Dear Members and Friends,

As we enter the second half of 2026, Europe finds itself at a pivotal moment for research, innovation and industrial competitiveness. The discussions now taking place on the next Framework Programme (FP10), the European Competitiveness Fund, and the future architecture of the European Partnerships will shape the innovation landscape for the next decade. For the hydrogen community, these decisions are particularly significant. They will determine not only how research will be funded, but also how Europe intends to transform scientific excellence into industrial leadership, technological sovereignty and long-term competitiveness.

Hydrogen Europe Research has always believed that research is not simply the starting point of innovation: it is the permanent engine that enables Europe to remain competitive in a rapidly changing world. Today, this message is more relevant than ever. Europe has successfully built one of the world's strongest hydrogen research ecosystems. The next challenge is to preserve and strengthen this ecosystem while creating the conditions for faster industrial deployment and market uptake.

For this reason, one of our highest priorities during the past months has been contributing to the European debate on the future of the Joint Undertakings. Together with many of our members, Hydrogen Europe Research submitted its contribution to the European Commission's Call for Evidence, advocating for the continuation of a dedicated European Partnership on Hydrogen and Derivatives. Our position is clear: Europe needs an integrated Partnership capable of connecting research, technology development, demonstration, industrial deployment and skills development within a coherent long-term strategy. We strongly believe that hydrogen has now evolved into a strategic enabling technology, whose impact extends far beyond energy alone, supporting competitiveness, industrial decarbonisation, resilience, energy security and technological sovereignty.

The dialogue is far from over. The European Commission has now launched the Public Consultation on the future of European Partnerships, and we will send more info and our position soon on this new consultation. I would like to sincerely thank all those members who have already responded to our invitation to actively participate in the Call for Evidence. Your contributions matter. The strength of Hydrogen Europe Research has always been its ability to represent the collective expertise of Europe's leading research organisations, and every response reinforces the message that research must remain central in Europe's future hydrogen strategy.

The first indications from the consultation are encouraging. Preliminary analyses suggest that the Clean Hydrogen Partnership is among the most frequently cited European Partnerships, with well over 200 direct references and mentions. This demonstrates the broad recognition that the Partnership has gained over the years and confirms the value of the collaborative model developed between the European Commission, industry and the research community.

Advocacy has therefore become an increasingly important dimension of our activities. Over the past mandate, Hydrogen Europe Research has progressively strengthened its dialogue with European institutions, Member States and international stakeholders, ensuring that the voice of research is heard where strategic decisions are being taken. A recent example was our discussion dinner in Dublin, where we had the honour of welcoming Minister Timmy Dooley, together with representatives from government, research organisations, infrastructure operators and industry. The event took place at a particularly timely moment, just before Ireland assumes the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, allowing us to discuss how research and innovation can contribute to Europe's competitiveness, industrial development and energy transition in the years ahead.

The past months have also been important for our Association internally. During our General Assembly in Dublin, members renewed their confidence in the Executive Board and entrusted me with a new mandate as President of Hydrogen Europe Research. I would like to express my sincere gratitude for this renewed trust. I see it not simply as recognition of the work carried out over the last years, but as a shared commitment to continue strengthening the role of research within the European hydrogen ecosystem.

During the previous mandate we significantly expanded our policy activities, strengthened our Working Groups, launched new scientific position papers, reinforced our international collaborations, increased the visibility of our members through initiatives such as the Young Scientist Award, the HER Pavilion at European Hydrogen Week, the European PhD Hydrogen Conference (EPHyC), and developed new strategic collaborations with organisations such as EERA and the Clean Hydrogen Mission. Most importantly, we have continued building Hydrogen Europe Research into a recognised and trusted interlocutor for European institutions, capable of connecting scientific excellence with industrial priorities and public policy.

I would also like to warmly congratulate the newly elected Executive Board. The re-election of several experienced Board Members guarantees continuity and preserves valuable institutional knowledge. At the same time, the election of four new Board Members brings fresh perspectives, new competences and additional enthusiasm. This combination of continuity and renewal reflects the vitality of our Association and the increasing willingness of our members to actively contribute to shaping Europe's hydrogen future. I look forward to working with the entire Board over the coming two years.

