Starlight Engine Raises JPY 6.06 Billion for Fusion Project
Funding to accelerate FAST fusion project
Starlight Engine (SLE) has raised JPY 6.06 billion (approximately US$37.4 million) in its first external funding round. The investment will accelerate the company’s FAST fusion project, supporting its ambition to demonstrate fusion power generation during the 2030s.
“This funding round demonstrates an increasing confidence not only in our company, but also in the future of fusion energy,” Starlight Engine CEO Kiyotaka Kikuchi said. The new capital will allow us to accelerate numerous components of our FAST programme.
It aims to prove fusion power during the 2030s before reaching commercialisation. The funds will go toward engineering design, R&D, regulatory compliance, site assessment and supply chain construction.
Japan strengthens its fusion energy ambitions
Commercial fusion energy grows as governments and private companies invest in next-generation clean power technologies. In Japan, demonstrating fusion power generation during the 2030s has become a national strategic priority, supported by public and private sector initiatives.
FAST uses the tokamak reactor configuration which has the benefit of decades of global experience – including lessons learnt in international experiments such as ITER, and the Japanese government JT-60SA experiment.
The FAST team brings together the best of leading Japanese universities, government research institutions and companies to speed the commercialization of fusion energy. Engineering design has already moved past the conceptual design stage and preparations for the construction of the device are in hand.
Industry partnerships support long-term commercialisation
Starlight Engine builds a broad partnership network to support the development of a scalable fusion energy supply chain. Source: Created by Ventureburn
The fundraising attracted investors representing multiple sectors. The partners are Mitsui Fudosan, MUFG Bank, Mizuho Bank, KDDI Open Innovation Fund V, Fujikura, Furukawa Electric, Kyoto University Innovation Capital and international venture capital companies.
Starlight Engine is strengthening its ties beyond investment, with universities like The University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Tohoku University, Nagoya University, Kyushu University, and Keio University.
The company is also working alongside industrial partners such as Kyoto Fusioneering, Hitachi, Kajima Corporation, Marubeni Corporation, Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corporation and J-POWER to establish a domestic fusion supply chain capable of supporting future commercial power plants.
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Expansion plans focus on talent and future fusion plants
Starlight Engine announced a new executive team, a move intended to underpin the company’s next phase of growth. With engineering activity ramping up in the next couple of years, Starlight Engine expects to grow its team size to nearly 200.
The new investment follows previous joint research initiatives and partnerships, in an endeavor by Starlight Engine to prove the industry’s latest investment in bringing nuclear fusion from the lab to generating electricity for the public.
Starlight Engine’s strategy is to combine academic research, Japan’s robust manufacturing capabilities, and private investment to establish a clear leader in commercializing fusion power generation.
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