VELIZY-VILLACOUBLAY, France, Jun 29, 2026 — Dassault Systèmes announced it has entered into a new, £30 million contract with UK Fusion Energy Ltd (UKFE) to support the delivery of the UK’s first prototype fusion power plant through the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) programme.
UKFE’s fusion energy expertise combines with Dassault Systèmes’ virtual twin and collaborative innovation technologies to strengthen the UK’s position in the global race toward clean energy leadership. The deployment and expansion of Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform will provide the digital engineering foundations needed to design, develop and operate next-generation fusion power plants and research facilities.
STEP, the UK Government’s flagship fusion energy programme, aims to design and build the world’s first prototype fusion power plant by 2040. As part of the agreement, Dassault Systèmes will expand product lifecycle management and engineering collaboration capabilities through the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, a core component of STEP’s Plant Information Management System (PIMS).
The platform will provide a unified engineering environment enabling programme teams and supply chain partners to collaborate using shared, real-time data across the full lifecycle of the plant. By improving information continuity and reducing operational silos, the collaboration is expected to enhance engineering productivity, reduce programme risk and support efficient delivery against STEP’s ambitious timeline.
The agreement also marks a significant milestone in establishing the UK’s sovereign digital capability for fusion energy infrastructure. The Dassault Systèmes 3DEXPERIENCE platform will lay the foundations for STEP’s long-term virtual twin strategy, enabling engineers to model, simulate, test and optimise highly complex fusion systems in virtual environments before and throughout physical construction and operations.
Leveraging virtual twin experiences, engineers will be able to address the intricate multi-physics challenges associated with fusion energy development while improving engineering accuracy, operational readiness and lifecycle performance. The digital framework will also support the evolution of STEP through detailed design, construction, commissioning and future operations by aligning all stakeholders around a standardised and connected engineering environment.
Debbie Kempton, Director of Engineering Programme at UK Fusion Energy Ltd, said: “This agreement marks an important milestone in the evolution of the information baseline for the STEP Prototype Fusion Power Plant at West Burton. PIMS, powered by the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, will play a critical role in enabling fast, efficient and rigorous engineering delivery while creating the blueprint for future fusion power plants. We are pleased to continue our collaboration with Dassault Systèmes as we work together toward the future of fusion energy.”
As the programme advances from scientific research toward industrial-scale delivery, the agreement will help ensure that the high-value intellectual property and engineering expertise generated through STEP remain strategic national assets while creating a scalable digital blueprint for future fusion power plant deployment worldwide.
“As we advance toward a virtual twin for STEP through the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, UKFE is establishing the digital engineering foundations required to deliver the next generation of fusion power plants,” said John Turnbull, Managing Director EURONORTH, Dassault Systèmes. “This deployment will strengthen engineering continuity, accelerate innovation and ensure that plant information, engineering decisions and system designs remain fully connected across the entire lifecycle of the prototype power plant. Together with UKFE, we are building the digital framework needed to transform the UK’s scientific leadership in fusion into an industrial and commercial reality.”
Dassault Systèmes’ role within STEP reflects its broader focus on enabling the industrialisation of transformative technologies through science-based virtual twin experiences that connect research, engineering, manufacturing and operations within a single collaborative ecosystem.
About Dassault Systèmes
Dassault Systèmes is a catalyst for human progress. Since 1981, the company has pioneered virtual worlds to improve real life for consumers, patients and citizens. Through the 3DEXPERIENCE platform, AI-powered, science-based virtual twins help 390,000 customers of all sizes, in all industries, collaborate, imagine and create sustainable innovations that drive meaningful impact. For more information, visit: www.3ds.com
