IFMIF-DONES successfully held on 20–21 May 2026the Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for Buildings 3.1 (Layout and Site Infrastructure), 3.2 (Main Building), and 3.3 (Auxiliary Buildings), marking a key milestone in the project’s progression towards the Final Design phase.

 

The review process, conducted in accordance with the programme governance framework and established design review procedures, confirmed the maturity of the current design and its alignment with technical, safety, and integration requirements across the facility.

The review panel included internationally recognised experts, notably Gaston Hanna (Fusion for Energy, F4E) and Irina Pavelic (European Spallation Source, ESS), together with key members of the IFMIF-DONES technical team.

 

The overall outcome of the review was highly satisfactory, highlighting the robustness and maturity of the design achieved at this stage.

The panel provided a set of constructive recommendations aimed at further strengthening the quality, consistency, and long-term performance of the scientific infrastructure.

At a high level, these recommendations focus on:

These contributions represent a strong foundation for the next phase, supporting continued design refinement and risk reduction as the project advances.

 

IFMIF-DONES would like to sincerely thank all Programme Team members involved in the extensive preparation effort, as well as the support engineering teams from Ayesa and UG21, whose work has been instrumental in achieving this successful outcome. This milestone reflects the strong collaboration, technical excellence, and commitment of all partners involved in the project.

 

Following the successful completion of this PDR, the project now moves into the Final Design phase, a decisive step that will enable on-site construction to begin in summer 2026, bringing IFMIF-DONES closer to reality.