None of these achievements would have been possible without the extraordinary commitment of our members. Hydrogen Europe Research is much more than an association; it is a community of almost 180 research organisations and universities that collectively represent one of the largest concentrations of hydrogen expertise worldwide. Every position paper, every policy contribution, every scientific publication, every Working Group meeting and every event reflects the voluntary commitment, scientific excellence and collaborative spirit of our members. For this, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to each and every one of you.

The years ahead will be decisive. Europe is entering a new phase in which competitiveness, resilience, industrial leadership and strategic autonomy will increasingly depend on the capacity to connect research with industrial implementation. Hydrogen will undoubtedly play a central role in this transformation. Our responsibility, as the European hydrogen research community, is to ensure that scientific excellence continues to drive technological innovation, industrial competitiveness and evidence-based policymaking.

Hydrogen Europe Research will continue to work with determination to ensure that research remains at the heart of Europe's hydrogen strategy and that the future European Partnership on Hydrogen and Derivatives becomes a cornerstone of Europe's innovation ecosystem.

As I often say, research and innovation are not simply a bridge until markets emerge; they are a permanent pillar of Europe's competitiveness. This conviction will continue to guide our work in the years ahead.

Thank you for your continued trust, your commitment and your active contribution to our community.

I wish you all a pleasant summer and look forward to working together in what promises to be an exciting and decisive new chapter for European hydrogen research.

HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

Applications for the Young Scientist Award 2026 are now open!

The Young Scientist Award, hosted annually by Hydrogen Europe Research, is designed to honour promising young researchers (35 years old or younger) affiliated with our member organisations. These individuals have made significant personal contributions to hydrogen-related projects.

Through this competition, Hydrogen Europe Research seeks to spotlight the efforts of students, PhD candidates, postdoctoral fellows, and young researchers while fostering their participation in Clean Hydrogen Partnership projects. Additionally, the aim is to attract emerging talent to the hydrogen and fuel cell sector.

Like previous years, the 2026 competition will focus on four key pillars aligned with the framework of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership. One young scientist will be recognised within each pillar, and an additional one will be elected the "Best Researcher of the Year", resulting in a total of five awards.

Research endeavors may include fundamental studies, practical applications, and analytical investigations across various categories, including:

• Hydrogen production
• Hydrogen storage and distribution
• Hydrogen usages
• Cross-Cutting activities (such as safety, regulations, codes and standards or education)

The award ceremony will take place in person in Brussels, during the Research Days in December 2026.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Candidates must carry out their research within a Hydrogen Europe Research member organisation.
• Eligible applicants must be researchers 35 years old or younger at the time of application submission (applicants can apply up until the day before their 36^th birthday). They must showcase their individual involvement in at least one hydrogen-related project.
• Additionally, participation in Clean Hydrogen Partnership projects is a plus, with measurable evidence such as presentations at Programme Review Days/ Research Days, international conferences, or national conferences focusing on Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s project topics, listed in order of decreasing priority.

Discover how to apply here!

Hydrogen Europe Research supports the Joint Declaration for a bold FP10

Together with 86 leading European research and innovation organisations, we are calling on the European Institutions to make research, development and innovation a central pillar of Europe's future competitiveness. As highlighted in the Draghi Report and the Competitiveness Compass, Europe must invest more in research and innovation to strengthen productivity, accelerate the green and digital transitions, and maintain its global leadership.

The next Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (FP10) should be ambitious and well resourced. In particular, we support:

• A substantially increased budget for FP10;
• Strong support for collaborative, industry-driven RD&I through a strengthened Pillar II;
• Investment across the entire research and innovation cycle, from fundamental research to deployment and scale-up.

Research and innovation are not only drivers of competitiveness, but they are also essential to building a resilient, sustainable, and prosperous Europe.

Read the joint declaration here.

Webinar "From Demonstration to Deployment: Can Hydrogen Deliver SAF at Scale?", 30 June 2026

On 30 June, Hydrogen Europe Research and Women in Green Hydrogen hosted the webinar "From Demonstration to Deployment: Can Hydrogen Deliver SAF at Scale?", bringing together experts from research, industry, and policy to discuss the current state of hydrogen-based SAF and the path towards large-scale deployment.

