National Institute for Space Research (INPE)
Brazil’s INPE developed the ETE spherical tokamak. Its fusion research began in 1986; the profile distinguishes historical experiments from the gradual CNEN transition.
Official company website ↗Read the Japanese originalResearch; achievements and plans distinguished in the text
- COUNTRY
- Brazil
- TECHNOLOGY
- Spherical tokamak and plasma diagnostics
- FOUNDED
- 1971
- FUNDING
- Not verified
This is a general development-stage reference. This company's or project's precise stage is unconfirmed, so no position is assigned. Development pathways vary by technology and business.
Why a space institute conducts fusion research
The Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais (INPE) traces its institutional roots to GOCNAE in 1961. INPE was established in 1971 and received its current name in 1990. Its fusion work has a separate timeline: the official account dates it to 1986 at the former Associated Plasma Laboratory (LAP). Institutional origins should not be substituted for the start of fusion research.[1][2]
Space, atmospheric and laboratory plasma research share diagnostic, computational and engineering capabilities. INPE is best understood here as a research base that developed domestic experimental expertise, not a fusion power-plant business. Former LAP activities have been absorbed into COPDT, the applied research and technology-development coordination; the historical laboratory should not be listed as a separate current corporation.[2]
ETE: designed and built in Brazil
The Experimento Tokamak Esférico (ETE) is a low-aspect-ratio tokamak designed and built at INPE during the 1990s, with its first discharge in November 2000. Aspect ratio describes the relationship between a plasma’s major and minor radii. A low value corresponds to a thick torus with a relatively small central opening—not an electrical efficiency or power rating.[2]
ETE’s aims include low-aspect-ratio plasma physics, hot-plasma diagnostics and contributions to international fusion research. Building a machine, measuring discharges and comparing them with calculations develops interconnected capabilities in sensors, data acquisition, vacuum, power, controls and simulation. A first discharge, however, is not demonstration of burning plasma or net electricity.
A gradual transfer from INPE to CNEN
INPE’s August 2025 description states that fusion activities are being progressively transferred to the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) under Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation guidance. CNEN coordinates domestic fusion collaboration and network reactivation. The two institutions should not be counted as wholly independent commercial reactor developers working on the same activity.[2]
A cooperation extension running from October 10, 2026 to October 10, 2027 provides for provisional Nuclear Fusion Laboratory (LFN) activities at INPE’s ETE location until CNEN’s permanent Iperó facilities become available. It does not establish that relocation is complete. An active agreement also does not prove that ETE is conducting daily plasma shots. Cooperation, physical location and operational status are separate questions.[3]
Passing research capability forward
INPE’s contribution includes accumulated knowledge of spherical-tokamak equipment, diagnostics, computation and training. During an institutional transition, the substantive issue is preservation of expertise, data, education and international collaboration—not simply a change of name.
Brazil’s record should distinguish ETE’s historical experiments, the provisional cooperation framework and CNEN’s future facilities. Photographs of ETE do not depict a completed replacement facility or power reactor. This distinction makes visible the domestic capacity-building role that a comparison focused only on ambitious power-plant announcements would miss.
Primary sources
[1] https://www.gov.br/inpe/pt-br/acesso-a-informacao/institucional/historia [2] https://www.gov.br/inpe/pt-br/area-conhecimento/pesquisa-aplicada-e-desenvolvimento-tecnologico/laboratorios-banco-de-testes-grupos-p-d/fusao-nuclear [3] https://www.gov.br/inpe/pt-br/area-conhecimento/relacoes-institucionais/cooperacoes-nacionais
Companies DATA
- Country
- Brazil
- Region
- South America
- Year established
- 1971
- Company category
- National research institute
- Approach / reactor type
- Spherical tokamak and plasma diagnostics
- Development stage
- Research; achievements and plans distinguished in the text
Check the official information
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