Founded in 1971, UW–Madison’s Fusion Technology Institute (FTI) investigates and assesses technological problems posed by controlled thermonuclear fusion reactors and hosts to the largest program in the U.S. for advanced degrees in fusion engineering. FTI’s esteemed degree program provides research personnel for the national fusion program, industry, and educational institutions. The Institute’s mission is to develop clean, safe, and economical fusion energy sources for use in the 21st century and to create near-term commercial products that use fusion energy to enhance the quality of life.