The Organization
The Organization is an intergovernmental organization that was created by an international agreement signed in 2006, and formally established on 24 October 2007 after its ratification by all Parties. The Parties to the Agreement (the Members) are the People's Republic of China; the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom); the Republic of India; Japan; the Republic of Korea; the Russian Federation; and the United States of America.
The purpose of the Organization is to "provide for and promote cooperation among the Members on the Project," an international collaboration to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion energy for peaceful purposes. It acts as the overall integrator of the project and nuclear operator of the facility. (More information on the legal status of the Organization can be found in Legal Resources.)
The Organization is staffed by men and women from the seven Members. Approximately 1,100 directly employed staff, 200 Project Associates and 500 external contractors work for the Organization in Saint Paul-lez-Durance, France.
Download the organigramme of the Organization here (April 2026, v2).
Pietro Barabaschi, who started his five-year term on 17 October 2022, is the fourth Director-General of Organization history. (Click to access or download a brief biography in English or French.)
Former Organization Director-Generals
Kaname Ikeda, 2007-2010
Osamu Motojima, 2010-2015
Bernard Bigot, 2015-2022
