Release date: September 2, 2025
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Fusion energy is one of those ideas that always felt just out of reach. For decades, researchers have been chasing it. Breakthroughs are happening faster, startups are springing up, and suddenly the private sector is putting real money on the table. In the middle of all this excitement is the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL). That’s where my guest today, David Zimmerman, is helping build partnerships that connect decades of federal research with the momentum of today’s energy market.
David’s path to this role wasn’t exactly straightforward. He started out as a scientist, got frustrated watching great ideas stall out in the lab, and left to join the startup world. He then shifted into patent law, advising inventors and companies on how to protect and commercialize their ideas. Now, as Strategic Partnerships Officer at PPPL, he brings all of those experiences together with science, entrepreneurship, and law to help researchers and companies work side by side.
Today, David shares what’s happening inside PPPL and where the lab is headed next. We talk about the rapid growth of fusion startups, new facilities like the Quantum Diamond Lab, and a bold effort called Plasma Forge that was created with support from the state of New Jersey to move technologies out of the lab and into industry. He also talks about the broader ecosystem, from New Jersey’s growing role in fusion to the partnerships that are forming across the Northeast.
We wrap up with David’s perspective on the Federal Laboratory Consortium, or FLC, where he was just elected incoming Northeast Regional Coordinator. He explains why regional collaboration matters, how labs can work across agency boundaries, and why PPPL is actively looking for new partners in areas far beyond energy. It’s a look at the people, policies, and partnerships shaping the future of tech transfer.
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In This Episode:
[01:06] David’s background spans research, startups, patent law, and tech transfer at a Department of Energy lab.
[02:00] We learn why he left academia for startups, then shifted into patents and law to better connect science with real-world impact.
[04:55] Returning to academia, David joined university tech transfer offices before moving to PPPL, where he now leads partnerships.
[06:17] PPPL has a 70-year history in fusion research and is expanding into public–private partnerships to move technologies forward.
[07:51] Fusion energy is inherently cleaner than fission, but very hard to achieve. Recent years have brought major breakthroughs and private capital.
[10:40] PPPL is diversifying into AI, microelectronics, quantum devices, and industrial decarbonization alongside its fusion mission.
[12:52] Massachusetts is a leader in fusion with Commonwealth Fusion Systems; New Jersey is also positioning itself with startups like Thea Energy.
[14:11] David describes working with the state of New Jersey on feasibility studies to build a commercial entity next to the lab.
[14:58] Plasma Forge was launched with state and private support, creating a new hub for moving PPPL technologies into industry.
[16:30] The first partnerships are underway, and the lab hosted a fusion supply chain conference to connect industry and government.
[19:50] David explains how these efforts support both economic growth for the state and the lab’s mission to commercialize science.
[20:09] David talks about technology and trade secrets. This includes challenges for an open science lab to do the best science.
[21:30] We learn about the Quantum Diamond Lab, and how David likes being the tour guide and talking about the laboratory.
[22:48] What people should know about the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab. Plasma technologies are used in a wide variety of fields around the world.
[23:45] Plasma science has wide applications beyond fusion, including microchip manufacturing and satellite propulsion.
[24:36] PPPL is “open for business” and eager to partner with companies interested in plasma-based technologies.
[25:38] He discusses his election as incoming Northeast Regional Coordinator for the Federal Lab Consortium, stressing regional collaboration.
[30:25] The challenge is breaking down agency silos so that industry partners can access solutions more easily.
[31:49] David closes with an invitation for Northeast colleagues to connect with him and the FLC to strengthen regional ecosystems.