Dr Thomas Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Oxford Sigma, has been appointed as a member of the Steering Committee, which will provide strategic oversight and governance for the MatDB4Fusion platform.

MatDB4Fusion is a comprehensive, quality‑controlled database designed to centralise and standardise materials data for fusion applications. The platform enables the global fusion community to access, share, and analyse key material properties, including physical, thermomechanical, and chemical behaviour under extreme conditions such as neutron irradiation, transmutation, and plasma–material interactions.

Developed by CATF in partnership with the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD‑NEA), MatDB4Fusion addresses a long‑standing challenge in fusion materials science: the fragmentation and inaccessibility of critical data generated over decades of research. By providing a unified, high‑quality dataset, the initiative aims to support more efficient materials qualification, reduce duplication of effort, and enable advanced modelling and artificial intelligence applications.

From Oxford Sigma’s perspective, the formation of the Steering Committee represents an important step towards coordinated, international action on one of fusion energy’s most significant technical barriers.

The Steering Committee will guide the evolution of the database, ensuring that it remains aligned with global research priorities while upholding data integrity and usability. It brings together expertise from across industry, academia, and research organisations, reflecting the cross-sector collaboration required to realise fusion energy at scale.

Oxford Sigma’s involvement reflects its ongoing leadership in fusion materials development, qualification, and standards, including its work across international programmes and codes and standards initiatives. Participation in the Steering Committee further strengthens the company’s commitment to enabling the materials solutions required for next-generation fusion systems.

For more information on the MatDB4Fusion initiative, visit https://www.matdb4fusion.app/

“Fusion will only move at the pace of its enabling technologies, and materials data is one of the foundations that underpins credible design, qualification, and deployment. MatDB4Fusion is an important step towards giving the global fusion community a more consistent, accessible, and high-quality basis for decision-making, and I am pleased for Oxford Sigma to contribute to that effort through the Steering Committee.”

Dr Thomas Davis, Co-founder and CEO, Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

About MatDB4Fusion

MatDB4Fusion, operated by CATF, is a comprehensive, quality-controlled database for materials used in the fusion energy sector. It offers a centralized platform to share, access, and analyze the physical, thermomechanical, and chemical properties of materials relevant to fusion device design, including fusion specific properties related to neutron irradiation, transmutation, plasma-material interaction, and others.

About Clean Air Task Force

Clean Air Task Force (CATF), within the international working group on materials database and in partnership with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s – Nuclear Energy Agency (OECD-NEA) as an international database host, launched MatDB4Fusion to empower the global fusion community with the data needed to design the next generation of fusion power plants.

The publication presents key developments in the conceptual design of plasma‑facing components (PFCs) for the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), the UK’s flagship programme to deliver a first‑of‑a‑kind fusion prototype power plant.

Oxford Sigma led key aspects of the materials selection strategy and plasma‑facing component design development, contributing its expertise in high heat‑flux materials, thermal management concepts, and engineering down‑selection. The company played a central role in assessing manufacturability, technology readiness level (TRL), and performance trade‑offs to support a credible and deployable limiter architecture for STEP.

Limiters are strategically placed PFCs installed on the first wall of a fusion device. Their primary role is to manage ultrahigh transient heat loads caused by plasma disruptions, such as vertical displacement events, effectively reducing damage to other critical in-vessel components.

The paper describes the current STEP Limiter architecture and documents the evolution of the limiter PFC design . The updated concept  adopts a jet impingement gas-cooled, featuring tungsten armour paired with a CuCrZr alloy heat sink, representing a transition away from earlier tungsten heavy alloy concepts. The revised design covers a larger plasma-facing surface area and incorporates an internal manifold alongside pin fins to substantially improve cooling performance. The addition of pin fins enhances heat transfer to the coolant, enabling the use of higher technology readiness level (TRL) materials, such as copper alloys and establishing a more robust and dependable engineering pathway for the STEP program.

The full scientific paper, STEP Limiter Architecture and Plasma-Facing Component Concept Design, is available through the IEEE Xplore digital library:

Kaijanen et al., “STEP Limiter Architecture and Plasma-Facing Component Concept Design,” in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science, doi: 10.1109/TPS.2026.3679931.

