By 2029, the German government will invest over €2 billion in fusion research, with the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology ILT in Aachen already positioned as an early mover in this field. In collaborative research projects, it is researching and developing solutions for fusion power plants together with partners from industry and research. They are establishing robust supply chains and developing processes for automated mass production. Internationally, the institute cooperates closely with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, among others. The laboratory’s National Ignition Facility has repeatedly ignited fusion plasma using what is currently the world’s largest laser, achieving steadily increasing energy surpluses in the process. Spillover effects are also emerging out of the development of this innovative power plant technology, effects that could open up new application markets for photonics.