Separate firm for fusion energy mooted

The Institute for Plasma Research (IPR), Gandhinagar, which is developing India's first steady state plasma generator called Steady State Superconducting Tokamak (SST-I), has proposed the setting up of a separate company for commercialisation of fusion energy.

The proposal, put forth by professor P I John, rallies around the creation of a knowledge-based commercial entity, which would be a spin off from the Facilitation Centre for Industrial Plasma Technologies (FCIPT).

Under the plan, the entity will take up only profit-making activities and will be set up with IPR and designated faculty members of IPR holding equity.

Alternatively, IPR also proposes to invite reputed persons or senior faculty members to set up a Section 25 company. The entity would be manned by technical staff skilled in contract research and product engineering as well as marketing staff.

FCIPT, which is a centre of consolidation of activities related to technology development, demonstration, incubation and commercialisation, has established prototypes and pilot plans for industrial scale job working.

Currently, since FCIPT is not a commercial entity, it is unable to perform tasks like manufacturing and selling plasma reactors and equipment in an open manner.

Also, the expensive infrastructure and overheads are also cutting into potential profits for the institute.

"The staff, being primarily academic, is often motivated by the lure of research and publications and the profit motive becomes secondary. Commercial motivation becomes weak therefore performance has to be judged not by publications but by the balance sheet," said John.

Contract research and development of entities like the Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Defence Research and Development Organisation have been identified as important channels of revenue.

"By converting itself into a knowledge-based company, FCIPT can realise its full potential," added John.