“Managing the extreme transient heat loads from plasma disruptions is one of the most demanding engineering challenges in fusion energy. By evolving the limiter architecture to incorporate pin fins and copper alloy heat sinks, we are leveraging higher TRL materials to deliver robust, realistic solutions for the STEP prototype power plant. This paper highlights the critical importance of practical engineering in accelerating fusion commercialisation.”

— Dr Leandro Tanure, Senior Materials Engineer, Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

About STEP / UKFE

STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is a major technology and infrastructure programme that will demonstrate net energy from fusion, fuel self-sufficiency and a route to plant maintenance. UKAEA is STEP’s fusion partner and will work alongside STEP’s industry partners. The STEP programme is being delivered by UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE) a wholly owned subsidiary of UKAEA Group. UKFE will lead STEP’s integrated delivery team to design and build the prototype plant at West Burton site in Nottinghamshire, targeting first operations in 2040s.

The five-hour workshop provided a detailed technical walkthrough of the Division 4 rewrite lead by Oxford Sigma, including structure, scope, and application to fusion systems. The rewrite is intended to establish a constructible, engineering-usable framework to support the design and delivery of fusion components, including:

• Materials, qualification, and certification
• Design and structural integrity
• Fabrication, examination, and testing
• Quality assurance requirements for nuclear service

The framework is:

• Technology-neutral, applicable across fusion approaches
• Environment-driven, based on service conditions and degradation mechanisms
• Component-focused, addressing structural integrity in nuclear environments

This work reflects an evolution from guidance to practical construction rules, informed by early use of the 2023 Code Edition and ongoing international input.  The rewrite has now entered the ASME committee ballot process, where it is subject to formal review, comment, and technical scrutiny by the codes and standards community.

The ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV Code) Section III, Division 4 establishes a technology‑neutral, fusion‑specific construction framework defining requirements for materials, design, fabrication, examination, testing, certification, and quality assurance for components operating under nuclear service conditions, with applicability determined by service environment, degradation mechanisms, and required structural integrity, rather than traditional fission-based assumptions.

Division 4 is developed through a formal, consensus‑based ASME process and is now in committee ballot, where it is subject to international review, comment, and technical scrutiny, with contributions—including those from Oxford Sigma—forming part of, but not representing, the collective standard.

“The Division 4 rewrite represents a transition toward a practical, engineering-usable construction framework for fusion systems. We have proposed and developed a structure that reflects how fusion components are designed, manufactured, and assured in practice. Critically, this work is being developed through a rigorous, consensus-based ASME process. The level of engagement, challenge, and technical scrutiny seen during the workshop and now through ballot review is essential to ensuring that Division 4 develops as a robust and internationally credible standard.”

Dr Thomas P Davis, Co-founder and CEO at Oxford Sigma

“The focus of the rewrite is ensuring that Division 4 can be applied in practice, aligning design, materials, and manufacturing into a coherent framework that reflects how fusion systems are actually engineered at the present. At its core, the ASME BPV Code represents established best practice, developed by engineers responsible for the design and construction of real nuclear systems. In areas where fusion technologies are still evolving, ASME provides the structured, mature engineering foundation against which these systems must be defined, validated, and ultimately delivered.”

Dr Emily Rose Lewis, Nuclear Materials Engineer at Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

The engagement forms part of ongoing technical exchanges supporting the development of fusion‑specific construction codes and standards. Insights from ITER’s engineering and delivery programmes are being considered by standards organisations as input to draft rule development for fusion components, with particular attention to component classification, safety intent, and evidence‑based engineering practice.

Discussions included how experience derived from ITER’s design, procurement, construction, and licensing activities can help inform future draft requirements for metallic and non‑metallic structural components, cryogenic systems, superconducting magnet structures, and associated supporting systems. The exchanges also highlighted the value of grounding emerging fusion standards in practical operating and delivery experience.

A further focus of the visit was international code awareness and alignment, including the technical interface between ASME, JSME, and European regulatory and standards frameworks. Continued dialogue between standards bodies and fusion delivery organisations supports the longer‑term objective of interoperable approaches to fusion plant design and construction across regions.

