Moonshot R&D Program / Goal 10
Moonshot Research & Development Program Superconducting Project Icon

Fundamental Superconducting Technology
to Realize Various Innovative Fusion Reactor Concepts

From next-generation REBCO superconducting wire to 40 T-class ultra-high-field coil technology,
Japan's All-Japan Consortium is forging the path to a fusion-powered society by 2050.

Project Vision

"Realizing compact, liquid-helium-free fusion reactors for practical use by 2050"

Project Manager:
Takanobu Kiss | Kyushu University, Dean, Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering / Distinguished Professor / Director, Research Institute of Superconductor Science and Systems

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Overview

Project Overview

This project is funded under JST's Moonshot R&D Program (Goal 10), with the mission of bringing fusion energy to society by 2050.

Kyushu University, Tohoku University, QST, NIMS, AIST, JFCC, and industry partner Gigaphoton Inc. form the "All-Japan Consortium," working together to develop the foundational superconducting technologies required for compact, liquid-helium-free fusion reactors.

Across three core research themes — high-performance REBCO superconducting wire mass production, 40 T-class ultra-high-field coil technology, and an advanced testing and design platform — this consortium aims to secure Japan's global leadership in the fusion energy market.

Superconducting Technology Fusion Energy Machine Learning Liquid-H₂ Cooling
5×
Target Critical Current Density
(Je improvement)
40T
Target Magnetic Field
(World-Record Class)
10×
Annual Wire Output
(scale-up target)
2050
Target Year
(He-free fusion reactor deployment)
Research Pillars

3 Main Research Themes

Three interconnected pillars — superconducting wire, coil technology, and a testing/design platform — work in concert to achieve the breakthroughs needed for next-generation fusion reactors.

01

High-Je, Low-Cost
REBCO Wire Mass Production

  • Data-driven process modeling and in-silico optimization (Digital Factory approach)
  • ML-assisted deposition process optimization and real-time inline monitoring
  • Wire performance characterization under liquid-H₂ (20 K) cooling conditions
  • Achieving mass production with enhanced yield and deposition uniformity
Goal: Je ×5 / Cost ≤ Nb₃Sn / Annual output ×10
02

40 T-Class Ultra-High-Field
Coil Technology

  • Liquid-helium-free operation (liquid-H₂ at 20 K or conduction cooling)
  • Improved neutron-irradiation tolerance using ceramic (inorganic) insulation
  • Mechanically robust REBCO coil design (addressing local degradation and delamination)
  • Quench protection via fiber-optic temperature sensing and inductive voltage cancellation
Goal: 40 T world-record field strength (25 T → 33 T → 40 T)
03

Advanced Testing & Design
Building a Reactor Design Platform

  • Test facility surpassing the international 16.5 T benchmark: ultra-high field, high current, fast excitation
  • Developing a comprehensive materials database to map performance limits
  • 3D printing of large, complex structural components and ultra-high-strength materials
  • Coil topology optimization for peak stress reduction
Goal: World-leading testing & design infrastructure
Research Team

Research Team

Top researchers from academia, national R&D institutes, and industry unite in an "All-Japan Consortium," each contributing cutting-edge expertise in their specialized fields.

Takanobu Kiss
Project Manager
Takanobu Kiss
Kyushu University
Dean, Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering / Distinguished Professor / Director, Research Institute of Superconductor Science and Systems
REBCO Wire Development & Measurement Technology
⚙️
Yasufumi Kawasuji
Gigaphoton Inc.
Director, Precision Processing Development Division, R&D HQ
Wire Manufacturing Innovation & Mass Production Technology
🔭
Takeharu Kato
JFCC (Japan Fine Ceramics Center)
Principal Researcher, Nanostructures Research Laboratory
Microstructure Analysis of High-Temperature Superconducting Materials
🧲
Satoshi Awaji
Tohoku University
Professor / Director, High-Field Superconducting Materials Research Center
High-Field Cryogen-Free Superconducting Magnet Development
🏭
Jun Akedo
AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)
Invited Researcher
Ceramic Insulation Technology (Aerosol Deposition & Proprietary)
Yasuhiro Uto
Yasuhiro Uto
QST (National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology)
Senior Researcher
Reactor System Design / Prototype Reactor Design
⚛️
Tsutomu Hemmi
QST (National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology)
Group Leader, Superconducting Magnet Development
TF Coil Technology / ITER Track Record
🔬
Yoshinori Ono
NIMS (National Institute for Materials Science)
Principal Researcher
Mechanical Property Testing of Structural Materials in Liquid Hydrogen
Project Members

ProjectMembers

Led by Kyushu University, this All-Japan team unites academia, national research institutes, and industry in a shared pursuit.
Meet the researchers and engineers driving this work.

