California Fusion Energy Convening 2025
Fusion in the Golden State
California is home to the largest fusion ecosystem in the United States. In addition to hosting the largest fusion laboratories in the nation, more than one quarter of all U.S. fusion energy startups are headquartered in California. The Golden State’s rapidly developing supply chain bolsters the state’s fusion credentials, while globally recognized academic programs in fusion science and engineering create an unmatched talent pipeline.
Recognizing the potential for fusion to transform the energy sector, California’s state government has made significant incentives available to the fusion community to attract investments, support job growth, and expand the state’s growing fusion energy economy.
First Statewide Convening on Fusion Energy
General Atomics, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and the University of California San Diego invite you to the first statewide convening of the California fusion energy ecosystem.
In collaboration with the University of California's Office of the President, the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz), and the California Energy Commission, the 2025 convening will showcase everything California has to offer. Join us for an in-depth overview of California’s fusion energy landscape, including recent legislation supporting the fusion industry, programs and resources available through state agencies, and spotlights on emerging regional hubs for fusion innovation.
LOCATION
The event will be held at the UC San Diego Park & Market. 1100 Market St. San Diego, CA 92101
SPEAKERS
Dr. Timothy Akers
Associate Provost for Academic Research
California State University, San Bernardino
Mr. Errol Arkilic
Chief Innovation Officer
Irvine Beall Applied Innovation
Ms. Brenda Bass
Legislative Advocate, KP Public Affairs
Dr. Michl Binderbauer
CEO
TAE Technologies
Hon. Catherine Blakespear
California Senate
Mr. Trelynd Bradley
Deputy Director, Innovation & Emerging Technologies
California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development
Dr. Kim Budil
Director
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Hon. Anna Caballero
California Senate
Mr. Brandon Cardwell
Director, Innovation and Economic Development, City of Livermore
Ms. Nikia Clarke
Chief Strategy Officer
San Diego Economic Development Corporation
Dr. Robert Crockett
Interim Dean, College of Engineering
California Polytechnic State University
Hon. Noemi Otilia Osuna Gallardo
Commissioner
California Energy Commission
Prof. Javier Garay
Founding Director, Fusion Engineering Institute
Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San Diego
Mr. Tom Gibbs
Manager, Developer Relations
Nvidia
Dr Sehila M. Gonzalez de Vicente
Global Director, Fusion Energy
Clean Air Task Force
Dr. Scott Hsu
Fusion Partner
Lowercarbon Capital
Mr. Andrew Holland
Chief Executive Officer
Fusion Industry Association
Dr. Anantha Krishnan
Senior Vice President, Energy Group
General Atomics
Mr. Jeff Lawson
CEO, Inertia Enterprises Inc
Mr. Steve Lockett
Deputy Director, Economic Development & Prosperity
County of San Diego
Dr. Tammy Ma
Director, Livermore Institute for Fusion Technology
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Dr. Theresa A. Maldonado
Vice President for Research & Innovation
University of California, Office of the President
Dr. Julianne McCall
CEO
California Coalition for Science and Technology
Mr. John McMillan
Assistant Vice President, Economic Development
San Diego State University
Hon. Jerry McNerney
California Senate
Dr. Edward Moses
CEO
Longview Fusion Energy Systems
Dr. Morgan Pattison
R&D Partnerships Lead
Blue Laser Fusion
Prof. Albert P. Pisano
Dean
Jacobs School of Engineering
UC San Diego
Mr. Evan Polisar
Director of Government Affairs, Energy Group
General Atomics
Dr. Gregory Smith
Chancellor, San Diego Community College District
Mr. Erik Stokes
Chief of Staff
Office of California Energy Commissioner Noemí Gallardo
Dr. Will Regan
Co-Founder and President
Pacific Fusion
Dr. Wayne Solomon
Vice President for Magnetic Fusion Energy, Energy Group
General Atomics
Dr. Thom Mason
Director
Los Alamos National Laboratory
Mr. Bibake Uppal
Head of KF America
Kyoto Fusioneering America
Mr. Eduardo Velasquez
Sr. Director, Research & Economic Development
San Diego Economic Development Corporation
Ms. Robin Wong
Partnerships Coordinator, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
Dr. Frank Wuerthwein
Director
San Diego Supercomputer Center
UC San Diego
Dr. Michael Witherell
Lawrence Berkeley National
Laboratory
AGENDA
| Thursday, November 13, 2025 | ||||
| Start | End | Topic | ||
| 7:30 AM | 8:30 AM | Registration, Coffee, and Networking | ||
| 8:30 AM | 8:45 AM | Welcome Al Pisano, Dean, Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San Diego Anantha Krishnan, Senior Vice President, General Atomics Kim Budil, Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
