Commonwealth Fusion Systems Signs $85 Million Letter of Intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce to Accelerate Next-Generation Semiconductor R&D for Commercial Fusion Energy

DEVENS, Mass., Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS), the global leader in fusion energy, today announced that it signed a letter of intent (LOI) for an $85 million proposed federal R&D award under the CHIPS and Science Act with the U.S. Department of Commerce to advance U.S. leadership and innovation in semiconductor technologies used in commercial fusion energy.

The CHIPS and Science Act is a 2022 bipartisan law that aims to bolster the U.S. semiconductor industry, and the CHIPS Research and Development Office (CRDO) funds breakthrough semiconductor innovations critical to the country. As CFS moves to accelerate the development of its ARC power plants, the proposed award will support R&D to enable semiconductor technologies important to the domestic fusion energy industry, including artificial intelligence, next-generation radio frequency power generators, and a variety of power electronics.

"This award marks an important opportunity to drive development of semiconductors and power electronics unique to the fusion industry," said Bob Mumgaard, Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Commonwealth Fusion Systems. "These innovations will be a vital part of our global effort to deploy commercial fusion."

Proposed R&D under the agreement ranges from developing semiconductor technologies for robotic maintenance systems that enable better ARC plant performance to improving radio-frequency power generators that support commercial fusion. The proposed project will also advance novel fast and embedded controllers needed to manage fusion plasma and systems at power plant scale.

"The Trump Administration is accelerating American semiconductor innovation to enhance our domestic energy and power resources," said Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick. "This investment expands domestic research, secures critical supply chains, and creates high-paying American jobs."

CFS expects that the R&D effort will catalyze the development of a robust industrial base, attracting additional suppliers and partners to the fusion sector. The proposed award also supports the semiconductor supply chain to scale the commercial fusion industry on an accelerated timeline.

About Commonwealth Fusion Systems

Commonwealth Fusion Systems is the world's largest and leading private fusion company. The company's marquee fusion project, SPARC, will generate net energy, paving the way for limitless carbon-free energy. The company has raised more than $4 billion in capital since it was founded in 2018.

Media Contact:
Christine Dunn
Commonwealth Fusion Systems
[email protected] 

SOURCE Commonwealth Fusion Systems