Here are some of the key points that emerged from the discussion:

• There is no single solution for aviation decarbonisation. A portfolio of technologies will be needed, with advanced biofuels and renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBOs), including hydrogen-based e-SAF, playing complementary roles. The challenge now is to create bankable industrial value chains that can attract investment and support large-scale deployment.
• The technology is advancing, but economics remain a major barrier. Commercialisation depends on reducing the cost of renewable electricity and green hydrogen, lowering CAPEX for first-of-a-kind plants, and continuing innovation across the value chain. Emerging options such as geological hydrogen may also contribute to lowering costs in the future.
• Deployment requires more than technology. Financing, certification, infrastructure, and market access remain critical challenges. Producing sustainable aviation fuel is only part of the journey; ensuring that new producers can successfully enter the aviation fuel market and scale their operations is equally important.
• Policy ambition must translate into implementation. Europe has established an increasingly comprehensive policy framework for SAF, but accelerating commercial deployment will require continued investment, stronger collaboration between research, industry and policymakers, and greater certainty for investors.

The discussion reinforced one clear message: the question is no longer whether hydrogen-based SAF can contribute to aviation decarbonisation, but how quickly we can create the conditions that allow these technologies to scale.

A big thank you to our speakers, Maria Georgiadou, Henar Olmedo Gómez, Elke Reuschenbach, and Mariano Berkenwald, as well as to our moderator, Meriem Fikry, for sharing their expertise and valuable insights!

HER General Assembly and Board Election, 17 June 2026, Dublin, Ireland

On June 17, Hydrogen Europe Research held its General Assembly in Dublin and online, bringing together more than 150 member institutions from across our network to discuss our activities, priorities, and future direction.

During the General Assembly, a new Executive Board was elected. We are pleased to introduce the new Board:
🔹 Luigi Crema (Fondazione Bruno Kessler - FBK) - President
🔹 Christian Sattler (DLR - Institute of Future Fuels) - Vice President & Treasurer
🔹 Julie Mougin (CEA) - Hydrogen Production Technical Committee Leader
🔹 Hans Rasmusson (ERIG - European Research Institute for Gas and Energy Innovation) - Hydrogen Distribution Technical Committee Leader
🔹 Steffen Møller-Holst (SINTEF) - Transport Technical Committee Leader
🔹 Viviana Cigolotti (ENEA) - Heat & Power and Industry Technical Committee Leader
🔹Emilio Nieto (CNH2 - Centro Nacional del Hidrógeno) - Cross-Cutting Research Activities Technical Committee Leader
🔹Marcello Romagnoli (Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia) - Supply Chains Cross-Technical Committee Leader
🔹Guillermo Figueruelo (Aragon Hydrogen Foundation) - Valleys Cross-Technical Committee Leader
🔹Henar Olmedo Gómez (CIDAUT) - External Affairs Leader

We look forward to working with the new Board and benefiting from their expertise and dedication in the next two years!

We would also like to express our heartfelt thanks to Ekain Gesalaga Fernandez, Javier Dufour, Ludwig Jörissen, and Jakub Kupecki: your commitment as Board Members in the past years has played an important role in the growth and success of Hydrogen Europe Research.

A dialogue on the future of hydrogen in Europe: HER discussion dinner with Irish stakeholders, 16 June 2026, Dublin, Ireland

On June 16, Hydrogen Europe Research was pleased to bring together representatives from government, research, industry and infrastructures in Dublin to discuss the future of hydrogen in Ireland and across Europe.

The discussion took place at a key moment for Europe, as Ireland took over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on 1 July, and negotiations begin on the next EU budget and the future Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. The decisions made in the coming months will shape Europe's ability to remain competitive, strengthen its energy security and maintain its leadership in hydrogen technologies.

We were honoured to welcome Minister Timmy Dooley and speakers from the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment (Gearóid FitzGerald), Gas Networks Ireland (Brian Mullins), Hydrogen Ireland (Richard Murphy) and Research Ireland (Stephen O’Driscoll).

