NARI Collaborates with Taiwan's Leading Plasma Experts to Launch Nuclear Fusion Technology Development
Published：2025-03-28 15:05
In the global drive toward clean and sustainable energy, the National Atomic Research Institute (NARI) is closely following international developments in nuclear fusion technology and remains committed to advancing fundamental research in this field. Since March 2023, with support from the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC), NARI has been collaborating with National Cheng Kung University (NCKU), National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), and the National Center for High-Performance Computing (NCHC) to carry out an integrated research project titled “Magnetic Confinement High-Temperature Plasma Research”, hereinafter referred to as “the Project”.
The Project aims to construct Taiwan's first small-scale spherical tokamak experimental device for research within four years. The device, named FIRST (Formosa Integrated Research Spherical Tokamak), will be installed on the NARI campus. Jointly designed and constructed by leading domestic experts in plasma science, FIRST represents a major step toward enhancing Taiwan's independent R&D capabilities in nuclear fusion technology through cross-disciplinary collaboration.
Phase I of the Project (March 2023 to February 2025) has been successfully completed, culminating in the finalization of the detailed design for the FIRST device. As the Project enters Phase II (March 2025 to February 2027), the focus will shift to the construction and related testing of the device, including the initiation of component procurement and assembly in 2025, with full system integration expected by 2026.
FIRST is expected to enter its operational testing phase in 2027, with research focusing on core technologies such as stable magnetic confinement and extended plasma confinement duration, while expanding Taiwan's research capacity and strengthening technological capabilities through sustained international collaboration. The construction and operation of FIRST mark a significant milestone in Taiwan's pursuit of fusion energy and serve as a vital platform for cultivating talent in fusion technology. These efforts lay a solid foundation for Taiwan to seamlessly align with future global breakthroughs in fusion—widely regarded as the “holy grail” of energy.
Illustration of FIRST,
Taiwan's First Small-Scale Spherical Tokamak Experimental Device.
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