The Superconducting Machines & Systems Catalyst is a UK-wide, federated initiative headquartered in Glasgow through the University of Strathclyde. It was established with seedcorn funding from UKAEA to support the UK’s fusion ambitions — but its purpose and impact extend well beyond fusion alone.
The Catalyst is not a new standalone facility. It is a national coordination mechanism: aligning universities, industrial manufacturers, testing infrastructure and public funders into a coherent superconducting delivery system. By connecting capability from Scotland through the Midlands to the South West of England, it transforms a fragmented landscape into an integrated national corridor.
Fusion provided the initial funding stimulus and remains a critical application driver. However, high temperature superconducting (HTS) machines and systems underpin opportunities across power networks, transport, advanced manufacturing and other high-value industrial sectors. The Catalyst therefore takes a fusion-enabled, cross-sector strengthening approach — ensuring that investment made for fusion also builds enduring UK capability that benefits multiple industries.
The Catalyst exists to:
- Provide a clear national front door to UK HTS expertise, facilities and industrial partners
- Map and align existing infrastructure into a coherent UK delivery architecture
- Strengthen industrial manufacturing capability and quality assurance systems
- Enable coordinated testing and high-field validation pathways
- Build the skills pipeline required for long-term competitiveness
- Support evidence-based regional and national investment decisions
At its core, the Catalyst is about integration and delivery. It ensures that early fusion-driven investment becomes long-term national capability. It prevents duplication, accelerates cross-sector learning, strengthens supply chain resilience, and positions the UK to compete globally in superconducting machines and systems.
This report forms part of that coordinated national effort — contributing to a shared evidence base, a shared industrial architecture, and a shared commitment to building a globally competitive UK superconducting ecosystem.