MiRESSO Co.,Ltd. (Headquarters: Misawa City, Aomori Prefecture; CEO: Masaru Nakamichi; hereinafter “MiRESSO”), a company dedicated to enabling the societal implementation of nuclear fusion through stable mineral resource supply, has been selected for the Fusion Technology Demonstration Program under Phase 3 of the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) initiative administered by MEXT. The program theme focuses on the development and demonstration of critical technologies for future fusion reactors, with a grant cap of JPY 2 billion.
Project Overview
Background
Nuclear fusion reactors rely on the fusion of deuterium and tritium—both in plasma state—as the fuel source. However, tritium (a radioactive isotope of hydrogen) is extremely rare in nature. Therefore, it must be bred in situ within a reactor blanket surrounding the plasma. For this process, beryllium (Be) is required in large quantities as a neutron multiplier, doubling neutron yield and enabling sustained tritium production.
Currently, the procurement of beryllium poses a critical bottleneck. Not only is beryllium extremely expensive, but the quantity required for a single prototype fusion reactor exceeds current global annual production. Ensuring a stable and scalable beryllium supply is, therefore, a major challenge for the realization of fusion reactor deployment.
Project Scope
Masaru Nakamichi, CEO of MiRESSO, has been leading R&D efforts at the National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology (QST), a Japanese nuclear fusion research institution. The team successfully developed a novel low-temperature refining process that significantly reduces beryllium purification costs. This proprietary technology combines chemical processing with microwave heating and is currently patent-pending.
Traditional beryllium ore treatment requires heating to temperatures of approximately 2,000℃. In contrast, MiRESSO’s low-temperature technology enables ore dissolution at 300℃ under atmospheric pressure, dramatically reducing both energy consumption and cost.
With support from the SBIR Phase 3 program, MiRESSO plans to scale up this innovative refining technology and construct a pilot plant capable of producing beryllium at a rate of 1 ton per year.
The company ultimately aims to establish a large-scale production facility based on data generated from this pilot program. This will address the global supply shortage of beryllium and accelerate the societal implementation of nuclear fusion.
About SBIR Phase 3: Fusion Technology Program
The SBIR system is a national initiative designed to promote innovation by supporting advanced R&D by startups and small businesses. Phase 3 of the program specifically targets large-scale technology demonstration projects, enabling startups to transition their technologies into societal deployment through financial support from the Small Business Innovation Promotion Fund. The initiative aims to drive innovation and contribute to Japan’s national competitiveness by facilitating the commercialization of cutting-edge technologies.
- [MEXT SBIR Phase 3 Overview ]（Japanese Only）
- [Low Carbon Investment Promotion Organization (Fund Management Entity)](Japanese only)
Comment from Masaru Nakamichi, CEO of MiRESSO
“We are honored to have been selected for SBIR Phase 3. This program will enable us to significantly advance the demonstration of our proprietary technology and move closer to its real-world application. By ensuring a stable supply of beryllium—currently a major bottleneck in reactor development—we aim to contribute meaningfully to the realization of nuclear fusion as a societal energy solution.”