Dear Members and Friends,

Europe is entering a decisive phase for the future of its research, technology and industrial competitiveness. As discussions advance on the next Framework Programme and on the future architecture of European Partnerships, the decisions taken in the coming months will shape our capacity to maintain European leadership in hydrogen and hydrogen-derived technologies throughout the next decade.

For Hydrogen Europe Research, the message is clear: hydrogen and its derivatives need to continue under a Treaty-based European Partnership implemented through a Joint Undertaking. This is not about preserving an existing structure. It is about ensuring that Europe retains the long-term strategy, institutionalised public-private governance and coordination capacity needed to connect research excellence with technology development, manufacturing scale-up, infrastructure and market deployment. 

Hydrogen is not a single technology or a single market. It connects production, storage, transport, industrial applications, mobility and energy-system integration. Fragmenting research and innovation across separate instruments would risk weakening this systemic approach precisely at a time when global competition is accelerating. The next seven years will be critical for determining whether the knowledge and technologies developed in Europe can translate into European industrial leadership, resilient value chains and strategic autonomy. 

The research community is ready to play its part in this continental challenge. Research is not separate from industrial competitiveness; it is one of its foundations. Deployment generates new research needs, while advances in materials, efficiency, durability, safety, circularity and system integration continuously create the technologies and products of tomorrow. Europe therefore needs a continuum from fundamental and applied research to demonstration, manufacturing scale-up and deployment. 

This is why Hydrogen Europe Research has been actively engaging with European institutions. In September, we addressed a letter to key representatives of the European Commission, European Parliament and Council, setting out the case for a next-generation Treaty-based Partnership for hydrogen research and innovation. Our message is constructive and forward-looking: build on what Europe has created over the past two decades, while evolving the Partnership to respond to the new challenges of competitiveness, industrialisation and market creation.

At the same time, a broader joint mobilisation is underway. Hydrogen Europe Research and Hydrogen Europe, together with national hydrogen associations and other European associations representing the hydrogen and derivatives value chain, are joining forces to advocate for the continuation of a Treaty-based Partnership. This collective effort reflects the need to keep the European hydrogen ecosystem aligned around a shared long-term strategy, linking the next Framework Programme with the European Competitiveness Fund and other instruments supporting industrial deployment.

This strategic debate comes at a particularly active moment for our community. In recent weeks, Hydrogen Europe Research has contributed to major scientific and institutional discussions across Europe, including ICSET 2026 in Palermo and the European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen – Piero Lunghi Conference 2026 in Capri. These exchanges confirm the strength of the European research community and, at the same time, the urgency of connecting scientific excellence more effectively with Europe’s industrial ambitions.

The months ahead will offer further important opportunities for our community. On 14 October, our webinar “Hydrogen and Dual-Use Research: Shaping Europe’s Research Agenda for FP10” will explore the evolving relationship between research, competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy. Later in October, we will meet again in Brussels during European Hydrogen Week, where our Members Pavilion will showcase the work of our research community and the Hydrogen Innovation Forum will bring together research, industry and policymakers. Finally, in December, the Hydrogen Europe Research Days will once again provide an important moment to discuss research priorities and recognise the next generation of European hydrogen researchers. 

Europe has invested for more than two decades in building a unique hydrogen research and innovation ecosystem. The challenge now is not simply to preserve it, but to use it as a strategic asset for Europe’s future. Hydrogen Europe Research will continue to work with its members, industry and European institutions to ensure that research remains at the heart of this effort.

Research has no finishing line. Neither should Europe’s ambition for technological leadership.

HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH NEWS AND ACTIVITIES

“Hydrogen and Dual-Use Research: Shaping Europe’s Research Agenda for FP10”, 14 October 2026, webinar

Hydrogen Europe Research is pleased to invite you, once again in collaboration with Women in Green Hydrogen, to the next webinar in our “HYDROGEN AND…” series: “Hydrogen and Dual-Use Research: Shaping Europe’s Research Agenda for FP10”.

Europe’s research and innovation landscape is undergoing an important change. As dual-use considerations increasingly become part of discussions around future European research and innovation programmes, the way we think about research priorities, funding and the relationship between civilian and security-related applications is evolving. But what does this shift actually mean for the research and innovation community? Our webinar will bring together perspectives from European institutions, research and industry for an open and constructive discussion on this emerging policy direction.

Speakers:

• Maja Kuzel –  European Defence Agency
• Niall Lawlor –  European Commission, DG RTD
• Steffen Møller-Holst –  SINTEF
• Konstantinos Chatzifotis – Motor Oil

Moderator: Katarina Muse – Hydrogen Europe / Women in Green Hydrogen

We will explore:

• What does dual-use mean in practice for research?
• How should hydrogen technologies be positioned within this evolving policy landscape?
• Which research priorities, infrastructures and innovation pathways can strengthen Europe's competitiveness, resilience and strategic autonomy?

