STEP Fusion: Building Industrial Capability for a Global Fusion Energy Market

08 Oct 2026
The Engineer

This talk will introduce STEP, the UK’s programme to design and build a prototype fusion power plant, and explain the scale of the industrial challenge involved. It will explore the development of advanced materials capable of operating in extreme environments, alongside the specialist skills, technologies, manufacturing capabilities and supply chains needed to deliver fusion energy.

It will also consider how investment in these capabilities can create wider economic value—positioning UK companies to compete in an emerging global fusion energy market while benefiting other advanced industries.

Speakers
Lee Aucott
Lee Aucott, Head of Materials Science and Technology - UK Fusion Energy Ltd