Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program — Expansion
Helps research teams and institutions for Milestone Based Fusion Development Expansion in energy systems and fusion research.
The DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Milestone-Based Fusion Development Program is a public-private partnership modeled on NASA's COTS program that funds private fusion companies pursuing pre-conceptual designs for commercial fusion pilot plants. The original FOA (DE-FOA-0002809) was announced in September 2022 with $50 million designated for the first 18-month performance period. Eight companies were selected in May 2023 — Commonwealth Fusion Systems ($19.5M), Type One Energy ($9.5M), Zap Energy ($9.5M), Xcimer Energy ($9.0M), Realta Fusion ($8.1M), Thea Energy ($7.5M), Focused Energy ($7.5M), and Tokamak Energy ($7.1M) — with agreements signed in June 2024. Collectively, these awardees raised more than $350 million in private capital since their selection.
The program is structured as a five-year effort across three performance periods of 18, 18, and 24 months. Funding payments are contingent on completing quantitative technical milestones rather than being disbursed on a calendar schedule. A FY2025/2026 expansion added $10 million for new awardees and $15 million in capability enhancements for the original cohort, for a total of $25 million in incremental funding. New applications from private fusion companies and teams were opened as of June 2025 under the expansion round. As of January 2025, three or more companies in the original cohort had completed five or more technical milestones.
Eligibility is limited to for-profit private fusion companies; universities and national laboratories cannot serve as lead applicants. Private companies participating in the expansion round should confirm the current FOA amendment and submission portal via SAM.gov or the FES funding opportunities page at science.osti.gov/fes/Funding-Opportunities. Proposals must include a credible pre-conceptual design approach, a quantitative milestone structure, and evidence of private capital co-investment. The program's milestone-payment model means awards are earned rather than advanced, placing the execution risk on the awardee.
Milestone-contingent cooperative agreements for private fusion companies advancing pre-conceptual fusion pilot plant designs through a three-period, five-year public-private partnership modeled on NASA's COTS program.
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