Oxford Sigma supports ongoing collaboration between international standards organisations and fusion delivery programmes, recognising the importance of transparent, consensus‑based standards development processes informed by shared technical experience. The visit to ITER strengthened professional connections and provided a basis for continued technical exchange as draft fusion construction rules continue to evolve.

““Fusion standards development benefits when draft requirements are informed by real engineering and delivery experience. Technical exchanges such as this help ensure that emerging fusion construction rules are practical, proportionate, and evidence‑based.” Dr Thomas Davis, Co-Founder and CEO Oxford Sigma.

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

Founded on 19 March 2019 by Dr Thomas P. Davis and Jonathan Musgrove, Oxford Sigma was created to solve the hardest materials challenges standing between the United Kingdom and commercial fusion energy. Breaking the new normal funding route for high technology scaleups, Oxford Sigma has accepted no seed funding and has achieved its progress through 100% organic revenue including participation in UK Government innovation programmes. Seven years on, the company stands as one of the clearest examples of how strategic government support, deep scientific expertise, and British industrial leadership can be guided to give capability for a sovereign fusion industry.

BUILDING A UK-LED FUSION SUPPLY CHAIN

UKAEA partnerships have been instrumental in strengthening Oxford Sigma’s technical maturity and accelerating the development of the UK’s fusion engineering capabilities. From its Oxford headquarters, the company has delivered major advancements including cutting-edge materials technologies for fusion, nuclear, and defence applications; novel tungsten-based and liquid-metal–compatible innovations for breeder blankets and in-vessel components; future powerplant focused engineering methodologies and design tools critical for deployment; dedicated lithium ceramics for tritium breeding; palladium-based materials for tritium extraction; extensive support to UKAEA programmes including STEP; and establishment of a dedicated materials development laboratory, based on the Culham Campus.

Oxford Sigma’s UK-rooted capability is now recognised worldwide as fusion moves rapidly towards commercialisation.

SEVEN YEARS OF GROWTH: OXFORD SIGMA TODAY

Over the past seven years, engagement with UKAEA and UK Government contracts and innovation programmes has helped propel Oxford Sigma into a leading developer of advanced materials for extreme-environment systems across fusion, nuclear, and defence. Highlights of this progress include:

• More than 100 years of combined team member experience spanning fusion materials, processing, qualification, testing, and simulation.
• A highly technical team with 90% STEM‑educated, and 43% holding PhDs in materials or nuclear systems.
• A professionalised team with 25% Chartered Engineers and more than 90% of the remainder working towards chartership.
• A growing global footprint spanning Oxford, Culham Campus, and Arlington, Virginia, USA.
• Supporting the chair of ASME BPVC Section III Division 4 on Fusion Energy Devices, shaping the codes and standards that will underpin future fusion power plants.

Oxford Sigma is an active collaborator within the UK fusion ecosystem through UKAEA, the Fusion Industry Programme (FIP), the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI), and international partnerships. These UK Government innovation programmes with SMEs are essential to enable:

• Expansion of UK‑based manufacturing and test capability
• Development of new, protectable intellectual property
• Acceleration of materials qualification and component design
• Translation of research into deployable engineering solutions
• Growth of a highly specialised UK workforce
• Strengthening of Britain’s sovereign fusion supply chain

These programmes have delivered the foundational support that allowed Oxford Sigma to stay fully independent, fully focused on technical excellence and delivery. Oxford Sigma has been a successful participant in multiple SBRI competitions, including the Fusion Industry Challenges: Cycle 2, and subsequent competitions advancing fusion materials and manufacturing solutions, Cycle 4 (pulsed power), Cycle 5 (diagnostics), and Cycle 6 (shielding), accumulating to now offering products to the market though our commercialisation achievements. These programmes have increased the company’s export to support fusion energy.

