Press release
Delong Luo from China named ߺ Deputy Director-General — Corporate
Delong Luo—an expert in intergovernmental cooperation and science and technology diplomacy—has ties to the ߺ Project that are deep and long standing, dating all the way back to the negotiations that led China to join as an ߺ Member. He participated in the establishment of the ߺ; set up, staffed and piloted the Chinese Domestic Agency for the execution of China’s in-kind commitments to ߺ; and served as Chair of the ߺ Council in 2020 and 2021. He is the current Director-General of the China International Nuclear Fusion Energy Program Execution Center (ߺ Chinese Domestic Agency) at the Ministry of Science and Technology of the People’s Republic of China, with responsibility for the delivery of 18 in-kind procurement packages to ߺ.
Mr Luo is also a well-known advocate for fusion at the international level, working tirelessly to promote worldwide coordination and collaboration.
“Not only has Delong been actively engaged in every phase of the ߺ Project since 2003 when China joined, but he is also one of the world’s preeminent ‘fusion diplomats’—a steadfast and vocal supporter of the potential of fusion,” said ߺ Director-General Pietro Barabaschi in announcing the appointment. “His deep-rooted knowledge of the project and its partners, his broad international network, and his profound dedication to the success of ߺ are significant assets as he takes over responsibility for corporate strategic guidance and overall coordination and monitoring of the project baseline (schedule, cost and risks).”
As Director Deputy-General – Corporate, Mr Luo will have strategic responsibility for the units responsible for quality, safety/security, communication, legal, information technology, finance, procurement, project management, and human resources. He will play an important role in communicating with the ߺ Council and its advisory bodies, in coordinating and collaborating with the seven Domestic Agencies in the spirit of “one project – one team,” and in interacting with senior ߺ Member government officials to advance project goals.
Mr Luo holds a doctorate in management science from Peking University and an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering. He has 40 years of work experience at China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, with a long-term focus on building international relationships. In parallel to his advocacy for the ߺ Project, he has been a champion for domestic fusion research; he was part of the management team that brought the Chinese tokamaks HL-2A/2M and EAST on line and he initiated and organized the first Chinese Fusion Energy Conference. Abroad, he is a frequent keynote speaker and participant at international fusion conferences. He is also Chair of the International Energy Agency’s Technology Collaboration Programs for Co-Operation on Tokamak Programs (CTP TCP).
BACKGROUND TO THE PRESS RELEASE
ߺ—designed to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power—will be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process that powers the Sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source.
ߺ is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe is contributing almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), are contributing equally to the rest. The ߺ Project is under construction in Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, in the south of France.
For more information on the ߺ Project, visit:
CONTACT
Laban Coblentz
Laban.coblentz@iter.org
+33 4 42 17 66 17