Can Fusion Be the Next General-Purpose Technology? Theory, Policy, Practice, and Politics Perspectives on Stewarding Fusion Energy Research

The recent breakthrough of a net energy gain from a fusion reaction renders tangible several avenues for fusion energy. This article argues that fusion has the potential to be the next General-Purpose Technology (GPT) due to its several non-electricity applications. Following the evolutionary theory of technological change, this paper analyzes the evolution of fusion technologies at two different levels. At the micro level, this paper analyzes a possible evolution path for the fusion industry and for other industries that will be impacted by the developments of fusion, such as transportation and aerospace. At the macro level, this paper analyzes a possible evolution path for the diffusion of fusion within each national innovation system and across countries, a global commission. Both levels of analysis share the need for managed co-opetition via open science, where competitors cooperate under the supervision of national or international agencies. This article concludes with several perspectives that provide insightful contributions for policymakers, practitioners, and politicians interested in understanding how the evolution of fusion technologies will likely affect the funding of research and development and the direction and progress of technological change, and it illustrates the dynamic relation between a GPT and economic growth.