Kyoto Fusioneering Picks Oak Ridge for US Headquarters, Bringing $46.9 Million and 51 Jobs
(UCBJ) – Kyoto Fusioneering (KF), a global developer of fusion infrastructure, technology and integrated systems founded in Japan in 2019, will relocate its U.S. headquarters to Oak Ridge and is set to create 51 new jobs and invest $46.9 million in Anderson County, according to state officials.
According to a release, the investment includes the build-out of critical fusion testing infrastructure at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. It will be designed to lower fusion technology risk, focused on developing UNITY-3, a first-of-its-kind fusion nuclear test facility. It will use a deuterium-tritium fusion neutron source to validate tritium breeding and performance under realistic fusion-nuclear conditions, delivering data no other facility in the world can currently provide to help the industry design commercial fusion power plants.
The public-private partnership was announced earlier this year.
“Relocating our U.S. headquarters to Oak Ridge was a strategic decision driven by our partnership with ORNL and the region’s rich nuclear innovation ecosystem,” said Bibake Uppal, president of Kyoto Fusioneering America. “By anchoring our operations here, we are doing more than expanding KF – we are building the critical, commercial-scale testing infrastructure and robust supply chains that the entire fusion industry needs to scale. We are incredibly grateful for the welcoming business climate fostered by TNECD and the State of Tennessee, whose support makes this landmark investment possible.”
According to the release, UNITY-3 is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and was named a national priority in its finalized Fusion Science & Technology Roadmap.
“Today’s announcement from KF further cements Tennessee’s leadership in delivering the next generation of safe, reliable energy,” said Gov. Bill Lee. “By partnering with ORNL and locating in Oak Ridge, the company is poised to accelerate its growth and innovation while strengthening our state’s nuclear energy ecosystem. This collaboration will create new opportunities for Tennesseans to step into cutting-edge roles and help shape the future of advanced energy.”
According to the release, Japan is Tennessee’s top partner for foreign direct investment, with more than 200 Japanese companies across the state accounting for more than 48,000 jobs and close to $21 billion in capital investment.
Photo via the State of TN.
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