Annie Kuo, Alpha Ring Vice President of Business Development and Communications – 21 January 2026
Recently, I had the privilege of joining my colleague, Alpha Ring’s Senior Scientist Dr Alex Gunn, on an unforgettable journey across Asia — a region whose innovation, expertise and scientific prowess are driving forward fusion technology.
Our Asia Roadshow began in Japan, before continuing to Singapore, representing an important milestone in the company’s global growth strategy. At every stop, one theme was clear: fusion innovation is global, collaborative, and deeply connected to education – and Alpha Ring is proud to be part of this dynamic community of innovators, educators and industry leaders.
Japan: A Week of Discovery, Partnership & Shared Vision
Japan was the first stop on our roadshow and an incredibly exciting one. As a country with a world-renowned culture of scientific excellence and innovation, Japan represents a key partner in our mission to make fusion education accessible, hands-on, and global.
Across Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka, and Tokyo, our team had the opportunity to meet with some of the nation’s leading academics, researchers, and policy thinkers, and to present the Alpha-E, our world-first tabletop fusion device designed for research, education, and talent development.
University Engagements: Bringing Fusion Directly to Classrooms and Labs
Our visit began at Kyushu University, where we met Professor Takanobu Kiss, Director of Research at the Institute of Superconductor Science and Systems and Japan’s Moonshot Program Project Manager. His work advancing superconducting technologies is shaping the future of fusion, and our discussions reinforced the huge potential for collaboration on both technical development and educational deployment.
Kyushu University, meeting Professor Takanobu Kiss
Next, in Osaka, we participated in a special conference organised by Professor Takashi Nakano, Director of the University’s Research Center for Nuclear Physics. From our lab in Gardena, California, we shared a live cloud-chamber demonstration with attendees – a powerful illustration of how Alpha-E enables hands-on fusion learning around the world. The energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm from those we met was inspiring, and reaffirmed the value of making fusion directly accessible to students and scientists.
University of Osaka, meeting Professor Takashi Nakano and researchers from across Japan
In Kyoto, we were grateful to meet with Professor Haruhiko Himura and Dr. Akio at the Kyoto Institute of Technology. Our conversations centred on Alpha-E’s applications in radiation testing and materials research – areas where Japan leads globally – and we left optimistic about the next steps in partnership development.
Engagement With Policymakers: Planning for Fusion’s Future
One of the most memorable moments of our trip was meeting Professor Heizo Takenaka, Japan’s former Finance Minister and Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications. We had the pleasure of hosting him at the Alpha Ring Clean Fusion Forum in Monaco earlier this year and his insights into Japan’s evolving national fusion strategy – now supported across government, academia, and industry – were invaluable. His commitment to strengthening collaboration among Japan’s fusion leaders is deeply aligned with Alpha Ring’s vision of advancing global fusion cooperation.
Annie Kuo and Dr Alex Gunn with Japan’s former Finance Minister, Professor Heizo Takenaka at Kyoto Institute of Technology
FusionXInvest Tokyo: A Regional Hub of Ideas and Innovation
Our week in Japan concluded at FusionXInvest in Tokyo (APAC 2025), where industry leaders, researchers, and innovators from across the region gathered to discuss the future of fusion commercialization and talent development.
As we wrapped up our time in Japan, I felt genuinely inspired by the country’s readiness to shape the next phase of fusion’s future. The partnerships forged here will, we hope, carry forward into exciting opportunities.
Singapore: Deepening Connections in Fusion Science 🇸🇬
Our Asia Roadshow continued in Singapore, where the Alpha Ring team visited Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and met Professors Xavier Garbet and Zhisong Qu from the Department of Plasma Physics.
NTU’s plasma lab, established in 2022 under Professor Garbet’s leadership, is advancing theoretical fusion science with remarkable speed. With Professor Garbet’s connection to the ITER project in France and Singapore’s emphasis on innovation, the country is positioning itself as an emerging hub for fusion research.
Our discussions explored how Alpha-E can support Singapore’s growing interest in fusion, contribute to national talent development, and strengthen international scientific collaboration. The potential for partnership – built on shared curiosity and a clear vision for the future – felt real and exciting.
Visiting Nanyang Technological University Singapore (NTU) in Singapore
Our senior scientist Alexander Gunn, Ph.D. also represented Alpha Ring as a panellist on the Education & Workforce Development panel in Singapore, spotlighting the global need for scalable fusion education solutions.
Dr Alexander Gunn addressing the Education & Workforce Development panel in Singapore
Looking Ahead: Fusion Education as a Global Movement
What stood out most during our Asia Roadshow was the shared belief – across countries, universities, labs, and policy circles – that fusion must be made accessible to students, researchers, and innovators everywhere.
This belief is at the heart of Alpha Ring’s mission. It’s why we built the Alpha-E. And it’s why we’re committed to expanding our engagement across Asia.
Our meetings in Japan and Singapore have opened doors to important, long-term collaborations that will help shape the next generation of fusion talent – a generation that will ultimately drive the world toward clean, safe, abundant energy.
We are tremendously grateful to all those who welcomed us, shared insights, and explored possibilities for partnership and collaboration. This Asia Roadshow is just beginning, and we look forward to continuing this journey with our partners across the region.
