Strategic Themes

Massachusetts has world-class research, a skilled workforce, and a history of innovation. To translate these strengths into real benefits-clean energy, economic growth, and energy security—we must connect our assets, align our policies, and work together with communities and partners. These four strategic themes provide the foundation for action.

1. State Leadership and Coordination

Build the institutional capacity to evaluate opportunities and coordinate action. Advanced nuclear and fusion intersect with energy planning, economic development, infrastructure, regulation, workforce, and community priorities. Massachusetts can strengthen its readiness by coordinating these activities across state institutions while maintaining alignment with regional and federal partners.

Priority Areas:

• Integrated energy and economic planning
• Regulatory, permitting, and siting readiness
• State and regional coordination
• Federal engagement and alignment
• Implementation and governance capacity

2. Shared Research Infrastructure

Connect research, testing, demonstration, and workforce capabilities. Massachusetts has significant capabilities across universities, research reactors, fusion research and demonstration, advanced manufacturing, computing, and other specialized facilities. Better connecting these assets—and selectively expanding shared infrastructure—can accelerate technology development while strengthening education and workforce readiness.

Priority Areas:

• Research reactors and specialized test facilities
• Materials, irradiation, testing, and characterization
• Modeling, simulation, computation, and data
• Demonstration and incubation infrastructure
• Experiential workforce education and training

3. Partnerships and Investment

Connect innovation to industry, capital, supply chains, and markets. Massachusetts is exceptionally strong in research and technology innovation. Capturing the broader economic opportunity will require stronger connections among universities, technology developers, manufacturers, utilities, investors, national laboratories, government, and regional partners.

Priority Areas:

• Industry–university–government partnerships
• Technology demonstration and commercialization
• Advanced manufacturing and supply-chain development
• Investment attraction and project development
• Regional, national, and international collaboration

4. Public and Community Engagement

Support informed decisions through credible information and sustained dialogue. Public engagement should begin before individual projects or siting decisions emerge. Communities and stakeholders need access to credible information, opportunities to ask questions, and meaningful ways to participate in decisions that may affect them.

Priority Areas:

• Accessible public information and transparency
• Education and stakeholder outreach
• Environmental justice and community priorities
• Project- and site-specific engagement when appropriate
• Sustained two-way dialogue and feedback