Introduction  In magnetic confinement fusion research, electron cyclotron heating (ECH) and current drive means are widely implemented for applications including, but not limited to, plasma initiation, heating, non-inductive current drive, and magnetohydrodynamic instability control. In recent years, ECH-related technologies have experienced significant development in response to the development needs of future fusion reactors, and ECH has become one of the main auxiliary heating means in magnetic confinement fusion devices.

  Method  Firstly, the ECH system was introduced, and its components, characteristics and application status were described; then the development status and trends of ECH system-related technologies were discussed with emphasis on four aspects.

  Result  Combined with the research status and application requirements of ECH-related technologies, the important and difficult points in developing each related technology are identified.

  Conclusion  Based on the development status and trends of ECH-related technologies, the article forecasts future research directions and applications of ECH system-related technologies in diverse aspects, including high-frequency and multi-frequency gyrotrons (microwave sources), the intelligent control technology of ECH system, the high-efficiency current drive technology, and the gyrotron-based collective Thomson scattering technology.