Marvel Fusion and Colorado State University partner for world's most advanced laser facility

The partnership, with an investment of $150 million, will enable Marvel Fusion to develop and apply its fusion energy technology at CSU's Foothills campus, while CSU strengthens its position in laser research and expands scientific capabilities.

Munich/Fort Collins - In a groundbreaking partnership between Colorado State University (CSU) and Munich-based Marvel Fusion, a pioneering short-pulse laser facility is being built in Fort Collins, USA, with an investment of $150 million. This project will establish an international center of excellence for the development of laser fusion and high energy density physics.

The focus of this collaboration is to establish a high-power laser facility on the CSU Foothills campus. Marvel Fusion, a Munich-based company that aims to commercialize fusion energy using high-power lasers and nanostructured fuels, will be able to advance their innovative fusion technology at this facility.

We are grateful for the trust and support of CSU, the State of Colorado, and the U.S. Department of Energy, which provides ongoing support for research at CSU through the LaserNetUS program.

Moritz von der Linden, CEO and Co-Founder Marvel Fusion

Moritz von der Linden emphasizes the global significance of this collaboration, "This public-private partnership sets the standard in laser-based fusion research worldwide. It enables Marvel Fusion to take a decisive step towards a fusion power plant. The partnership with Colorado State University underscores the viability of our concept."

The new laser facility will enable exciting experiments to validate Marvel Fusion's fusion concepts more quickly and effectively. This represents a step forward in the development of fusion energy, which has the potential to revolutionize the global energy supply.

By 2026, the laser facility will be completed and will include at least three laser systems with exceptional performance: Each system will have a peak power of several petawatts and a repetition rate of ten light pulses per second. This unique set-up can be further expanded and upgraded in the future.

CSU is already a leader in laser research, and this collaboration will further strengthen our position in this field. Laser science has the potential to make lasting improvements to our society.

Amy Parsons, CSU President

The partnership between Marvel Fusion and CSU is part of the LaserNetUS program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and connects research institutions across North America. This collaboration brings not only scientific advancement, but also economic benefits to the region. In parallel with this project, Marvel Fusion plans to build a prototype commercial fusion power plant. The prototype will include hundreds of laser systems and produce self-sustaining fusion reactions to test the technology on a large scale.

While Marvel Fusion has established a subsidiary in Colorado, the company's headquarters will remain in Munich, Germany. European initiatives, such as experiments at lasers at Ludwig Maximilian University in Munich and the ELI-NP laser in Romania, remain integral to Marvel Fusion's research and development efforts.

The collaboration between Marvel Fusion and CSU marks a significant milestone on the path to realizing fusion energy and contributes to strengthening the global research landscape.