Discussions focused on the role of research and innovation in Europe's competitiveness; Ireland's potential as a renewable hydrogen producer; the transition from research projects to market deployment; and the importance of future European partnerships in accelerating innovation.

A big thank you to all participants for contributing to an open and constructive dialogue on the future of hydrogen in Europe. Read our press release about the event here.

EPHyC 2026: another successful edition, 1-3 June 2026, Trondheim, Norway

The 2026 edition of the European PhD Hydrogen Conference (EPHyC) brought together 150 PhD researchers in Trondheim, Norway, for three days of scientific exchange, networking, and collaboration.

Throughout the conference, participants presented their latest research, discussed current challenges in the hydrogen sector, and explored new opportunities for collaboration across institutions, disciplines, and countries. Once again, EPHyC demonstrated the importance of providing early career researchers with a dedicated platform to share knowledge, build professional networks, and contribute to the future of hydrogen research in Europe.

At Hydrogen Europe Research, we firmly believe that supporting the next generation of researchers is essential to accelerating Europe's hydrogen transition. By connecting young scientists and fostering collaboration, EPHyC helps strengthen the European hydrogen research community and encourages the development of innovative solutions to the challenges ahead.

We would like to thank the HYDROGENi team, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), SINTEF, our speakers, session chairs, the Clean Hydrogen Partnership (which sponsored the conference), and all participants for making EPHyC 2026 such a successful event.

The next edition of EPHyC will take place in Sønderborg, Denmark, from 25 to 28 May 2027, hosted by the University of Southern Denmark. We look forward to bringing the European hydrogen research community together once again for another inspiring edition!

Women in Hydrogen Campaign

In early June 2025, we proudly launched our “Women in Hydrogen” campaign to highlight the voices, experiences, and leadership of women driving innovation in the hydrogen sector. Every month, we will showcase the stories of extraordinary women from our membership who are shaping the future of hydrogen.  

In 2026, our Women in Hydrogen campaign took an important new step forward: we joined forces with Women in Green Hydrogen, making this campaign a shared initiative. By bringing our communities together, we aim to strengthen visibility, exchange, and inspiration, and to better reflect the diversity of roles and expertise shaping the future of hydrogen.

In June, we featured Aldonza Jaques, Director of the Innovation Office for Academic, Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Universidad Tecnica Federico Santa Maria (UTFSM) in Chile.

With a background in Chemical Engineering and a Ph.D. in Metallurgical Engineering, Aldonza has built an impressive career spanning hydrogen safety research, technology transfer, intellectual property, and innovation management. Her work focuses on enabling the safe adoption of hydrogen technologies through research on hydrogen diffusion in materials, while also fostering industrial uptake and workforce development across Chile’s emerging hydrogen economy.

Beyond her research, Aldonza plays an active role in strengthening innovation ecosystems, serving as a Board Member of the Network of Technological Managers of Chile and advising on technology adoption strategies for hydrogen transport, storage, and production technologies.

A passionate advocate for education and inclusion, she is helping prepare the next generation of hydrogen professionals through industry partnerships, hands-on learning opportunities, and new academic programs that connect students with real-world applications.

As Aldonza says, “The importance of role models and mentorship in early stages of careers cannot be overstated.”

Check out Aldonza’s full interview here!

Spotlight on our Extended Research Paper: one topic at a time

In November 2025, we published an extended version of our Research Paper, developed by the members of the Low TRL Research Working Group. While the initial publication offered a broad strategic perspective, its scope limited the level of detail for each topic. The extended edition addresses this by providing in-depth analyses of selected areas. Ten topics have been expanded into standalone position papers, offering detailed insights into the state of the art and the remaining scientific and technical challenges. These papers are included as an appendix to the publication.

Since the beginning of the year, we have been spotlighting one paper on LinkedIn per month, highlighting key insights and recommendations.

The paper highlights promising innovation pathways:

• Advanced materials such as multi-phase ceramics and high-entropy oxides;
• Graded and hierarchical structures for improved performance;
• Hybrid manufacturing approaches, including additive manufacturing;
• Integration of multi-scale modelling and AI-driven material design.

