Andrey Fursenko: Russian scientists continue international cooperation in the ITER project

Russian scientists are collaborating with colleagues from other countries in various areas of future technologies - in large international infrastructure projects, in particular, the creation of the ITER thermonuclear reactor and in identifying the risks associated with artificial intelligence, said Russian Presidential Assistant Andrei Fursenko.

“Our scientists interact and collaborate with scientists from other countries,” Fursenko told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club.

The most striking example of such cooperation is Russia’s participation in the construction of the international thermonuclear reactor ITER in France, the assistant to the head of state added.

“Great cooperation. And the ITER management stated that this project would definitely not work without Russia. We work quite actively with all project participants. Moreover, there are no problems there - neither with the Europeans, nor with the Americans, nor with the Japanese,” Fursenko added.

As part of the ITER project, an infrastructure is being created that will be used by the whole world, he emphasized.

In addition, it is important to develop a joint position of scientists from different countries on the most sensitive issues, for example, on the risks associated with the development of artificial intelligence, and Russian specialists are participating in this, Fursenko added.

The ITER (International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor) collaboration aims to create the world's first international thermonuclear experimental reactor, being built through the efforts of the international community in Provence (France), near Marseille. The project should demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of using thermonuclear energy on an industrial scale, as well as allow the development of the necessary technological processes for this.