Dones Program strengthens its structure in Japan with new appointments and advisory committee

Representatives from 14 countries and the European Commission met to boost the development of the future Ifmif-Dones facility in Granada.

Generic image of a scientific diagram or technical blueprint in a modern laboratory.
IA

Generic image of a scientific diagram or technical blueprint in a modern laboratory.

The Dones Program Steering Committee held a strategic meeting in Misawa, Japan, with representatives from 14 countries, the European Commission, and Eurofusion, to consolidate governance and accelerate the development of the future Ifmif-Dones facility in Granada.

During the meeting, key appointments for the project's new phase were confirmed: a new program manager and a technical director. Additionally, the creation of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) was approved, a body that will provide independent advice and enhance the program's scientific and technical excellence.
The Steering Committee, comprising the five parties of the Dones Program, agreed to extend the observer status of several organizations for one year and welcomed the Polish consortium CeNTE as a new observer. The agenda focused on evaluating the program's overall progress, reviewing governance documents, and approving the 2025 Annual Report, which details technical, organizational, and scientific advancements.
Updates to key performance indicators and the recalibration of voting weights due to the program's expansion to five members were also addressed. Information was presented on the planning of future design reviews, the site licensing roadmap, and the main conclusions from the last STAC meeting, held in March.
Potential contributions from new international partners from countries such as Italy, Germany, and France, interested in joining the program's development, were also presented. The next meeting of the Dones Program Steering Committee will take place in Granada in October 2026, highlighting Spain's role as host of this strategic scientific infrastructure.