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| 8:45 AM | 8:50 AM | Opening Remarks Theresa Maldanado, Vice President for Research & Innovation, University of California Office of the President |
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| 8:50 AM | 9:10 AM | Session To Be Announced | ||
| 9:10 AM | 9:15 AM | Hon. Noemí Otilia Osuna Gallardo, Commissioner, California Energy Commission| | ||
| 9:15 AM | 10:00 AM | The State Fusion Landscape: Accelerating Fusion in California Moderated by: Brenda Bass, Legislative Advocate, KP Public Affairs - Hon. Catherine Blakespear (CA SD-38) - Hon. Anna Caballero (CA SD-14) - Hon. Jerry McNerney (CA SD-05) |
||
| 10:00 AM | 10:05 AM | Speaker To Be Announced | ||
| 10:05 AM | 10:20 AM | A Global Overview of the Private Fusion Energy Industry and California’s Key Role in Growing the Industry |
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| 10:15 AM | 10:45 AM | Coffee + Networking Break | ||
| 10:45 AM | 11:30 AM | Spotlight on Public Facilities: Anchors of the Fusion Ecosystem Moderated by: Julianne McCaul, CEO, California Coalition for Science and Technology - Kim Budil, Director, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Anantha Krishnan, Senior Vice President, General Atomics - Thomas Mason, Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory - Mike Witherell, Director, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory |
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| 11:30 AM | 12:30 PM | Developing the California Workforce: Views from the Academic Sector Moderated by: John McMillan, Assistant Vice President of Economic Development, San Diego State University - Timothy Akers, Associate Provost for Academic Research, California State University, San Bernardino - Errol Arklic, Executive Director, Irvine Beall Applied Innovation, University of California - Robert Crockett, Interim Dean, College of Engineering, California Polytechnic State University - Gregory Smith, Chancellor, San Diego Community College District |
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| 12:30 PM | 1:30 PM | Lunch Break Sehila M. Gonzalez de Vicente, Global Director, Fusion Energy, Clean Air Task Force |
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| 1:30 PM | 1:45 PM | Results of 2025 San Diego Economic Development Corporation Fusion Energy Study Eduardo Velasquez, Senior Director for Research and Economic Development, San Diego Economic Development Corporation |
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| 1:45 PM | 2:30 PM | Spotlight on California Startups: Opportunities in the Golden State Moderated by: Scott Hsu, Fusion Partner, Lowercarbon Capital - Michl Binderbauer, CEO, TAE Technologies - Ed Moses, Founder and CEO, Longview Fusion Systems - Mr. Bibake Uppal, Head of KF America Kyoto Fusioneering America - Will Regan, Co-Founder and President, Pacific Fusion |
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| 2:30 PM | 3:30 PM | The Future of Fusion in California: Deep Dive into California Resources Trelynd Bradley, Deputy Director, Innovation and Emerging Technologies, California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development Erik Stokes, Chief of Staff, Office of California Energy Commissioner Noemí Gallardo |
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| 3:30 PM | 4:00 PM | Coffee + Networking Break | ||
| 4:00 PM | 4:45 PM | Spotlight on San Diego: Case Study in Collaboration Moderated by: Al Pisano, Dean, Jacobs School of Engineering, UC San Diego - Nikia Clarke, Chief Strategy Officer, San Diego Economic Development Corporation - Javier Garay, Founding Director, Fusion Engineering Institute, UC San Diego - Steve Lockett, Deputy Director, Economic Development & Prosperity, County of San Diego - Wayne Solomon, Vice President, Magnetic Fusion Energy, General Atomics - Frank Wuerthwein, Director, San Diego Supercomputer Center, UC San Diego |
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| 4:45 PM | 5:30 PM | Spotlight on the San Francisco Bay: Case Study in Local Engagement Moderated by: Tammy Ma, Director, Livermore Institute for Fusion Technology, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Brandon Cardwell, Director, Innovation and Economic Development, City of Livermore - Tom Gibbs, Developer Relations, Nvidia - Robin Wong, Partnerships Coordinator, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory - Jeff Lawson's, CEO, Inertia Enterprises Inc - Morgan Pattison, R&D Partnerships Lead, Blue Laser Fusion |
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| 5:30 PM | Closing Remarks Theresa Maldanado, Vice President for Research & Innovation, University of California Office of the President |
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| 5:30 PM | 7:30 PM | Reception | ||
| Friday, November 14, 2025 Tours are at capacity |
||||
| Start | End | Topic | ||
| 9:00 AM | 10:00 AM | Tour of DIII-D National Fusion Facility | ||
| 10:15 AM | 11:00 AM | Tour of General Atomics Inertial Fusion Technologies | ||
| 11:15 AM | 1:00 PM | Tour of UC San Diego Fusion Laboratories | ||
Hosts
In Collaboration With
