On October 5th and 6th, the DONES Hub, located at the IFMIF-DONES site in Escúzar (Granada), hosted the fourth meeting of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), one of the project's main international advisory bodies. During two intensive working days, committee members assessed the progress achieved by IFMIF-DONES and analyzed the scientific, technological, and organizational challenges that will shape the infrastructure's future development phases.
The meeting, chaired by Joaquín Sánchez, chair of the STAC, included participation from prominent experts from leading international scientific institutions such as CERN, ENEA, INFN, QST, GANIL, and Aposs. The DONES Joint Team presented the status of various project areas, addressing strategic aspects like the evolution of the DONES Program, risk planning and management, safety, project integration, accelerator systems, buildings and infrastructure, control systems, coordination of In-Kind Contributions, and the development of the scientific plan.
These sessions fostered an open and constructive dialogue between the committee and the project team, promoting the exchange of knowledge, experiences, and perspectives. This collaborative space proved particularly valuable for contrasting approaches, sharing best practices, and reinforcing the alignment of ongoing work with the strategic objectives of IFMIF-DONES.
IFMIF-DONES expresses its gratitude to all STAC members for their commitment, dedication, and continued support. We also recognize the effort and professionalism of the DONES Joint Team in preparing and conducting this meeting. The expertise, judgment, and recommendations from this international committee are an essential contribution to advancing the construction of a unique global scientific infrastructure, poised to play a key role in materials research for fusion energy and the future development of this clean and sustainable energy source.
