[en] For the future fusion materials development program it is necessary to have a dedicated high intensity neutron source available. IFMIF, an accelerator-based intense D-Li neutron source that produces neutrons with a suitable energy spectrum at high intensity and sufficient irradiation volume, is a near term feasible concept which fulfills all essential requirements of the fusion materials development program defined by the users community. IFMIF performs all necessary kinds of material tests with high flexibility in the materials test matrix and the very attractive capability of accelerated irradiations up to about 50 dpa per full power year