Figure 9.1: The ITER construction site in October UK firm Atkins, as part of Engage

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1 9.1 OVERVIEW CCFE s industry programme, now operating under the auspices of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, has continued to play a very active role in involving British companies in fusion during the year. In particular, The Authority s Fusion and Industry Manager Dan Mistry has been focused on raising awareness of ITER contract opportunities, encouraging firms to bid for these contracts and supporting them in doing so, both individually and in consortia. By the end of 2013, UK companies had secured over 200M of work on ITER, ranked behind only France, Italy and Spain in Europe. An additional aim of the industry programme is to promote technology transfer between fusion and commercial businesses, mainly through the well-established Technical Support Package. The Authority provides this technical advisory service to tenant companies on the Culham Science Centre site through a combination of know-how and practical engineering. Figure 9.1: The ITER construction site in October UK firm Atkins, as part of Engage Consortium, is heavily involved in much of the site preparation work that can be seen here ( ITER Organization, UK INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT IN ITER More than 30 British companies have now won business on ITER. A number of these for example Jacobs, AMEC and Atkins have found that their delivery of the initial contracts has enabled them to secure further work. The year has also seen successes for firms who have not previously been involved in the project. Notable contract wins for UK firms in 2013 included: AMEC was awarded two important ITER contracts by Fusion for Energy (F4E), for Test Blanket Module concept design and development of a 9.1

2 semi-prototype panel for the machine's internal wall. The first contract, sees AMEC and its partners deliver the concept designs for the crucial Test Blanket Module components that convert neutrons into tritium, to fuel the fusion reaction. AMEC s partners include CCFE, Idaho National Laboratories and specialist companies including Hyde Engineering Group. For the second contract, AMEC has formed a joint venture with Iberdrola Engineering and Construction, and Leading Enterprises Group of Spain, to provide engineering design services to develop a semi-prototype panel for the internal wall of the tokamak; Ridgway Machines Ltd, market-leading supplier of taping machinery for the energy and power industries, added to its previous successes in fusion with two major new contracts for ITER. A deal for U.S.-based firm General Atomics will see Ridgway supplying a tape wrapping system for insulating superconducting coils on ITER s central solenoid magnet, which General Atomics is manufacturing for the ITER Organization. And Elytt Energy has placed an order with Ridgway for taping heads to insulate the coils on ITER s TF (toroidal field) magnets as part of a European consortium supplying TF coil winding packs to ITER; Norton Rose has been successful in gaining contracts for legal advisory services, along with a number of other UK law firms who have also been pre-qualified as F4E seeks to deliver its in-kind contribution to ITER; The ITER Organization has commissioned human factors consultancy specialist CCD Design and Ergonomics to produce a preliminary design of the ITER Control Room; Global technology and consulting provider Tessella has been working on a number of projects for European ITER agency Fusion for Energy. These range from IT development to integration of project management applications. In March 2013, the UK Atomic Energy Authority led a delegation of nearly 40 British companies to this year s ITER Business Forum in Toulon. As in 2012, the party was the second largest after ITER hosts France, reflecting the interest being shown in the project by UK industry. A packed programme allowed business representatives to get face to face with those involved in procurement of the 14 billion project, as well as network with potential partner companies. In addition, CCFE s Industry Liaison Officer has maintained an intensive programme of interaction with UK firms throughout the year, some of which is described later in this chapter. In December 2013, six UK companies attended the Monaco ITER International Fusion Energy Days (MIIFED) with a view to increasing their involvement in the ITER project. The three-day conference brought together 350 guests from industry, policy and the global fusion research community to encourage networking between these groups essential for a successful construction and manufacturing effort at ITER. The UK party was accompanied by UK Atomic Energy Authority Chairman Professor Roger Cashmore and by Fusion & Industry Manager Dan Mistry, who was among the speakers. 9.2

