The 2026 Fusion Energy Technology and Industry Conference was held in Hefei from January 16th to 17th, where a series of "eggs laid along the way" achievements—commercializable technologies derived from the nuclear fusion R&D process—attracted widespread industry attention. Nuclear fusion energy, which simulates the sun's fusion reaction to release energy, is hailed as humanity's "ultimate energy source." In Hefei, superconducting technology originally developed for plasma confinement is now being used to create more efficient medical MRI equipment; breakthroughs in creating extreme vacuum environments are aiding the upgrade of semiconductor manufacturing equipment; and new materials capable of withstanding extreme conditions are finding applications in fields like aerospace. On January 16th, the conference showcased innovations in fusion energy technology and industry, including a model of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) fusion device.

To date, Hefei has amassed a cluster of major scientific infrastructures, including the EAST, the compact fusion energy experimental device (BEST), and the Comprehensive Research Facility for Fusion Technology (CRAFT), gathering over 60 related enterprises in the fusion industry chain to form a complete innovation ecosystem spanning from basic research to engineering validation. Yan Jianwen, Chairman of Fusion New Energy (Anhui) Co., Ltd. and Executive Dean of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center Energy Research Institute, stated that while fusion research is like climbing a long and arduous mountain, the many "climbing tools" developed along the way possess immense inherent value. Relying on EAST's superconducting magnet technology, radio frequency technology, and ion source technology, they have independently developed a domestic superconducting cyclotron proton therapy system, according to Chen Yonghua, General Manager of Hefei Zhongke Ion Medical Technology Equipment Co., Ltd., who highlighted proton therapy as a powerful tool for precise cancer radiotherapy.

In recent years, Hefei has accelerated the construction of an industrial ecosystem designed to successfully "hatch these eggs." This involves government and research institutions collaboratively systematizing dozens of fusion-derived technologies with conversion potential, creating a project library for precise matching. Enterprises, by co-establishing joint laboratories with research units and engaging early in the R&D process, can quickly direct these achievements toward high-end industrial applications. During the conference, the "Fusion Financial Institutions Alliance" was established in Hefei, aiming to provide services covering the entire lifecycle of fusion technology; the Hefei Future Fusion Energy Venture Capital Fund was also launched, representing long-term, patient capital focused on key technologies and core links in fusion energy. Yao Qun, Deputy Director of the Anhui Provincial Department of Science and Technology, reported that during the "14th Five-Year Plan" period, the province has established a list of technologies derived from major scientific installations, supported secondary technological development, and built a full-chain application system of "major scientific installation + concept verification center + market-oriented pilot testing," which has cumulatively incubated or attracted over 100 technology-based enterprises in fields like superconducting materials, plasma diagnostics, cryogenics, and terahertz lasers.