Dr. Richard Pearson is the Chief Innovator and UK Director at Kyoto Fusioneering, a Japanese fusion energy start-up he co-founded in 2019. He plays a pivotal role in the development of the company's innovation strategy, catalysing product development and fostering key stakeholder relationships, whilst also supporting cutting-edge R&D. He has a PhD in Fusion Engineering and Innovation from The Open University (UK) with expertise in innovation, policy and commercialization in relation to fusion. He is a visiting research associate at Kyoto University (Japan) and at the University of Bristol (UK), and recently served as Guest Editor for the Journal of Fusion Energy.