“Seven years ago, we founded Oxford Sigma to solve the materials challenges that stand between aspiration and real fusion power. Engaging with UKAEA and UK Government innovation programmes have been instrumental in helping us turn scientific capability into industrial reality. We are proud to be a British company contributing to the nation’s energy security, advancing fusion commercialisation, and supporting the development of a sovereign UK supply chain. As we move forward, we remain committed to delivering the materials, designs, and standards needed to make fusion power plants a global reality. UKAEA and UK Government are making real impact to the SMEs across the UK fusion supply chain, and we would encourage other SMEs like us to take full advantage of the support and access to their initiatives.”

— Dr Thomas P. Davis, Co‑Founder & CEO, Oxford Sigma

The Projects STUBBI (Shaping TUngsten By Bonding It) [patent pending] and SHyELD (Shielding by Hydride Engineering for Lightweight Deployment) build on Oxford Sigma’s established expertise in advanced materials and manufacturable shielding solutions. Leveraging our internal development facility and specialist partners, we are advancing kilogram‑scale prototypes designed with both scalability and neutronic performance in mind. Following development, these materials will undergo irradiation testing to validate shielding performance under representative fusion conditions.

Figure: Project STUBBI-II, prototype tungsten shielding material for fusion power plants.

Figure: SHyELD manufactured metal hydride at Oxford Sigma.

Oxford Sigma’s shielding programme takes a holistic engineering approach, ensuring our materials meet the functional, thermal, structural, and operational requirements of fusion environments. Our designs prioritise real‑world integration, including structural interfaces, cooling strategies, and manufacturability, to ensure our shielding technologies align with the needs of emerging fusion power plants.

Oxford Sigma’s programme carefully balances the competing requirements of high‑performance shielding: robust material behaviour under irradiation, manufacturability at scale, cost‑effective deployment, and integration into complex fusion systems. We apply our engineering and materials science expertise to ensure our products are suited to the realistic operating conditions of future fusion power plants currently in development.

If you are interested in exploring or procuring Oxford Sigma’s advanced shielding materials for your fusion or nuclear systems, please reach out to our team at info@oxfordsigma.com. We welcome collaboration with organisations seeking high‑performance shielding solutions and materials innovation.

Dr Diego Martinez de Luca, Project Lead for STUBBI said: “The development of novel and scalable manufacturing processes for production of large tungsten components for radiation shielding is a key aspect for the operation and safety of future fusion plants. We are proud that our technology is supported by the UKAEA and are looking forward to proving its feasibility”

Dr Bradley Young, Project Lead for SHyELD said: “The Oxford Sigma materials team is excited to be developing metal hydride materials to enable improved shielding and moderating components for advanced nuclear reactor concepts, across both fusion and fission technologies. Analysis of the shielding function of these hydrides has shown extremely promising performance and we look forward to developing the manufacturability and in-situ stability to bring these products to the market, enabling and accelerating clean energy..”

Lyndsey Mooring, Head of the Fusion Industry Programme, said: “Novel shielding materials and technologies are a cornerstone for viable future fusion energy power plants, as well as other aligned industries. The response to this competition demonstrated the impressive breadth of research being done within the UK that could help solve this challenge. The Fusion Industry Programme is delighted to support 13 feasibility studies and see what progress is made in this interesting area of research, development and innovation (RDI).”

Mark Gilbert, Head of Programme for Neutron Materials Interactions, said: “Shielding is a critical safety requirement for any system involving the production of ionising radiation, including the neutrons and gamma fields expected in fusion systems. It is important to develop shielding solutions for both in-vessel, where space is constrained, and ex-vessel, that are robust, economically viable, and have minimised environmental impact. This challenge is asking UK industry to explore novel solutions for the different shielding applications in fusion.”

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

About the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority

The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national fusion energy research organisation. They are an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).

UKAEA’s mission is to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise the scientific and economic benefit. They do this by being technical experts, partnering with companies and the international research community.

At the core of UKAEA’s efforts is the operation of world-leading facilities that build a comprehensive knowledge base for fusion energy. By addressing and solving the challenges across the full lifecycle of fusion, and integrating solutions from various disciplines, we establish technical centres of excellence that serve as the foundation for future fusion power plant programmes.

