Contracts for Innovation: Novel shielding materials and technologies for fusion

This is a Contracts for Innovation (previously SBRI) competition funded by the UK Atomic Energy Authority. The aim of the competition is to develop solutions to fusion energy challenges in two key priority areas. The competition has one theme: Novel shielding materials and technologies for fusion. This covers:

• Reducing the carbon footprint of fusion power plants through novel radiation shields.
• Improving the economic prospects for fusion through lower cost, flexibly deployable, or reusable radiation shielding.
• Reducing external dose and increasing component survival through improved shielding.
  
  

This is a Phase 1 feasibility study and there is no restriction on technology readiness level. Future phases will depend on funding.

We expect to fund a number of projects. Each project should start by October 2026 and be delivered by April 2026, lasting up to 6 months. Each project can range in size up to total costs of £250,000, inclusive of VAT. (The total budget is £2.5m.)

Further documentation is available by registering on the UK government’s contracts finder at the link below, and expressing your interest in the contract.

• To lead a project, you must be an eligible organisation of any size with a UK registration or registered office (this includes academic organisations and businesses).
  
  

You may work alone or with others from business, research organisations, research and technology organisations or the third sector as subcontractors

Applicants are welcome from all sectors.

• The aim of this competition is to promote innovation in radiological shielding for the expected usage cases within future fusion power plants including, but not limited to, the STEP prototype. The different applications include shielding from neutrons – both interior or exterior to a fusion vessel, as well as shielding from gamma dose during operation and maintenance. But the requirement is more than just sufficient shielding; there is a desire to innovate to reduce the carbon/environmental impact of shielding during manufacture, transport, installation and decommissioning, as well as reducing cost where possible by reducing mass/volume requirements (which will also help to make fusion systems easier to design and manufacture) and encouraging recycling/re-use.
  
  

A Proposal Could Focus On

• Novel shielding materials and designs for in-vessel neutron and gamma shielding; solutions that provide sufficient shielding with a minimised volume and/or mass.
• High efficacy in-vessel shielding with improved radiation tolerance and environmental compatibility (thermomechanical loading, corrosion resistance, fuel retention, etc.) to improve component lifetimes (and thereby reduce replacement requirements, overall cost and environmental impact).
• Reduced activation options for in-vessel shielding – lowering the lifetime activation of the shield components will be important for reducing lifetime environmental impact (and decommissioning costs).
• Novel modular shielding for ex-vessel (e.g. bioshield) applications with reduced lifecycle (manufacture, operation, decommission) carbon footprint.
• Modular shielding solutions (particularly for ex-vessel), considering both new (lightweight) materials and/or novel fabrication methods to achieve modularity. Challenges will exist around ensuring the modularity doesn’t create reduced shielding performance (e.g. due to shine paths).
• Shielding solutions that balance reusability against initial fabrication cost (economic and environmental) – considering whether a reusable system can have a higher initial environmental footprint or cost of manufacture but this can be offset against increased total lifetime. This could apply to both in-vessel and ex-vessel applications.
  
  

For full technical specifications with details of shield performance requirements, please register at the link below and download the supporting documents.

• Your proposal must:
• reduce the risk involved in the take up of new technologies
• outline plans to accelerate time to market
• be pre-commercial
• explain the rationale for the solution and describe the expected impact
• define how the proposed solution would enable and support the delivery of sustainable fusion power plants
• demonstrate a clear plan for commercialisation with a route to market for affordable, developed solutions
• describe how solutions can be tested in a representative or real world
• explain how any potentially negative outcomes would be managed, such as on the environment or society
• demonstrate how you will work with at least one potential future customer throughout your project
• how export control and regulation will be addressed
  
  

Your Solution Must

• be based on sound fundamental technical principles
• be innovative
• be practical and deliverable
• take affordability into consideration
• demonstrate the potential for cost-effectiveness
• integrate with existing systems where necessary
• consider user experience throughout the design and development process
  
  

Preference Will Be Given To Applications Which

• help the innovation be formally accepted for future use in a fusion plant environment, for example by obtaining relevant regulatory certificates
• offer innovations which consider existing infrastructure and potential interfaces
  
  

You must demonstrate a credible and practical route to market, so your application must include a plan to commercialise your results.

• For additional queries, contact [email protected].
  
  

For help to find a subcontractor or collaboration partner, please contact Innovate UK Business Connect’s Energy team or Materials team.

Find out more and apply