Jaap G van der Laan works for ITER, the International organization for the development of fusion energy. ITER is a unique fusion science and technology research facility enabled through the international collaboration of China, EU, India, Japan, Korea, Russia, and USA, representing more than 50% of world population. He started his career in the Netherlands Energy and Nuclear research centers motivated by “materials for energy”, and had a lead in many programs on materials and technology qualification, ranging from life extension of the UK AGR reactor fleet, to Generation 4 fission initiatives and the development of fusion nuclear technology. He is now devoted to the test program in ITER for the demonstration of fusion fuel production and power generation technologies.