UK and US Unite to Accelerate Nuclear Fusion Breakthrough

The UK and US governments are teaming up to accelerate the development of nuclear fusion technology using artificial intelligence. On September 14, 2026, they will sign a pair of linked agreements during the Global Fusion Summit in London.

The agreements establish a framework for collaboration on high-performance computing and AI as applied to fusion science between the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) and the US Department of Energy's Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). A joint regulatory statement will also align their licensing frameworks for fusion energy, streamlining the path from experimental reactor to commercial power plant.

The agreements build on a 2025 Technology Prosperity Deal between the UK and US, which identified AI, civil nuclear, and fusion technologies as strategic priorities for bilateral collaboration. The UK government is projecting over 10,000 new jobs in the country's fusion sector by 2030.