IFMIF-DONES is a powerful neutron irradiation facility for the study and qualification of materials planned as part of the European roadmap to fusion-generated electricity. Its main goal is to study properties of materials under severe irradiation in a neutron field similar to the one in a fusion reactor first wall. It is a key facility to prepare for the construction of the DEMO power plant envisaged to follow ITER. The decision to start the construction of IFMIF-DONES is expected imminent. In this paper we present and discuss several key technical studies and decisions to improve and optimize the engineering design of IFMIF-DONES which were carried out as part of the activities in the framework of the EUROfusion Early Neutron Source work package (2015–2020). The following topics are discussed in this paper: the new layout of the IFMIF-DONES SRF LINAC accelerator and high-energy beam transport line, ⁷Be impurity management approach for the lithium loop, a maintainable test cell concept, a revised layout of the access cell for the remote maintenance operations, and facilities for complementary experiments.

International Fusion Materials Irradiation Facility-DEMO-Oriented NEutron Source (IFMIF-DONES) is a high-intensity neutron irradiation facility for qualification of fusion reactor materials, which is being designed as part of the European roadmap to fusion-generated electricity. Its main purpose is to study the behavior of materials properties under irradiation in a neutron flux able to simulate the same effects in terms of relevant nuclear responses as those expected in the first wall of the DEMO reactor which is envisaged to follow ITER. It is thus a key facility to support the design, licensing and safe operation of DEMO as well as of the fusion power plants that will be developed afterwards. The start of its construction is foreseen in the next few years. In this contribution, an overview of the IFMIF-DONES neutron source is presented together with a snapshot of the current engineering design status and of the relevant key results achieved within the EUROfusion Work Package Early Neutron Source (WPENS) as part of the 2014–2020 EURATOM Research and Training Programme, complementary to the EU Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (FP8). Moreover, some information on the future developments of the project are given.