The DONES Steering Committee is pleased to announce that Japan has joined Spain and Croatia in the DONES Programme
The DONES Steering Committee, the governing body overseeing the development of the Programme, is pleased to announce the successful completion of its 5th meeting, held on 20 May 2025 at the Centro Federico García Lorca in Granada. This significant event brought together representatives from 17 countries, EURATOM, and international fusion energy organizations (EUROfusion and F4E) to discuss the progress and future plans of the DONES Programme.
During this meeting, Japan joined Spain and Croatia as a Party to the Steering Committee, reaffirming its commitment to the development of the International Neutron Source facility in Escúzar (Granada).
Key sections of the agenda included a report on the progress of the Programme, presented by its manager, who also briefed attendees on the 2024 Annual Report. The report provided a summary of the programme’s accomplishments and milestones in 2024, which was favourably received by the participants.
Mr. Joaquin Sánchez provided an update on the recently established Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), outlining its composition and summarizing the outcomes of its first meeting, held on April 29th.
The discussions offered a comprehensive update on the DONES Programme, covering progress, team organization, governance documents, intellectual property rights for the operational phase, credit allocation, potential additional international contributions, and the current status of procurement. These updates contribute to ensuring transparency and efficiency in the management of this international initiative.
During the meeting, the Spanish delegation presented a proposal for a Multilateral IFMIF-DONES Agreement (MIDA). The proposed agreement is intended to enhance collaboration among the various stakeholders involved in the project, ensuring alignment and a shared commitment to common objectives. MIDA aims to establish a clear framework for decision-making, resource allocation, and overall project management.
The next meeting of the DONES Steering Committee will be held in the city of Granada on 21st October 2025.
At its fifth meeting, the DONES Steering Committee was attended by representatives from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Ukraine and Euratom.