But it also examines critical bottlenecks across the full value chain:

• Defect formation during shaping and sintering;
• Challenges in multi-layer co-sintering and porosity control;
• Mechanical brittleness under thermal and operational stress.

Read the paper on ceramic membranes here.

The paper provides an overview of PFAS across the hydrogen value chain, covering their role, emissions, detection, and mitigation strategies:

• Emissions during use (fuel cells & electrolysers);
• Emissions during production & recycling;
• Analytical techniques for detection;
• Avoiding emissions;
• Alternatives to PFAS-based membranes.

Key challenges remain, from understanding full lifecycle emissions to developing viable fluorine-free alternatives and effective mitigation strategies.

The paper also explores potential solutions, including effluent treatment, alternative materials, and improved system design.

Read the paper on PFAS here.

Join our Members Pavilion at the European Hydrogen Week 2026!

We are thrilled to share that we will be exhibiting again at European Hydrogen Week in Brussels from 26 to 30 October 2026! Once more, Hydrogen Europe Research members are invited to join us in our Members Pavilion.

Being part of our Pavilion is a unique chance to showcase your projects to a diverse and engaged audience. It is designed to highlight innovation, offering a dynamic space where your ideas can shine, and your research activities take centre stage.

For the first time in 2026, the exhibition area of Brussels Expo will have an exclusive setup, with dedicated zones focusing on thematic areas and priorities of the hydrogen sector. To be close to the European hydrogen research community and surround us with like-minded organisations working towards scientific progress and demonstration, we moved from Hall 11 to Hall 7, right in front of the stage of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership’s Innovation Hub.

There are still a couple of spots left in our Pavilion: if you are a Hydrogen Europe Research member and you want to book your booth (or you have questions), please contact Simona at s.vitali@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu.

CLEAN HYDROGEN PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

This consultation has now closed and was a key opportunity for the clean hydrogen community to share evidence, experience and views on the role of Joint Undertakings in supporting Europe’s competitiveness, technological leadership and clean transition.

The Commission’s Call for Evidence aims to gather inputs on how future Joint Undertakings should be designed and implemented, including on issues such as strategic alignment, governance, openness, simplification, private investment, synergies, support for higher technology readiness levels and the full innovation-to-investment journey. The findings will contribute to the impact assessment for the Single Basic Act establishing Joint Undertakings under Framework Programme 10, expected for the fourth quarter of 2026. 

Hydrogen Europe Research developed and shared its position in its response, highlighting why a dedicated Hydrogen Joint Undertaking must continue beyond the current framework. Our recommendations called for:

• A dedicated Hydrogen Joint Undertaking with a ring-fenced budget.
• Stronger links between research, industrial scale-up and market deployment.
• Continued support for Europe's competitiveness, strategic autonomy and integrated hydrogen value chains.
• Building on the proven success of the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen and Clean Hydrogen Joint Undertakings in accelerating innovation across the entire hydrogen ecosystem.

In total, 1308 responses were submitted in the Call for Evidence.

Following up on the Call for Evidence, the European Commission has subsequently launched a Public Consultation which will be open until Friday, 16 October. The consultation can be found here.

This consultation aims to collect general evidence, experience and views from stakeholders on the role and functioning of Joint Undertakings in the current framework. The role of Joint Undertakings in the EU’s competitiveness will be of particular relevance to the European Commission. The results of the consultation will help the European Commission address the problems identified on the basis of the evidence obtained and consider the potential solutions when developing the initiative.

Hydrogen Europe Research strongly encourages all stakeholders to contribute to the consultation. The position paper of the association is available here for members and stakeholders to use freely. A strong number of contributions from the clean hydrogen community will help demonstrate the value of the partnership model and provide the European Commission with concrete evidence on what works but also what can be improved.

In addition, the Programme Office of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership has also developed a guidance document on “Evidence of Achievements of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership”. More information can be found here.