UKAEA collaborates with its partners to develop fusion power plants by providing access to our skills, facilities and expertise. UKAEA owns UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) on behalf of the UK government. Through UKIFS, we’re spearheading the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme to design and build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy power plant in Nottinghamshire.

To grow the fusion ecosystem, UKAEA focuses on cultivating skilled talent, growing the fusion industry and creating ‘innovation clusters’. We actively seek opportunities to advance fusion technologies and communicate its vast potential to stakeholders and the public alike to accelerate fusion energy’s future – the energy of tomorrow we need today.

More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial

“The company were proud Tier 2 members of the previous version of the UKAEA Embedded Engineering Resource Framework and have enjoyed supporting UKAEA through multiple framework jobs. Being appointed as a Tier 1 supplier reflects the technical depth, resilience, and collaborative spirit our team has demonstrated over the past six years. This milestone not only validates our engineering capabilities but also strengthens our role in advancing the UK’s fusion energy ambitions.”

Mark Anderton, Senior Engineer, EERF Framework Manager, Oxford Sigma

“This Tier 1 appointment is a landmark moment for Oxford Sigma. It reflects the dedication and expertise our team has invested over the past six years to support UKAEA’s mission and the broader fusion community. We are honoured to be recognised as a trusted partner and excited to continue driving innovation in fusion materials and engineering.” 

Dr Thomas Davis, Chief Executive Officer, Oxford Sigma

 The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) has renewed its multimillion-pound Embedded Engineering Resource Framework (“the Framework”) with seven companies. The renewal follows a successful four-year supply of breadth of engineering resources to UKAEA in support of its mission to deliver fusion energy.   

The Framework, with a value up to £9m, supports the development of a UK industrial supply chain capability. It affords companies the opportunity to embed and upskill their own engineers within the multiple projects and programme areas at UKAEA as it undertakes fusion energy research.  

 Gary Stables, Engineering Frameworks Contract Project Manager, UKAEA, said:  

“Embedding engineers within UKAEA is a win-win. The embedded engineers help to progress key fusion projects, while gaining valuable skills and experience in fusion. Boosting fusion expertise across the engineering sector is vital for the development of fusion energy and maximising the benefits to industry.  Following the success of the first Embedded Engineering Resource Framework, UKAEA will be renewing it for another four years. Now with increased capacity to access technical expertise from selected industrial partners, the Framework will help accelerate the commercialisation of fusion energy.”  

Additionally the Framework continues to create the opportunity for companies to collaborate with each other on fusion projects and, crucially, to bring in their supply chain to support fusion projects, growing the fusion ecosystem.  

 The framework features companies with expertise in some, or all of the following disciplines:  

• Mechanical engineering  
• Process engineering  
• Electrical, control & instrumentation engineering  
• Engineering analysis and code development
• Structural and geotechnical engineering
• Materials engineering  
• Systems engineering  

 Successes from the past four years include embedding more than 80 engineers within the following programme areas:   

• JET Decommissioning and Repurposing (JDR)  
• Remote Applications in Challenging Environments (RACE)  
• Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak (MAST) Upgrade  
• Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) 
• Fusion Technology (FT)  
• Materials Research Facility (MRF)  

About Oxford Sigma 

 Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to advance fusion commercialisation through materials innovation. Our mission is to develop and deploy advanced materials technologies that meet the critical needs of fusion, nuclear, and security applications. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.  

 Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com  

 About the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority  

Who we are  

 The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national fusion energy research organisation. We are an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).  

 The work we do  

 UKAEA’s mission is to lead the delivery of sustainable fusion energy and maximise the scientific and economic benefit. We do this by being technical experts, partnering with companies and the international research community. 

 At the core of UKAEA’s efforts is the operation of world-leading facilities that build a comprehensive knowledge base for fusion energy. By addressing and solving the challenges across the full lifecycle of fusion, and integrating solutions from various disciplines, we establish technical centres of excellence that serve as the foundation for future fusion power plant programmes.  

 UKAEA collaborates with its partners to develop fusion power plants by providing access to our skills, facilities and expertise. UKAEA owns UK Industrial Fusion Solutions (UKIFS) on behalf of the UK government. Through UKIFS, we’re spearheading the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme to design and build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy power plant in Nottinghamshire.  

