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arXiv · 2609.28398

Retrospective on the Design and Implementation of the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program of the U.S. Department of Energy

Scott C. Hsu·Samuel E. Wurzel·Narayan S. Subramanian
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Abstract

This paper provides a detailed account of the origins, objectives, design, and implementation of the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program, a public-private-partnership (PPP) program launched by the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science in September 2022. The purpose of this program is multi-faceted, with policy, scientific and technological (S&T), and commercialization objectives. Tactically, the program supports privately funded fusion companies in closing S&T gaps toward delivering preliminary engineering designs of their demonstration fusion plants (aka "fusion pilot plants"). The program is a key element of a shift in U.S. fusion strategy, initiated in 2022, to accelerate fusion commercialization by leveraging PPPs. The design of the Milestone Program was underpinned by its authorizing legislation and the U.S. National Academies report Bringing Fusion to the U.S. Grid (2021), and drew inspiration from other PPP programs discussed in this paper. Finally, the paper provides the authors' perspectives and reflections on the strengths/weaknesses of the program as implemented, implementation barriers, and lessons learned, with the intent to inform future PPP programs in fusion and other energy/technology disciplines.

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Scott C. Hsu, Samuel E. Wurzel, Narayan S. Subramanian. 2026-09-23. Retrospective on the Design and Implementation of the Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program of the U.S. Department of Energy. https://arxiv.org/abs/2609.28398

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