The second round of the drafting of research topics that will be included in the forthcoming Annual Work Plan (AWP) 2027 has just started! Following discussions with the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Programme and the European Commission, the topics will now be further refined during the summer. The Governing Board endorsed which topics made the cut to the second round during a meeting that took place at the end of June. If you are a Hydrogen Europe Research member and are interested in participating in the elaboration of the next AWP, do not hesitate to get in touch with our Innovation Manager – Louis MAZURKIEWICZ (l.mazurkiewicz@hydrogeneuroperesearch.eu).

The Clean Hydrogen Partnership annual Hydrogen Innovation Forum will take place on 27-28 October 2026, as part of the European Hydrogen Week 2026 (get your pass here!). The Forum will bring together policymakers, industry representatives, researchers, innovators and regional actors to discuss how clean hydrogen research and innovation can be translated into industrial deployment, competitive value chains, skilled jobs and tangible benefits for Europe’s economy and citizens. The Forum, co-organised by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, Hydrogen Europe, Hydrogen Europe Research and the European Commission, is part of the wider European Hydrogen Week 2026, taking place in Brussels from 26-30 October 2026.

Later on, the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Research & Innovation Days will take place on 2-3 December 2026 in Brussels. More information should be shared in the coming months.

The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has published a report on the “State of the Clean Hydrogen Valleys Sector, 2026”. Based on insights from the Hydrogen Valley Platform, the report shows the sector’s evolution, challenges and achievements. It also presents the key success factors for Hydrogen Valley developers, policymakers and investors, and the role of the Hydrogen Valley Facility in supporting projects through the Hydrogen Valley Platform, capacity-building activities and tailored Project Development Assistance. The report can be found here.

MEMBERS' NEWS

Welcome to our new members

PHAETHON Centre of Excellence

The Centre aims to serve as a catalyst for excellence in the energy field, building on the 10-year track record of its predecessor, the UCY FOSS Research Centre, in pursuit of a more sustainable and secure energy future.

Institut Mines-Télécom

IMT is known for its cutting-edge research on future-oriented topics: eco-designed and high-performance materials, advanced manufacturing processes and devices, industry 4.0 and 5.0, industrial ecology, low-carbon energy, 5G and 6G telecoms networks, IoT, cybersecurity, resilience and risk science, data science and artificial intelligence, digital health.

University of Cádiz

It consists of four main campus locations: Cádiz, Puerto Real, Jerez, and Bahía de Algeciras, and acts as an important driver of innovation and economic change in Southern Europe.

EVENTS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS!

HYPOTHESIS XXI, 23 – 27 August 2026, Warsaw, Poland

We are pleased to announce that the 21^st International Symposium on Hydrogen Power – Theoretical and Engineering Solutions (HYPOTHESIS XXI), will take place on 23-27 August 2026 in Warsaw, Poland.

The event will be co-hosted by the National Centre for Nuclear Research, Institute of Power Engineering – National Research Institute, and Warsaw University of Technology. HYPOTHESIS is a well-established international forum bringing together researchers, engineers, industry experts, and policy-makers to discuss recent advances in hydrogen technologies and their role in the global energy transition.

At HYPOTHESIS XXI, you will meet your peers, industrial partners and key players in hydrogen.

Discover more here!

European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen, Piero Lunghi Conference 2026, 15 – 17 September 2026, Capri, Italy

The European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Conference serves as a key meeting point for advancing hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Europe!

The conference, taking place in Capri on 15–17 September 2026, will place strong emphasis on research-driven solutions, bridging fundamental science, applied engineering, and large-scale demonstration activities. By fostering dialogue among academia, research organisations, industry, and policymakers, EFCH2 2026 will contribute to shaping the next generation of hydrogen technologies and supporting their transition towards scalable and economically viable solutions for the clean energy transition.

The conference will provide updates on short-, medium-, and long-term research and development efforts, highlight emerging applications and market opportunities across sectors such as transport and energy storage, and discuss the role of policy frameworks and international cooperation in enabling deployment. It will also explore pathways to decarbonisation and the role of hydrogen in future energy systems, encouraging forward-thinking discussions on climate goals.

EFCH2 2026 welcomes all stakeholders with an interest in hydrogen, fuel cells, and clean energy, from academia, research, industry, policy, and the wider public sector.

For updates and comprehensive details, we encourage you to regularly visit the conference website here.

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