 To grow the fusion ecosystem, UKAEA focuses on cultivating skilled talent, growing the fusion industry and creating ‘innovation clusters’. We actively seek opportunities to advance fusion technologies and communicate its vast potential to stakeholders and the public alike to accelerate fusion energy’s future – the energy of tomorrow we need today.  

 More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial   

 About fusion energy  

 When a mix of two forms of hydrogen (deuterium and tritium) is heated to form a controlled plasma at extreme temperatures – 10 times hotter than the core of the Sun – they fuse together to create helium and release energy which can be harnessed to produce electricity. There is more than one way of achieving this. UKAEA’s approach is to hold this hot plasma using strong magnets in a ring-shaped machine called a ‘tokamak’, and then to harness this heat to produce electricity in a similar way to existing power stations. 

At Oxford Sigma, we are committed to transparency and excellence in everything we do. To demonstrate our credibility and capability, we consistently publish our results to showcase the tangible impact of our work. We invite others to judge us by outcomes we deliver as our actions speak louder than words. This approach reflects our dedication to advancing fusion technology and contributing to the global energy transition with integrity and innovation.

A Success Story in the UK Fusion Landscape

Oxford Sigma is a success story in the United Kingdom fusion industry by driving innovation in fusion technology and playing a central role in building and strengthening the UK fusion supply chain. By working closely with the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), UKAEA Lithium Breeding Tritium Innovation (LIBRTI), and UK Industrial Fusion Solutions’ (UKIFS) flagship STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) Programme, Oxford Sigma has contributed to the development of critical technologies that will power the next generation of fusion reactors.

The support from UKAEA and STEP has been instrumental in Oxford Sigma’s capabilities scale up and collaboration with other key industry players, both within the United Kingdom and internationally. As the company expands, it is helping foster a robust fusion supply chain that will guarantee UK leadership in the race to develop commercially viable fusion power plants. Ensuring the United Kingdom’s position as a global fusion powerhouse strengthens the national economy by creating high-value engineering jobs and opportunities in research, technology development, and manufacturing for the next generation.

“Six years ago, we started Oxford Sigma to support UK innovation and advancements in fusion technology. I could not be prouder of the accomplishments of our team in advancing Oxford Sigma’s contributions to the strength of the UK’s fusion sector. From developing new materials to contributing to international construction codes, we’re excited to continue leading the way in fusion technology.”
– Prof Thomas P. Davis, Co-Founder and CEO

“Oxford Sigma started with the goal of supporting the fusion industry in materials technology; the company has now transitioned from a purely support role, to delivering key materials to the fusion market. This evolution is evidence of the UK’s fusion expertise and advancements, proving that the UK has positioned itself to be a key player in the global fusion market.”
– Jonathan Musgrove, Co-Founder and COO

“The growth of Oxford Sigma mirrors that of the fusion industries maturation from scientific endeavour to engineering development. The UK fusion sector is filled with deep expertise, which contributes to international confidence in our capabilities. Oxford Sigma benefits from this with the development of our own materials technologies and products, with an international reach.”
– Dr Alasdair Morrison, CTO

Driving Innovation and Excellence

Oxford Sigma has successfully delivered multiple fusion engineering design projects across four continents. The company is currently engaged in more than ten long-term frameworks and partnerships. Oxford Sigma also holds an extensive IP portfolio in fusion materials and reactor technology, with three patents in place, reinforcing its technical leadership.

Oxford Sigma bridges the gap between academia and industry by authoring seven peer-reviewed publications in top journals such as Fusion Engineering and Design and the Journal of Fusion Energy. Team members currently hold visiting academic positions at leading UK institutions, including the University of Oxford, University of Birmingham, University of Southampton, and Bangor University.

