Representatives from Vale joined colleagues from South Oxfordshire District Council last week for an inspection of Culham Campus, aimed at gaining insights into the scientific and technological research activities conducted at the facility.
The site has served as a hub for fusion research since 1965 and currently operates as the most extensive fusion technology cluster in the region.
Prior to its current function, the location operated as the Royal Naval Air Station HMS Hornbill. In the late 1950s, the UK Atomic Energy Authority selected the area to establish its fusion research laboratory.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority functions as the national research body responsible for advancing fusion energy technology.
Its research portfolio encompasses the MAST Upgrade experiment, the JET facility, and STEP—an initiative designed to expedite fusion energy deployment, with the goal of constructing a prototype power plant.
Additionally, the campus accommodates the Culham Innovation Centre, which provides assistance to emerging and established companies operating in the science and technology sectors.
The centre provides specialized office facilities and business advisory services to facilitate company growth.