David Gann talks to Jim Mellon

Innovation and technology leader and former chairman of the Atomic Energy Authority Professor David Gann talks to businessman and investor Jim Mellon about nuclear fusion and the opportunities it holds for the world.

The UK is a world leader in fusion research, which is overseen by the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), based in Culham in Oxfordshire. Fusion promises a safe, low-carbon and sustainable supply of electricity. It potentially offers near limitless energy supply with no carbon emissions. It is an efficient way of producing electricity using abundant fuels in seawater and the Earth’s crust. Fusion is based on the same processes that power the sun and stars. It is based on fusion rather than the traditional nuclear fission so it is inherently safer and could be used safely across the world. Fusion presents a significant economic opportunity for the UK and the country has plans to build a prototype plant by 2040.

David is professor of innovation and entrepreneurship at the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, a former pro-vice-chancellor development and external affairs at Oxford University and former vice-president (innovation) at Imperial College London. He is a former charman of UKAEA and a non-executive director of VenCap International, a leading venture fund of funds. He is chair of UK Industrial Fusion Solutions, which is responsible for delivering a prototype fusion plant in Nottinghamshire. David has formed several companies and has mentored and advised startups and boards. He has advised governments and was a member of the UK Government’s Innovation Expert Group and the Ministry of Defence’s Technology and Innovation Board. He co-founded the Villars Institute, a Swiss foundation focusing on systems leadership to halt climate change and bio-diversity loss and is a board member of the London Symphony Orchestra. He has written nine books on technology management and innovation strategy.

Jim is a leading businessman and investor with a particular interest in the potential of new technologies. He has identified fusion as one of the most exciting new technologies for investors.

This is the first Jim Mellon Future Tech Interview, an annual talk supported by Jim.