NJ HAX Plasma Forge, a new strategic innovation center, is coming to the Princeton area

New Jersey is forging ahead with plans to create a new Strategic Innovation Center for plasma research, thanks to a new partnership between the New Jersey Economic Development Authority (NJEDA), venture capital firm SOSV and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL). 

The NJ HAX Plasma Forge will combine PPPL’s cutting-edge research with SOSV’s strong track record in investment to help launch and grow startups focused on plasma technology, promoting industry collaboration and bringing new technologies to market.

“PPPL brings world-class talent and capabilities and is uniquely positioned to drive innovation in the state and the nation,” said Steve Cowley, Laboratory director. “Partnering with SOSV and NJEDA will expand our scientific footprint, enabling our expertise to drive economic development and advance new technologies. This is an exciting new chapter for the Laboratory.”

The announcement was made at a two-day summit on planning supply chains for future fusion power plants. Held at Rutgers University on June 17 and 18, the summit was jointly planned by the Fusion Industry Association (FIA), the Stellar Energy Foundation and PPPL. Speakers included representatives from all three organizations, private fusion companies such as Thea Energy and Commonwealth Fusion Systems and public groups like NJEDA and the New Jersey state government. 

The NJ HAX Plasma Forge will be located close to PPPL and feature approximately 10,000 square feet of lab and co-working space. It will act as a Strategic Innovation Center for low-temperature plasma research, which is essential to advancing semiconductor manufacturing processes and fusion supply chain development. 

“Under Governor Murphy’s leadership, New Jersey is partnering with inventive entrepreneurs, world-class academic institutions and private sector experts to strengthen the state’s position as a leader in innovation,” said NJEDA CEO Tim Sullivan. “With the support of the NJEDA’s Strategic Innovation Center initiative, entrepreneurs will be able to harness transformative advances in plasma research to create businesses that drive this exciting industry forward and further the state’s ambitious clean energy and energy resiliency goals.”

Planning for the future of fusion

Determining supply chain processes for fusion energy must be considered now, experts said at the two-day summit. “Thinking about the fusion supply chain is a really important part of making sure that fusion will be cost-effective at a commercial scale,” said Andrew Holland, founding CEO of FIA, a nonprofit organization of private companies helping advance commercial fusion energy. 

Holland also mentioned that a 2025 FIA report notes that the fusion supply chain would benefit from having fusion companies concentrated in one place to replicate the success of Silicon Valley for computers and Detroit for cars. 

In recent years, interest in fusion energy has intensified. Private investors have invested billions of dollars into private fusion ventures, and scientists have developed new technologies — including high-temperature superconducting magnets, artificial intelligence and innovative materials — that have aided the design of new fusion machines and improved the operation of current facilities. “The so-called common knowledge about fusion being too difficult to achieve is outdated,” Holland said. “Things have changed.”

Northeast as fusion hub

Participants shared many reasons why the Northeast would be suitable for a fusion energy hub. First, there are well-established fusion research programs at Princeton University and Columbia University, as well as PPPL, one of DOE’s 17 national laboratories. These programs help scientists develop a deep theoretical understanding of plasma, the energetic state of matter that fuels fusion reactions. That knowledge helps engineers to create technology that makes fusion reactions more efficient.

In addition, the region has a large population of highly educated workers, a well-developed transit system, large ports, available financial capital and a burgeoning private fusion ecosystem that includes companies like Thea Energy in New Jersey and Commonwealth Fusion Systems in Massachusetts. “I think there’s a real opportunity here for an economic engine that can really get things moving,” Holland said.

PPPL is ready to help build that engine. “We are committed to using our scientific and engineering expertise to help fusion move from a research to a commercial endeavor,” said David Zimmerman, PPPL’s strategic partnership officer and a key organizer of the summit alongside Chantal Badre, PPPL’s chief of staff. “Developing the fusion supply chain is an important part of this mission. Specifically, PPPL’s assistance will help to support job creation and U.S. energy independence.”  

New Jersey is poised to be an ideal location for a fusion industry hub with its central location potentially attractive to tristate workers, a rich history of manufacturing, and an exceptionally high density of scientists and engineers. It has a rich history of manufacturing, an exceptionally high density of scientists and engineers, and a central location that could be attractive to workers in the tristate area. It features Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Station, a decommissioned fission nuclear power plant that already has the infrastructure necessary for developing a fusion facility, including electrical grid connections capable of handling high-power loads. New Jersey is also building a supportive legislative environment by developing tax credits and permitting processes to attract fusion companies, as well as writing legislation that would classify fusion as a clean energy source like solar and wind. 

Getting a head start

The private fusion industry has seen rapid growth within the past few years. Attendees emphasized it’s not too early to consider how to source the materials needed for fusion power plants. Private companies have already begun planning for the powerful magnets, specialized metal alloys and relatively rare elements like tritium that fusion power plants will need. “It’s important to start now to determine how to get all of those components so there won’t be bottlenecks in the future,” said Jesse Treu, CEO of the Stellar Energy Foundation, a nonprofit focused on helping advance the quest for fusion energy. 

Part of the supply chain planning process involves public-private partnerships. While private investment is important, the participants noted that the government can accelerate progress by contributing more significant funding, perhaps through established programs like the Innovation Network for Fusion Energy, a DOE initiative. 

Role of national laboratories

As the fusion industry moves from the lab to the marketplace, summit attendees argued that the national laboratory system still has an important role. They believe national laboratories ought to build more test stands — shared research facilities that allow private companies to test the viability of their prototypes, just as government-operated wind tunnels help aerospace companies test their latest designs. 

“There’s a clear national priority right now to expand our energy sector, and as a U.S. national lab, PPPL is here to help with such priorities,” said Cowley. “It’s crucial for the success of the U.S. manufacturing base and the economy as a whole to reduce the cost of energy.”

The fusion industry could aid the development of a commercial fusion sector by engaging with the public to explain this safe energy alternative. “Just as it’s important for the public to learn more about the exciting developments happening in fusion, private companies should learn about public sentiment,” said Sam Wurzel, founder of Fusion Energy Base, an organization that follows fusion companies, supply chains and jobs. “What opportunities are there for local communities to engage with the fusion researchers and fusion companies? How are fusion companies facilitating those connections? I think these are important questions for the fusion industry to ask itself, and they will become more important as commercial fusion comes closer to fruition.”

PPPL is mastering the art of using plasma — the fourth state of matter — to solve some of the world’s toughest science and technology challenges. Nestled on Princeton University’s Forrestal Campus in Plainsboro, New Jersey, our research ignites innovation in a range of applications, including fusion energy, nanoscale fabrication, quantum materials and devices, and sustainability science. The University manages the Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, which is the nation’s single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences. Feel the heat at https://energy.gov/science and http://www.pppl.gov.  

B. Rose Huber and Rachel Kremen contributed to this story.