A week-long symposium on fusion technology began at the Budapest Congress Center. Researchers and engineers from all over the world will report on the latest technological developments in fusion energy research during lectures, exhibitions and bilateral talks.
The International Symposium on Fusion Nuclear Technology (ISFNT) was opened by Dr. Gábor Veres Department leader of the Plasma Physics Department of the Wigner Research Centre for Physics, general chair of the symposium, then afterwards Dr. István Szabó, Vice President for the National Research, Development and Innovation Office (NKFIH), welcomed the participants and spoke about the Hungarian government’s plans on innovation. The first lectures were given by Bernard Bigot, ITER Director General and Tony Donné, Program Manager for the European Fusion Research Program, EUROfusion. Personal meetings were also held between István Szabó Deputy Chairman of the NKFIH, Bernard Bigot and Tony Donne, with representatives of the Hungarian Fusion Technology Platform. The latter organization demonstrated the capabilities of its member organizations at an exhibition. The exhibition provides a great opportunity for the Hungarian industry to be better involved in the construction and operation of large international fusion facilities.
Wigner Research Centre for Physics won the right for hosting the conference in Kyoto, Japan, two years ago at the last ISFNT conference. Previously a conference on fusion technology has never been in Hungary, so it is a great achievement and an honor. The first ISFNT conference was held in Tokyo, Japan in 1988.