Strengthening the Fusion Supply Chain

Oxford Sigma is at the forefront of developing the component construction code and standard for fusion energy systems. Professor Thomas P. Davis, Co-Founder and CEO, serves as the Chair of ASME Section III, Division 4, the international standard for the design and construction of fusion energy devices under the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code (BPV). Professor Davis brings deep domain expertise to the development of these critical standards with a technical background in radiation damage and materials engineering for fusion environments. Under his leadership, Oxford Sigma is also actively engaged with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help shape testing standards for neutron irradiated reduced-activation ferritic martensitic fusion steels.

Global Expansion, Research & Development, and Peer-review Publications

In October 2024, Oxford Sigma launched a subsidiary in the United States, based in the Washington, D.C. area.

In December 2024, Oxford Sigma, Kyoto Fusioneering, and the STEP Programme published new research exploring innovative approaches to tritium breeding in spherical tokamaks. The study investigated advanced materials for breeding, radiation shielding, and structural support in confined spaces, focusing on two novel high-temperature concepts for the inboard breeder blanket design. This collaboration highlights the importance of innovative materials in addressing the coupling of tritium breeding and radiation shielding, demonstrating how advanced materials can help reduce barriers to fusion commercialisation.

In January 2025, Oxford Sigma announced a partnership with Novatron Fusion Group to accelerate the development of the NOVATRON fusion reactor. UKAEA awarded Oxford Sigma funding to lead the Validation in Ceramic Experiments (VICE) fusion breeder experimental program to validate the performance of tritium breeding in the company’s lithium ceramic materials. This initiative, part of the UKAEA LIBRTI, aims to optimise the manufacturing of ceramics and demonstrate measurable tritium production and recovery.

In February 2025, we unveiled a critical study on the tungsten supply chain, conducted in collaboration with Tungsten West Plc and Guardian Metal Resources Plc. This study highlights the importance of ensuring material availability for future fusion power plants and reinforces our role in addressing key challenges in the fusion industry. This work was presented at the ITER Fusion Neutronics Meetings 2025 in March 2025.

In April 2025, Oxford Sigma was awarded two UKAEA-funded projects to design and produce robust plasma diagnostic devices for fusion power plants. Project DEPARTED focuses on real-time measurement of first wall tile erosion to ensure reactor safety and enable timely maintenance. Project PRISM aims to develop robust, radiation-resistant mirrors for plasma diagnostics, enhancing reliability and operational lifetime.

Community and Recognition

Oxford Sigma has also made significant strides outside of technology development. In May 2024, the company was included in the UK’s £1 billion Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework, which enables direct knowledge transfer in materials for extreme environments.

In June 2024, Oxford Sigma marked UK Armed Forces Day as part of its commitment to supporting the company’s employees in reservist roles, as well as its bronze status in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS). The company aims to achieve silver status to further its support for veterans and active military personnel.

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

Plasma heating and current drive, achieved through the precise absorption of electromagnetic radiation, remain at the forefront of efforts to minimize tokamak plasma turbulence. These advancements hold the promise of enabling steady-state operations in future fusion power plants.

At the workshop, Oxford Sigma presented its innovative work conducted within the Embedded Engineering Framework. Specifically, the project focused on advancing microwave optic development for the Fusion Futures programme working on ITER Equatorial EC Launcher Concept Designs.

By integrating engineering best practices and expertise in microwave beam propagation, Oxford Sigma has contributed to the development of robust optics for microwave beam steering and launcher designs. The project utilised Ansys Zemax for Gaussian beam ray tracing, enabling the exploration of electron cyclotron launcher and mirror configurations. Through workflow automation and optimization algorithms, the team calculated optical parameters to achieve high transmission efficiency and a resilient mirror system.

Beyond presenting its ongoing innovations, the workshop provided a unique platform to engage with the wider fusion community. It facilitated meaningful connections and fostered collaborative opportunities between the microwave and materials science fields, further strengthening the interdisciplinary approach required for fusion advancements.

Oxford Sigma remains committed to driving innovation in fusion technologies and looks forward to continued contributions to the development of sustainable energy solutions.

“The development of high-performance microwave technology for devices like ITER is crucial for enabling viable fusion power. Collaborating with UKAEA under the Fusion Futures Program highlights the importance of advancing UK industry and supports Oxford Sigma’s mission to commercialise fusion energy.”

