This blog post discusses physicist Katherine Dunne’s contribution to the European Commission's consultation on the EU Fusion Strategy. By drawing on lessons from Nordic energy transitions, the author suggests that the EU Fusion Strategy should combine technological progress with meaningful democratic governance. To do this, she provides five key recommendations: building inclusive decision-making structures, strengthening supply chains, developing adaptive regulation, investing in public participation, and improving coordination across stakeholders.
The views expressed are personal and do not represent their employer’s position. The full submission is available here.
Nordic Lessons for European Fusion Development
Katherine Dunne
The European Commission's recent Call for Evidence on its Fusion Strategy is a real-world example of democratic governance in action. By inviting contributions from citizens, industry stakeholders, and experts, the Commission aims to use these inputs to shape effective strategy and viable commercialization.
This initiative embodies the principle that those affected by policy decisions should have meaningful opportunities to shape them.
My submission to the Commission drew on governance innovations from Nordic countries to address critical challenges in fusion commercialization, particularly around supply chain resilience and multi-stakeholder coordination.
Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, and their autonomous territories) have successfully managed complex energy transitions while maintaining both commercial competitiveness and democratic legitimacy. So, their experiences offer relevant insights for fusion development, as they demonstrate how to navigate the tensions between rapid technological deployment and inclusive decision-making processes.
Clear examples can be found in the Nordic approaches to resource governance in mining key minerals for the energy transition. Finland's Keliber lithium project - a development of one of Europe’s most substantial lithium deposits - was recently designated as strategic under the EU's Critical Raw Materials Act. The project has ongoing assessment of social and economic impacts, illustrating how regional resource development can address supply chain vulnerabilities while maintaining community support.
However, the region's experiences with mining governance also reveal the costs of inadequate stakeholder engagement. Mining projects that proceeded without proper consultation with Sami communities in Norway and Sweden have faced sustained opposition and legal challenges, ultimately delaying development and increasing costs.
These cases underscore that democratic participation is not just a procedural requirement, but is a practical necessity for sustainable fusion commercialization.
Key Recommendations for the EU Fusion Strategy
Based on these governance experiences and the specific challenges facing fusion commercialization, I outlined five interconnected recommendations for strengthening the EU strategy:
Establish formal multi-stakeholder governance structures. Including defined roles for private fusion companies, public research institutions, civil society organizations, and affected communities. This framework would address private sector concerns about exclusion from decision-making processes while maintaining democratic accountability and public interest representation.
Prioritise supply chain resilience through strategic development of European lithium resources. Ensuring both commercial viability and community benefit, particularly in Nordic regions with existing governance frameworks. A regional approach would reduce dependence on geopolitically unstable supply chains while creating local value chains that strengthen EU industrial capabilities.
Develop adaptive regulation. Building regulatory systems able to evolve alongside technological advancement without compromising safety. Regional pilot programs could test regulatory innovations before broader implementation, allowing for learning and adjustment while maintaining public protection.
Invest in democratic participation infrastructure. Investing in structured public consultation processes, community benefit-sharing mechanisms, and transparent decision-making procedures. While requiring more upfront resources, these measures would generate returns through reduced opposition, stronger social license, and improved long-term outcomes.
Create coordination mechanisms to respect public and private interests. Balancing competition and public research, while enabling knowledge sharing and resource optimization across regions and stakeholders would support innovation while maintaining alignment with public objectives.
Strengthening Fusion Governance Through Public Engagement
Reflecting on the Nordic experiences of energy transition suggests that successful navigation of these challenges requires more than just technical solutions or market mechanisms.
Sustainable fusion commercialization will depend on governance frameworks that maintain public trust, ensure equitable benefit distribution, and adapt to changing circumstances while preserving democratic accountability.
By incorporating lessons from regions that have successfully managed complex energy transitions, the EU can develop fusion governance approaches that accelerate commercialization while maintaining the democratic legitimacy essential for long-term success.
The current consultation process provides an opportunity to embed these governance considerations into the fusion strategy from the start, potentially avoiding the costly delays and opposition that have plagued other major energy infrastructure projects.
Katherine Dunne is group lead for experimental physics at a Swedish fusion company. Katherine moved from the US to Sweden in 2019 to pursue doctoral studies in physics at Stockholm University, completing her Licentiate degree. She started her role as an R&D physicist in 2023. Her interests in fusion extend beyond the technical challenges to encompass governance, workforce development, and ensuring fusion energy serves public purpose.
Connect with Katherine on LinkedIn.