IFE-STAR — Inertial Fusion Energy Hubs
Funds multi-institutional hubs for inertial fusion energy research and technology progress.
IFE-STAR funds three inertial fusion energy hubs under DOE Fusion Energy Sciences, created after the December 2022 NIF ignition breakthrough. The program totals $42 million over four years and centers on STARFIRE at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, RISE at Colorado State University, and IFE-COLoR at the University of Rochester's Laboratory for Laser Energetics. The awards are consortium projects, with universities, national laboratories, international partners, and commercial entities all represented in the record. The structured data places STARFIRE at $16 million and IFE-COLoR at $10 million, while RISE is described as the inertial fusion science and technology hub. This is a strong fit for large teams that need a hub structure for drivers, diagnostics, laser systems, and related inertial fusion work. The program is one-off in the current record, and the active awards remain in place even though no new solicitation was found. The hub model is meant to knit basic science, facilities, and commercial know-how into one coordinated research plan.
No upcoming rounds verified. Cadence: One-off.