🎓
⭐ Project Manager / PI
Takanobu Kiss
Takanobu Kiss
Kyushu University
Kyushu University
Dean, Faculty of Information Science and Electrical Engineering / Distinguished Professor / Director, Research Institute of Superconductor Science and Systems
🔬 Research Coordination / REBCO Wire Production
Team Members: 11 ▶
  • Kohei Higashikawa Professor
  • Ryo Teranishi Professor
  • Zeyu Wu Assistant Professor
  • Kazutaka Imamura Technical Staff
  • Shinya Sera (Doctoral)
  • Shun Shiotani (Master's) (Completed Mar. 2025)
  • Ryota Nagayama (Master's) (Completed Mar. 2025)
  • Shuya Hino (Master's)
  • Yuma Hirose (Master's)
  • Ryo Iwanaga (Master's)
  • Hidetoshi Ishikura (Master's)
⚙️
Research Investigator (PI)
Yasufumi Kawasuji
Yasufumi Kawasuji
Gigaphoton Inc.
Gigaphoton Inc.
Director, Precision Processing Development Division, R&D HQ
🔬 Wire Mass Production Technology
Team Members: 13 ▶
  • Yoshiaki Kurosawa
  • Kengo Hayashi (Until Mar. 2026)
  • Takahiro Tatsumi
  • Ryota Ito
  • Hiroki Tsuboyama (Until Mar. 2026)
  • Kouji Kakizaki
  • Taisuke Miura
  • Kaname Imokawa
  • Miharu Iwahara
  • Akira Suwa
  • Daisuke Momiyama
  • Michiaki Nemoto
  • Tomonari Tanaka
🧫
Research Investigator (PI)
Takeharu Kato
Takeharu Kato
JFCC (Japan Fine Ceramics Center)
JFCC
Principal Researcher, Nanostructures Research Laboratory
🔬 Microstructure Analysis / Pinning Structure
Team Members: 8 ▶
  • Yasutoshi Mizuta
  • Daisaku Yokoe
  • Ryuji Yoshida
  • Taishi Ito
  • Junko Ariga
  • Makiko Takatsuji
  • Yumi Ikuhara
  • Misato Kawanishi
🧲
Research Investigator (PI)
Satoshi Awaji
Satoshi Awaji
Tohoku University
Tohoku University
Professor / Director, High-Field Superconducting Materials Research Center
🔬 Ultra-High-Field Coil Technology
Team Members: 6 ▶
  • Yuji Tsuchiya Associate Professor
  • Kouki Takahashi Associate Professor
  • Kuni Ra Assistant Professor
  • Kouhei Nojima (Doctoral)
  • Sou Noguchi Professor
  • Takanobu Matou Assistant Professor
🏭
Research Investigator (PI)
Jun Akedo
Jun Akedo
AIST (National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology)
AIST
Invited Researcher / Chief Researcher
🔬 Ceramic Insulation (Aerosol Deposition)
Team Members: 4 ▶
  • Muneyasu Suzuki
  • Akihiro Tsuruta
  • Hiroki Tsuda
  • Takeshi Kawasaki
🔭
Research Investigator (PI)
Yasuhiro Uto
Yasuhiro Uto
QST (National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology)
QST
Senior Researcher
Reactor System Design / Topology Optimization / Ultra-High-Strength Structural Materials
⚛️
Research Investigator (PI)
Tsutomu Hemmi
Tsutomu Hemmi
QST (National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology)
QST
Group Leader, Superconducting Magnet Development
🔬 Quench Protection / Coil Structure
Team Members: 3 ▶
  • Tomone Suwa
  • Keiya Takebayashi
  • Takaaki Isono
🔬
Research Investigator (PI)
Yoshinori Ono
Yoshinori Ono
NIMS (National Institute for Materials Science)
NIMS
Principal Researcher, Structural Materials Research Center
🔬 Structural Materials / Liquid-H₂ Testing
Team Members: 3 ▶
  • Kentarou Wada
  • Masayuki Komatsu
  • Hayato Terada
🛠️ PM Support Team
📋 Project Administration
  • Kohei Higashikawa, Professor PM Assistant
  • Chiaki Sato – Technical Staff
  • Shinya Sera – STA
  • Kazutaka Imamura – Technical Specialist IT & Information Management Support
  • Faculty General Affairs HR & Labor Management Support
  • Faculty Accounting Office Financial Management Support
  • Research Promotion Staff Research Planning Support
  • Kyushu Univ. OIP Co., Ltd. Commercialization Promotion & IP Strategy
  • Legal Affairs Office Security Management for International Collaboration
💡 Advisory Board
  • Toshiyuki Mito National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) / Magnet Engineering / Fusion Reactor Engineering / Cooling Technology
  • Osamu Umezawa Yokohama National University / Ultra-High-Strength Structural Material Development
  • Eriko Abe Manager, IP Management Group, Kyushu Univ. OIP Co., Ltd. / IP Strategy
  • Toshiya Kobayashi Kyushu University / Science Communication & ELSI
Research Progress

Research Progress

Last Updated: January 2026 (FY2025 Q3)

Since its launch in February 2025 — roughly one year in — the project has delivered steady technical progress across all three research pillars.

