Industry benefits in a number of different ways from the research and technology activities of the European Fusion Programme, overseen by the European Commission. These benefits range from: winning contracts to supply equipment and services to fusion laboratories; access to fundamental (or basic) science data; opportunities for technology and knowledge transfer; and the use of facilities and availability of expert personnel from the many fusion institutions. Close fusion laboratory relationships with industry are fully supported by the Commission, which actively encourages the various 'industry liaison' activities of the fusion institutions. Industry involvement in the European fusion scene is highly valued, considered to be essential to the construction and operation of International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and also to the long-term future of fusion. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.