Science. The Institute of Plasma Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (ASIPP) and the MBIR International Research Center Consortium Leader have signed a cooperation agreement. The document outlines joint research programs in the development of controlled thermonuclear fusion. ASIPP is interested in conducting tests on materials capable of withstanding the extreme thermal and neutron loads typical of a burning plasma. “The MBIR research reactor’s capabilities make it highly sought-after for solving a wide range of tasks — from testing innovative materials to validating closed nuclear fuel cycle technologies. The International Research Center that will operate the reactor is becoming a magnet for leading scientific organizations, and we are glad that ASIPP sees it as a platform for implementing its ambitious research plans,” Vasily Konstantinov, CEO of the MBIR IRC Consortium Leader, commented.