Who should lead nuclear fusion research? Cross-national evidence on public–private governance preferences in Europe

Nuclear fusion research is experiencing unprecedented momentum, driven by public investment and a surge in private start-ups claiming to accelerate commercialization distinct from government-led initiatives. This shift towards private leadership is a new dynamic, yet its implications for public perception and social acceptance have been largely overlooked. This study addresses that critical gap using exploratory findings from a large-scale, cross-national survey in 21 European countries (N = 19,144). We analyzed public preferences for who should lead fusion research and used multinomial logistic regression to identify associated demographic and trust-related factors. Results show a clear public consensus favoring a collaborative model: an overwhelming majority (74 %) believe governments and private companies should be equally involved. In contrast, only 20 % prefer a government-led model and just 6 % a private-led one. The regression analysis reveals that being of older age and female gender is associated with a higher likelihood of preferring this collaborative approach. Furthermore, higher trust in scientists is linked to a lower preference for private-sector leadership. This study provides the first large-scale empirical evidence of public preferences for fusion governance, highlighting a potential misalignment between the industry's push for privatization and the public's desire for collaboration. We discuss these findings by drawing on literature regarding anti-industry sentiment and public skepticism towards the powerful institutions controlling new technologies. The findings suggest citizens desire a balance of strengths, viewing neither the state nor private firms as solely trustworthy to manage the quest for fusion energy.