Santander, October 2026.
AVANCEM, an advanced engineering company belonging to MADEMAN GROUP, participates in the European EUROfusion FUTTA initiative with its Fusion2SpaceRF project, aimed at transforming technology developed for fusion energy research into new industrial solutions for the space sector.
The project provides for funding of 50,000 euros, supplemented by AVANCEM’s own resources, and a planned implementation period of six months.
The initiative forms part of FUTTA (Fusion Technology Transfer Activities), a mechanism designed to encourage the transfer of technologies and knowledge developed within the European fusion research programme to commercial applications in other sectors.
Why transfer fusion technology to space?
Experimental fusion reactors use high-power microwave systems to heat and control the plasma. This energy is transported using specialised components known as corrugated circular waveguides, capable of transmitting electromagnetic signals with high performance.
The National Fusion Laboratory at CIEMAT (LNF-CIEMAT) has developed advanced knowledge of these technologies within the European EUROfusion programme.
This knowledge is the starting point for Fusion2SpaceRF.
The aim is to study how these solutions, originally conceived for fusion facilities, can be adapted to systems used in radio astronomy and ground stations for deep-space communications.
These applications also need to transmit microwave signals with high precision and low losses, and offer an opportunity to develop new European industrial capabilities.
What will the 50,000 euros be used for?
During the planned six-month implementation period, AVANCEM will work on developing a corrugated waveguide technology demonstrator adapted to space applications.
The project covers specialised scientific advice, adapting the design to industrial processes, manufacturing a prototype and subsequently characterising and validating it.
The commercial potential of the technology, the requirements of future customers and opportunities to protect and exploit the knowledge developed will also be studied.
The purpose is to progress from an initial technological feasibility stage to a manufactured and evaluated demonstrator, enabling preparation for subsequent stages of industrial development.
European funding will be supplemented by technical staff, facilities and equipment from AVANCEM and MADEMAN GROUP.
Collaboration between research and industry
Fusion2SpaceRF draws on the knowledge developed by LNF-CIEMAT and AVANCEM’s capabilities in mechanical engineering, precision manufacturing, vacuum technologies and dimensional inspection.
The project also builds on the work begun with CORWAVE, AVANCEM’s initiative focused on transferring and industrialising corrugated waveguides for fusion energy applications.
While CORWAVE addresses the development of industrial capabilities for these technologies in the fusion field, Fusion2SpaceRF aims to explore their adaptation to new markets, particularly radio astronomy and space communications.
The proposal has technical support from LNF-CIEMAT and expressions of interest from organisations such as the Applied Electromagnetics Group at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Observatorio de Yebes.
European technology with new industrial opportunities
Technology transfer between sectors offers an opportunity to build on scientific investments and turn their results into new products and business capabilities.
For AVANCEM, Fusion2SpaceRF represents a step in its strategy to evolve from engineering and manufacturing specialised components towards developing its own technologies for international markets.
Through this initiative, AVANCEM seeks to connect European fusion energy research with new space applications, contributing to the development of technological and industrial capabilities from Cantabria.