3 Figure 9.2: Amec were among the exhibitors at MIIFED LINKS TO GOVERNMENT AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS The Fusion and Industry team carries out its activities in partnership with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI), with other government agencies and also with various trade associations. This ensures maximum awareness among the business community of opportunities that are arising in fusion and in the ITER programme, giving them timely information and alerting them to procurement processes and deadlines. If required, the Authority will help form UK, pan- European consortia, so that Britain increases its chances of business success. The Authority worked with industry associations throughout the year to reach new companies that were not previously aware of fusion, including by attending a range of events, for example the Southern Manufacturing and Electronics Exhibition in February LIAISON WITH UK COMPANIES IN FUSION AND ITER CONSTRUCTION In 2013 the Fusion and Industry team has continued its awareness programme by identifying appropriate UK companies and encouraging them to bid for work packages that are being launched by F4E and also by the ITER IO. Typical activities undertaken include: Encouraging appropriate new companies to register on its dedicated Fusion & Industry website Alerting and informing companies that are registered on the industry database of opportunities and events through ( E-News ) and the E Zine ; Connecting with appropriate companies by working with government and other agencies (UK Trade & Investment, Manufacturing Advisory Service and various Trade Associations) and by attendance at various workshops/seminars; Visits to and from many UK companies to increase mutual understanding. 9.3

4 9.5 EUROPE S INDUSTRY LIAISON OFFICERS (ILOs) The European ILOs have met F4E at regular intervals to understand the forthcoming opportunities and to raise any concerns and issues from their countries companies. The ILOs are also in regular contact with each other to try and help form pan-european consortia of companies. Updates from the ILO meetings are made available via the Authority s Fusion and Industry website. Dan Mistry is the UK s Industry Liaison Officer. As part of this role he regularly connects with F4E s and ITER IO s engineers and the procurement teams to understand the requirements for their work packages to help identify suitable UK companies. 9.6 TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AT CULHAM The Culham Innovation Centre is home for over 30 companies. It is part of a network of business incubators managed by Oxford Innovation and houses a wide range of pioneering technology focused companies, providing them with a professional infrastructure and image to grow their business, along with a range of business support services needed during the first vital years of operation. As part of technology transfer, The Authority provides a Technical Support Package (TSP) to suitably qualified start-up companies located in the Innovation Centre. Companies accessing TSP can benefit from direct interaction with experts and when appropriate, the use of dormant facilities. Over the years we have helped several companies, many of them have grown and are now paying for some of our services including areas such as product development and problem solving. This year there has been no uptake from companies as many have chosen to pay for our services. 9.7 PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES FUSION & INDUSTRY WEBSITE AND DATABASE Information on procurement opportunities is frequently sent to hundreds of UK companies who have registered on the Fusion and Industry database ( Contract alerts are sent via as they arise, the website is regularly updated and a quarterly Fusion Business e-newsletter ( gives a round-up of recent and forthcoming developments INDUSTRY EXHIBITIONS AT CULHAM Company exhibitions continue to be a successful feature of the Fusion and Industry events programme and demand remains high. Joint exhibitions in the main Culham foyer by companies continue to remain very popular, with many companies requesting a return visit every year. For most companies a tabletop exhibition in the Culham main reception area will suffice, but mobile exhibition trailers can also be accommodated. Exhibitors come from a wide cross-section of industries including precision engineering, motion control, cryogenics, electronics, fibre optic connectors, thermo analytical instruments, pressure regulators and vacuum equipment. In addition to meeting fusion scientists and engineers, exhibitors are able to meet 9.4

5 staff from the many technology companies located at Culham Science Centre. The annual Technology & Innovation exhibition, organised by Nu-Tech Associates, which promotes engineering equipment and associated services to the UK nuclear industry around the country, returned to Culham for its eleventh year in April Around 40 companies attended to display their products and the next event is scheduled for May Figure 9.3: Technology & Innovation Exhibition at Culham. 9.8 FUTURE PLANS ITER and the commercial opportunities it presents for UK businesses will continue to be the Fusion and Industry team s main focus. Construction activity will begin in earnest in the coming year at Cadarache and key components which are on the critical path will also be released for tendering. So increased contact with industry will be crucial to ensure UK companies respond to these new opportunities. The Authority s aims will be to: Intensify its awareness and liaison programme, continuing to increase interaction and build strong relationships with industry. With this in mind, for example, the Industry website is being redesigned to make it a more effective portal for those interested in commercial opportunities; Work closely with UK Trade & Investment, other Government agencies and various Trade Associations to try and attract new companies into fusion and ITER. 9.5