We look forward to an interesting conversation about what this fundamental shift could mean for European research and how hydrogen can contribute to the discussion. Register here!

Participation is open to participants from EU Member States and Horizon Europe Associated Countries.

Discover our Members Pavilion at the European Hydrogen Week 2026!

We are pleased to announce that Hydrogen Europe Research will once again be exhibiting at the European Hydrogen Week in Brussels, taking place from 26 to 28 October 2026.

This year, our Members Pavilion will bring together 14 Hydrogen Europe Research members, offering them an opportunity to showcase their projects, research and technologies to an international audience. The Pavilion will provide a dedicated space to highlight the work being carried out across our research community and foster exchanges with visitors and fellow hydrogen stakeholders. Our Members Pavilion will feature:

• German Aerospace Center (DLR)
• SINTEF
• CEA – Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives
• Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology
• ZBT – The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Center
• Fondazione Bruno Kessler
• Fraunhofer
• HyCentA
• LEITAT
• Institute of Power Engineering – National Research Institute
• NORCE
• Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
• CERIC-ERIC
• Coventry University

We look forward to welcoming you to the Members Pavilion at booth F30 and showcasing the expertise and innovation of our research community!

Thank you to the young researchers who applied for the Young Scientist Award 2026!

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.

The application period has now closed. Thank you to the 51 young researchers from our member organisations who submitted their applications and shared their work with us!

The Hydrogen Europe Research Executive Board is currently reviewing all applications. The selection will recognise outstanding young researchers across the four key pillars of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, with five awards presented in total, including the Best Researcher of the Year.

The winners will be announced during the award ceremony at the Hydrogen Europe Research Days, taking place in Brussels on 2-3 December 2026.

We look forward to celebrating the achievements of this year’s applicants and recognising their contributions to hydrogen research!

EPHyC2027 heads to Sønderborg, Denmark

The 4th edition of the European PhD Hydrogen Conference (EPHyC) is coming to Sønderborg, Denmark! Join us for an ice-breaker event on 25 May 2027, followed by three days of scientific exchange, collaboration, and networking from 26-28 May 2027!

Organised by Hydrogen Europe Research together with SDU Energy Systems, EPHyC2027 will once again bring together PhD researchers from across Europe to showcase their work, exchange ideas, and connect with peers from the hydrogen research community.

Led by PhD researchers and designed for PhD researchers, EPHyC puts young scientists at the heart of the hydrogen conversation.

EPHyC provides a unique platform for doctoral researchers to:
🔹 Present their latest research and receive valuable feedback;
🔹 Exchange ideas with fellow PhD candidates from across Europe;
🔹 Build lasting connections within the European hydrogen research community.

More information on abstract submissions, the programme, and registration will be shared in the coming months. We look forward to welcoming you to Sønderborg in May 2027!

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 September, we decided to put the spotlight on 5 amazing researchers working at the German Aerospace Center (DLR), showcasing their work, experiences, and contributions to the hydrogen sector. You can find the full interviews here.

In our interview, Nathalie explains why the next steps must focus on sustainable, circular large-scale hydrogen production, including end-of-life recycling and stronger public understanding of hydrogen technologies. She also shares insights from international cooperation with partners in Europe, Australia, Brazil and Japan, highlighting why hydrogen strategies must always be adapted to regional resources, infrastructure and demand.

In our video interview, Daniela shares why she believes that hydrogen should be prioritised in hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, cement and chemicals, as well as in applications including heavy-duty transport, aviation and maritime shipping. She also reflects on building a new department, becoming an entrepreneur alongside her DLR role, and the importance of persistence, focus and good humour when working under pressure.

In our interview, Shaghayegh shares her experience of combining research and parenthood, finding her own path, and what she believes is needed to make maritime decarbonisation a success.

In our interview, Hong shares insights into the technical and organisational challenges of coordinating such a complex international project, the importance of trust and transparent communication in European collaboration, and her personal perspective on leadership, family life and finding a dynamic balance between different roles.

In our interview, Dana shares what she has learned from moving from experimental research to leading a research team, why materials remain one of the key challenges for HT-PEM fuel cells, and what working directly with end users has taught her about developing technologies for real-world applications.

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.

Key insights from the paper:
💠Hydrogen introduces specific risks (e.g., high flammability, rapid dispersion, embrittlement, cryogenic effects) not fully covered by existing rules;
💠Current “alternative design” approaches are fragmented, increasing costs and slowing approvals;
💠Critical gaps remain in areas such as storage, ventilation, bunkering, and fuel cell integration.

The paper calls for coordinated international research to support updated regulations, accelerate technology readiness, and enable safe large-scale deployment of hydrogen in shipping. Read it here!

CLEAN HYDROGEN PARTNERSHIP UPDATES

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 should 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 provided and response to the Public Consultation and shared elements on its website.