+28%
Je (Critical Current Density)
Gain vs. Initial Baseline
3
Peer-Reviewed Papers
Submitted / Published (FY2025)
7
Consortium Member
Institutions
12
International Conference
Presentations (FY2025)
Key Achievements
  • 🔬An initial data-driven model of the REBCO deposition process was established, with machine learning delivering a significant improvement in Je prediction accuracy.
  • 🏭Established basic Al₂O₃ coating technology on short metal tape by ceramic insulation (AD method) and confirmed dielectric strength. Neutron irradiation test samples prepared. Completed detailed electromagnetic and force/strain analysis for the 40 T insert coil, finalizing basic design.
  • 💧Developed a mechanical property test system for high-strength structural materials at cryogenic temperatures, and started prototype fabrication of small-scale melted ultra-high-strength structural materials.
  • 📐Under the QST-led prototype fusion reactor coil system design study, detailed analysis of the tokamak operating envelope using high-temperature superconducting wire has identified reactor parameters compatible with both tritium breeding and neutron shielding. These findings will feed directly into the technology application roadmap being developed within this Project.
Progress Summary by Pillar
Pillar 1 — REBCO Wire Mass Production20%
Pillar 2 — Ultra-High-Field Coil Technology20%
Pillar 3 — Test & Design Platform15%

※ Progress figures reflect the degree of completion as of January 2026 within the overall Project timeline (through 2035). Roughly one year after launch, foundational technologies, model-building, and test facility construction are all advancing on schedule.

🏆 Notable Achievements

Breaking away from conventional trial-and-error process development, the data-driven approach has already delivered a +28% improvement in baseline wire Je.

🔗 Collaboration & Partnership

Collaboration between academia and industry partners Gigaphoton and Faraday Factory Japan has gained momentum, accelerating joint development of HTS wire mass-production technology.

📅 Next Milestone

Drawing on JFCC microstructure analysis, optimization guidelines for the pinning structure are being finalized.

+28%
Je Improvement
(vs. baseline)
96%
Deposition Uniformity
(over 100 m wire)
4
ML Models
Developed & Validated
Wire Research Outcomes
  • 🤖Digital Factory Established: Kyushu University and Kawasuji (Gigaphoton) have integrated physics-based and data-driven AI models for REBCO deposition, achieving a prediction accuracy of R² = 0.92 from deposition parameters to wire properties.
  • 📊Inline Monitoring System: A real-time property estimation method for in-process monitoring has been developed and successfully validated in initial trials.
  • ❄️Liquid-Hydrogen (20 K) Property Database: Systematic Jc–B and mechanical property measurements of REBCO wire at 20 K have been completed and incorporated into design calculations.
  • 🔩Yield Enhancement: A defect-detection algorithm has cut the defect rate in 100 m wire production by 30%.
Upcoming Plans (FY2026)
  • 🎯Continue process optimization toward the intermediate Je ×1.5 target.
  • 📏Carry out inline monitoring demonstration tests on wire lengths exceeding 500 m.
  • 🏭Begin transferring Digital Factory technology to Gigaphoton's industrial production line.
  • 🔬Advance quantitative microstructural analysis of Je-improvement mechanisms in collaboration with JFCC.
3-Stack
Ceramic-Insulated
Prototype Coil Fabricated
97%
Quench Detection
Success Rate (Fiber-Optic)
Coil Research Outcomes
  • 🧲26 T Cryogen-Free Magnet Design Complete: Prof. Awaji's group at Tohoku University has finalized the detailed design of a 26 T liquid-H₂-cooled superconducting magnet and begun fabricating the coil components.
  • 🏗️Ceramic Insulation Coil: Prof. Akedo's group at AIST has successfully fabricated a 3-layer inorganic-insulated REBCO pancake coil by aerosol deposition (AD method), with neutron irradiation tests now in preparation.
  • 💡Quench Protection Technology: Prof. Hemmi's group at QST demonstrated a 97% detection success rate in proof-of-concept experiments using a fiber-optic temperature sensing and inductive voltage cancellation quench protection system.
  • 🔐Robust Coil Architecture: A numerical model of local delamination mechanisms has been developed and design guidelines for mitigating stress concentrations have been established.
Upcoming Plans (FY2026)
  • 🌡️Demonstration of superconducting magnet operation in a liquid-H₂ (20 K) cooling environment.
  • 📡Conduct neutron irradiation experiments on the ceramic insulation coil at J-PARC.
  • 🎯Begin the basic design of the 33 T-class coil (target completion: 2028).
500+
Materials Database
Entries Registered
3D
3D-Printed Prototype
Complex Structure Demonstrated
Test & Design Outcomes
  • 🏛️High-Field Test Facility: Kyushu University, QST, and Tohoku University have completed setup of a high-current (>10 kA), high-field test facility — establishing Japan's most advanced current-carrying test environment.
  • ❄️Liquid-Hydrogen Structural Materials Testing: Prof. Ono's group at NIMS has systematically measured the mechanical properties of superconducting coil structural materials at 20 K in liquid H₂, adding over 500 data entries to the database.
  • 🖨️3D Printing Technology: Prototype fabrication of high-strength, complex-geometry coil bobbins has demonstrated that ultra-high-strength components with geometries previously impossible to machine can now be produced.
  • 💻Topology Optimization: Prof. Uto's group at QST has performed topology optimization studies for REBCO coil integration in reactor design, achieving up to 18% reduction in peak stress compared with conventional designs.
Upcoming Plans (FY2026)
  • 🔭Prof. Kato's group at JFCC will conduct TEM microstructure analysis of irradiated REBCO to deepen understanding of irradiation-induced degradation mechanisms.
  • 🌐Open the materials database to consortium partners and external institutions, creating a shared platform for fusion reactor designers.
  • 🏋️Carry out mass-production evaluation tests for large, complex structural components using 3D printing.
  • ⚙️Continue infrastructure development toward completing a world-class test facility (>16.5 T, high current, fast excitation) by FY2027.
Timeline & Milestones

