Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit signals shift in Wisconsin

With grid-scale fusion power plants projected to come online in the early 2030s and the global market estimated to reach as much as $550 billion annually by the 2050s, Wisconsin’s role in the emerging sector continues to move from research to early-stage commercialization.

That shift will be on display May 5, when researchers, startups, investors and manufacturers gather in Madison for the Great Lakes Fusion Energy Summit, an event highlighting the region’s growing fusion energy industry.

The event reflects a broader effort to position Wisconsin and the Great Lakes region as a hub for fusion development, building on decades of research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and a manufacturing base that could support future supply chains.

That effort is supported in part by a $778,000 Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Ignite grant awarded to the Wisconsin Fusion Energy Coalition, led by the 5 Lakes Institute, which is working to build an ecosystem supporting fusion energy commercialization.

The coalition includes partners such as the Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce, the UW–Madison College of Engineering, the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, the Fiscal & Economic Research Center, the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the Wisconsin Procurement Institute’s WI APEX Accelerator program.

While fusion has long been viewed as a future energy source, the presence of startups and investors at the summit underscores a shift toward commercialization. Companies with ties to UW–Madison, including Realta Fusion, SHINE Technologies, Type One Energy and Xantho Technologies, represent early efforts to translate research into market-ready applications.

Summit sessions will focus on supply chain development, advanced manufacturing and the role the Great Lakes region could play in building a fusion industry, with participation from investors and corporate partners alongside academic researchers. Attendees will also have the opportunity to tour UW–Madison fusion labs and research facilities.

The event demonstrates collaboration across research institutions, startups and industry groups as Wisconsin looks to establish an early foothold in a developing global industry with significant growth potential.

The summit is free and open to the public. Registration for the summit is available here. Registration for the post-summit mixer is available here.