The second round of the drafting of research topics that will be included in the forthcoming Annual Work Plan (AWP) 2027 has concluded. Following discussions with the Clean Hydrogen Partnership Programme and the European Commission, a final list of topics will be agreed upon. The Governing Board will subsequently endorse this final list during its next plenary meeting.

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 the 26^th to 30^th of 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.

MEMBERS' NEWS

Hydrogen Digital Product Passport

In a new publication, David Parra from the Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage (CIIAE) and Paramaconi Rodriguez from CIC ENERGIGUNE, both members of Hydrogen Europe Research, together with other international co-authors, offer a scientific view of the benefits and challenges of a Hydrogen Digital Product Passport (HDPP). Amid a global energy transition, low-carbon hydrogen offers a transformative route for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors like heavy industry, aviation, the maritime industry, and long-distance transport and can play a role in long-duration energy storage, yet widespread adoption is hindered by regulatory gaps, high production costs, and inadequate transport and storage infrastructure. Beyond these barriers, the absence of clear, standardized certification risks market fragmentation, inconsistent carbon accounting, and greenwashing. Against this background, a hydrogen digital product passport (HDPP) would provide a standardized digital framework for integrating and verifying sustainability information across the hydrogen value chain.

This is an open-access publication in the journal Environmental Science and Technology, which can be accessed here.

Discover more about the SHIMMER project

To accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy while exploiting existing infrastructure, hydrogen can be injected to the natural gas network. However, technical and regulatory gaps should be closed and adaptations and investments should be made, to assure that multi-gas networks across Europe are able to operate in a reliable and safe way while providing a highly controllable gas quality and required energy demand. This is exactly what the SHIMMER project addressed.

• Open-source fluid-dynamic model with gas quality tracking (handbook)
• Tool for infrastructure optimisation: Investments and Capacity
• Gas quality measurement technologies for hydrogen injection
• Identification of critical material properties and component factors
• Recommendation and guidelines for inspection of pipelines for H-NG blends
• List of methods for gas leakage monitoring
• Assessment of gas leak detection methods for natural gas-hydrogen mixtures
• Underwater release of hydrogen-natural gas blends
• Scope and limitations of standards for testing and qualification of materials and components for hydrogen service
• Implication of subsea dispersion on overall risk assessment of severe H2 releases

You can find these reports on the project website: Deliverables Archives - Shimmer Project. Many relevant partners that are also members of HER are active in this project: BAM, Politecnico di Torino (POLITO), SINTEF, Fundación Tecnalia Research and Innovation (TECNALIA), TNO and The Oil and Gas Institute - National Research Institute (INiG-PIB).

Industrialising the next generation of sustainable hydrogen – we want to hear your opinion!

As part of the SUPREME project, we are inviting stakeholders from industry and research working on proton exchange membrane (PEM) water electrolysis to share their views on the current status and future needs of the field.

We are particularly interested in your perspective on non-fluorinated membranes and ionomers, catalysts, recycling, and value-chain considerations for the next generation of PEM water electrolysis materials. Your input will help identify promising PFAS-free alternatives and contribute to a technology roadmap for scalable and sustainable hydrogen production.

Do you work on electrolyser materials, PEM technology, or hydrogen value chains? We would value your perspective. The survey takes approximately 5 minutes to complete: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/Piip1XVzZh

Partners: Syddansk Universitet – University of Southern Denmark (Project Coordinator), TÜBİTAK MARMARA ARAŞTIRMA MERKEZİ, Graz University of Technology, Fraunhofer-Institut für Solare Energiesysteme ISE, Element One Energy, Ames Goldsmith Ceimig. Project funded by CETPartnership.

EVENTS ATTENDED BY HYDROGEN EUROPE RESEARCH

International Approaches to Hydrogen Skills Development, 23 September 2026, online

Developing the workforce needed to support a growing hydrogen economy is a shared challenge across the globe. International exchange and collaboration are therefore essential to identify successful approaches, learn from different regions, and prepare tomorrow’s workforce. This was the purpose of the joint webinar hosted by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, IPHE (International Partnership for Hydrogen and Fuel Cells in the Economy) and Hydrogen Europe Research on 23 September. The webinar featured contributions from:

• Valerie Bouillon-Delporte, Executive Director, Clean Hydrogen Partnership
• Mirela Atanasiu, Head of Unit Operations & Communications, Clean Hydrogen Partnership
• Laurent ANTONI, Executive Director, IPHE
• Franklin Chang-Díaz, Co-lead, IPHE H2 Skills Task Force.

The programme was followed by an international panel discussion moderated by Hydrogen Europe Research, bringing perspectives from Canada, the EU, Kenya and Uruguay.

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, which took place in Capri on 15-17 September 2026, placed strong emphasis on research-driven solutions, bridging fundamental science, applied engineering, and large-scale demonstration activities. 

Our President, Luigi Crema, participated in the first session titled "Strategic Research Priorities for Hydrogen in Europe" and in the ceremony for the Best Thesis Award.

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