~Gabriel Blackett, Graduate Engineer, Oxford Sigma

About UK Atomic Energy Authority

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) is the UK’s national organisation responsible for the research and delivery of sustainable fusion energy. It is an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Fusion energy has great potential to deliver safe, sustainable, low carbon energy for generations to come. It is based on the same processes that power the Sun and stars, and would form part of the world’s future energy mix. Achieving this is a major technical challenge that involves working at the forefront of science, engineering, and technology. UKAEA’s programmes include the MAST-Upgrade (Mega Amp Spherical Tokamak) fusion experiment and the JET (Joint European Torus) fusion research facility. JET is operated by UKAEA at its Culham Campus near Oxford, on behalf of EUROfusion scientists and engineers.  STEP (Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production) is UKAEA’s ambitious programme to accelerate the delivery of fusion energy, with plans to deliver a prototype powerplant producing net electricity in the 2040s in Nottinghamshire. In 2021, UKAEA opened its Fusion Technology Facility near Rotherham in South Yorkshire, to develop and test materials and components for future fusion powerplants.  UKAEA also undertakes cutting edge work with academia, other research organisations and the industrial supply chain in a wide spectrum of areas, including robotics and materials.

More information: https://www.gov.uk/ukaea. Social Media: @UKAEAofficial

About Oxford Sigma Oxford Sigma is an advanced materials fusion technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader and is headquartered in Oxford, UK.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com. Social Media: @OxfordSigma

The defence industry is an industry which has been identified as an industry with relevance for Oxford Sigma’s skillset. As a result, the company was successful in its submission for a role in the prestigious £1 billion UK Ministry of Defence Hypersonic Technologies & Capability Development Framework (HTCDF). This framework, a significant step in the UK’s development of a sovereign hypersonic strike capability, brings together over 90 leading organisations from industry and academia to support the rapid development of advanced hypersonic missile systems. It is a company goal to increase defence engagement to improve company capabilities further and involvement in additional defence engineering frameworks is underway.

“We are proud to show our support for the UK Armed Forces and thank them for their efforts to contribute to the UK’s strengthening national defence.”

~Mark Anderton, Nuclear Engineer and Defence Lead at Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Fusion Technology company with a vision to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com

This success marks a milestone for Oxford Sigma as it plays an integral role in shaping the future of the UK’s defence strategy by applying our expertise in materials in extreme environments, such as fusion energy. Oxford Sigma will collaborate with both established defence manufacturers and SMEs, working to advance the next generation of hypersonic technologies.

The framework enables companies like Oxford Sigma to contribute vital expertise in the research, development, and testing phases of hypersonic missiles. The contracts are designed with agility in mind, ensuring that the UK military can quickly develop the technologies needed to maintain strategic advantage.

This opportunity aligns with the UK Ministry of Defence’s goal to accelerate its defence procurement process, ensuring that the nation remains at the forefront of cutting-edge military capabilities. The company looks forward to contributing to the continued innovation and national security of the UK alongside other esteemed industry leaders, large primes and other SMEs.

“This is an incredible opportunity for Oxford Sigma to apply our cutting-edge expertise to one of the most important defence projects of our time. We are looking forward to collaborating with such esteemed partners and playing a key role in developing the UK’s first hypersonic missile. Oxford Sigma is proud to contribute to the UK’s ambitious goals in strengthening national defence.”

~Mark Anderton, Senior Engineer and Defence Lead at Oxford Sigma

About Oxford Sigma

Oxford Sigma is a Technology organisation with specialist skill in delivering engineering approaches for materials in extreme environments. One of Oxford Sigma’s visions is to tackle energy security and climate change by accelerating the commercialisation of fusion energy. Our mission is to deliver materials technology, materials solutions, and fusion design services. Oxford Sigma aims to produce advanced materials technologies, agnostic to fusion approach, for the materials ecosystem. Our fusion core materials are engineered to enable longer term operations for fusion pilot plants, with the aim of roll out to the first-of-a-kind commercial power stations. Oxford Sigma is internationally recognised as a key fusion materials and technological leader.

Get in touch at info@oxfordsigma.com