NGK and Kyoto Fusioneering Partner on Molten Salt FLiBe Technology for Fusion Plants

NGK Corporation (President: Shigeru Kobayashi, Head Office: Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, hereinafter "NGK") and Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd. (President: Kei Seko, Head Office: Ota City, Tokyo, hereinafter "KF") have signed a strategic memorandum of understanding to jointly develop and commercialize FLiBe (a molten salt composed of lithium fluoride and beryllium fluoride) and its FLiBe circulation systems for use in fusion plant demonstration facilities. Through this partnership, both companies will advance technological development toward the practical realization of fusion energy.

Fusion (nuclear fusion) energy is being developed globally as a next-generation energy source that contributes to a carbon-neutral society and energy security. Practical implementation requires not only technologies for the core where fusion reactions occur, but also the establishment of technologies for heat extraction, tritium breeding and recovery (as fuel), and peripheral circulation systems. FLiBe is expected to serve as a coolant and tritium breeding material supporting these systems, necessitating the development of technologies for quality control of difficult-to-handle raw materials such as beryllium and their adaptation to circulation systems.

Since successfully industrializing beryllium copper in Japan for the first time in 1958, NGK has been responsible for manufacturing and supplying materials involving beryllium, accumulating expertise in safe handling, quality control, purification, and analysis.

Meanwhile, KF, as a specialized fusion plant engineering group, boasts world-class expertise in plasma heating systems, holistic plant system design, thermal-fluid analysis, and the development of tritium breeding and recovery systems. The company provides technologies and know-how through collaborations with government agencies, research institutions, and enterprises worldwide.

Under this partnership, the companies will advance the development of FLiBe-related technologies for fusion plant applications and, considering domestic and international customer needs, work toward future commercialization and supply system construction. By integrating efforts from material manufacturing and purification to real-world application of circulation systems and specification discussions based on customer requirements, they aim to build the systems necessary for the social implementation of fusion energy.

Roles of Each Company in the Collaboration

- Advancing foundational technologies for FLiBe handling, manufacturing, and quality

NGK will leverage its expertise in beryllium handling and purification to lead technological development in material and process areas, including FLiBe manufacturing, purification, analysis, and evaluation.

- Evaluation and technological development of FLiBe-related systems for fusion plant applications

KF will utilize its expertise in fusion plant design and development to lead system-level technological development, including design studies and circulation testing of FLiBe circulation systems, and evaluation of heat transfer and equipment lifespan.

Through this collaboration, both companies will work to establish the foundational materials, processes, and systems required for the social implementation of fusion energy by advancing FLiBe manufacturing and purification, quality assessment, verification in circulation systems, and customer-driven specification development.

Company Comments

### <Takeshi Otsu, Executive Officer, NV Promotion Division, NGK Corporation>

NGK has positioned 2035 as the midpoint of its "NGK Group Vision Road to 2050" in its Long-Term Business Plan 2026–2035, and continues its commitment to R&D and social implementation aimed at future commercialization in the carbon-neutral domain. This strategic partnership with Kyoto Fusioneering represents a significant step toward creating new technological value by leveraging NGK’s safety management and technical expertise in beryllium handling and FLiBe-related technologies, supporting the practical realization of fusion energy in the carbon-neutral field. We will continue to promote technological development toward the social implementation of FLiBe-related technologies and contribute to the realization of fusion energy.

### <Kei Seko, Representative Director, President & COO, Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.>

Kyoto Fusioneering is working to establish and commercialize various component technologies essential for fusion energy plants to achieve early practical implementation. Among these, FLiBe is a critical material serving multiple functions such as breeding, cooling, and tritium recovery. However, due to its beryllium content, it requires advanced safety management and purification technologies for handling. By combining NGK’s long-accumulated expertise in beryllium handling with our own know-how in blanket technology and system integration developed through fusion plant design, we aim to accelerate the industrial foundation for FLiBe-related technologies and take an important step toward the social implementation of fusion energy.

About NGK Corporation

Founded in 1919, NGK is a ceramic manufacturer conducting business across a wide range of fields, including mobility, energy, IoT, and industrial applications. The company’s core products include ceramics for semiconductor manufacturing equipment and automotive components. With overseas sales accounting for 80% and overseas employees making up 60% of its workforce, NGK continues to strengthen its presence as a global enterprise. Since 2021, NGK has accelerated its business transformation, guided by its vision to contribute to a carbon-neutral and digital society through its unique ceramic technologies. In April 2026, the company changed its name from NGK Insulators, Ltd. to NGK Corporation. The mission stated in the NGK Group Philosophy is "To bring new value and happiness to society." NGK continues to strive to realize a more comfortable and sustainable society through new products and services. https://www.ngk.co.jp/

About Kyoto Fusioneering Ltd.

Kyoto Fusioneering, established in 2019, is a Japan-originated fusion energy plant engineering company. With group bases in the UK, the US, Germany, and other countries, the company collaborates with research institutions and enterprises worldwide to advance technological development for the social implementation of fusion energy. The company is engaged in the R&D and engineering of key devices and systems essential for fusion energy plants, including gyrotron systems for plasma heating, blanket technologies for heat and tritium extraction, and thermal and fuel cycle systems.

To achieve the early social implementation of fusion energy, the company will contribute to realizing a carbon-neutral society by developing peripheral equipment and systems that support the entire plant. https://kyotofusioneering.com/