties involved.
The European Commission will contribute 25% of the total cost for the construction and launch of the IFMF-DONES particle accelerator in Granada
IFMIF-DONES
The IFMIF-DONES project is part of the broader DONES Program. Its goal is to develop a comprehensive database of materials capable of withstanding the extreme conditions expected in fusion reactors.
It uses a high-current particle accelerator to generate a neutron source essential for the development, qualification, and licensing of materials that will form the “first wall” of future fusion reactors. These materials must endure neutron fluxes of up to 14 MeV while maintaining their physical and structural properties over time.
The project will develop a database if materials capable of withstanding extreme conditions in fusion reactors
Currently, regulatory standards and available data on materials are based on irradiation by fission neutrons, which do not fully replicate the conditions expected in fusion reactors. Beyond its significance for fusion energy research, IFMIF-DONES also holds promise for advancements in medicine, nuclear physics and various industrial applications.
The Minister for Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, stressed that this strategic project "places Spain at the forefront of fusion energy research".
Source: La Moncloa
Cover image: representation of the future exterior building of the accelerator. Photo: IFMF-DONES