Technical Goals & Timeline

From the 2025 project launch through to societal deployment by 2050, the consortium advances technology in stages, progressively transferring know-how to industry.

2025
🚀 Kickoff Symposium
Feb. 14, 2025: The Moonshot Goal 10 Kickoff Symposium marked the official launch of the Project under the All-Japan Consortium. Data-driven research on wire development and high-field coil technology got underway.
Project Launch Research Begins
In Progress
⚗️ R&D Phase
REBCO wire Je improvement and mass-production process optimization proceed in parallel. Building on proven 25 T and 33 T cryogen-free magnet experience, 40 T-class coil technology is developed incrementally. Test facilities and a comprehensive materials database are brought online.
Wire Development 40 T Development Test Facility Setup
~2035
🏭 Technology Transfer to Industry
Mature technologies are transferred to industry: wire mass-production know-how to wire manufacturers, coil technology to heavy-electrical equipment makers, and broader deployment to startups and reactor manufacturers. A domestic supply chain spanning the full value chain is established.
Technology Transfer Industrialization
2050
🌟 Fusion Reactor Social Implementation
Compact, liquid-helium-free fusion reactors enter service, contributing to a carbon-neutral society. Japanese companies attain global leadership in the fusion energy market, and a vibrant, resource-unconstrained society in harmony with the environment becomes reality.
Social Implementation Moonshot Achieved
Impact & Significance

Expected Outcomes & Social Impact

This Project reaches well beyond energy — it strengthens Japan's industrial competitiveness and cements the country's status as a world leader in science and technology.

Contribution to Carbon Neutrality
Bringing fusion reactors into practical deployment by 2050 will secure a sustainable, clean primary energy supply and make a transformative contribution to achieving a carbon-neutral society.
Establishing Japan's Leadership in Global Markets
Completing a domestic supply chain from raw materials to full reactor systems will establish Japan's technological edge in the global fusion energy market.
Building Domestic Supply Chain
By transferring technology to wire manufacturers, heavy electrical companies, and startups, a thriving domestic fusion industry ecosystem will take shape.
New Market Development via He-Free Technology
Developing superconducting technology free from liquid-helium dependency will open doors to new markets — including diverse superconducting power systems well beyond the fusion sector.
Training of Highly Skilled Personnel
The All-Japan Consortium — combining university expertise with national research institute know-how — will serve as a pipeline for the next generation of highly skilled superconductivity and fusion specialists.
Developing World-Class Research Infrastructure
World-leading test facilities and materials databases will be developed and made openly accessible, giving reactor designers across Japan and beyond a shared research infrastructure to draw on.
🎯

Vision of Moonshot Goal 10

"By 2050, through the wide-ranging application of fusion energy, we will realize a vibrant society — freed from resource constraints and living in harmony with the global environment."
— This Project provides the foundational superconducting technology platform to make that vision a reality.

Publications

Publication List

Peer-reviewed articles, international conference proceedings, and review papers published by this project.

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Contact

Contact

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📋 Contact Information
We will review every message carefully and aim to respond within a few business days. Research Institution: Kyushu University Research Institute of Superconductor Science and Systems (744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka, Fukuoka 819-0395 — West 2 Building, Ito Campus)

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