On 5 June 2025, the 4th HyLand Symposium took place at the Federal Ministry of Transport in Berlin. Under the umbrella theme of ‘Developing projects together’, representatives from regions, politics and industry came together to discuss current developments in the hydrogen economy and instigate concrete partnerships for new projects.
The HyLand programme, initiated and funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV), has been supporting regions across Germany in establishing a sustainable hydrogen economy since 2019. The symposium is considered the central networking event of the funding initiative.
Focus was on practical reports from the HyLand regions, keynotes on positive business models and European Hydrogen Valley projects, and a panel discussion on the role of local authorities. An interactive World Café promoted exchange on needs, grid connection and framework conditions for hydrogen projects in three workshops. The programme was complemented by a get-together for networking with stakeholders from industry and local authorities.
The 4th HyLand Symposium clearly demonstrated the particular strength of the programme: its network of regions. More than 1,000 experts across Germany are working locally on specific solutions for the hydrogen economy – a commitment that was impressively demonstrated in the personal exchanges between participants. Numerous discussions and project examples showed how the interaction between regional expertise and national strategy is leading to visible progress – from the initial idea to implementation.
The presentations at the event highlighted how hydrogen ecosystems can already be economically viable today. The use of hydrogen makes economic sense, especially in the transport sector, where willingness to pay is significantly higher than among industrial customers. Projects along the entire value chain are gathering valuable experience that is essential for the widespread ramp-up of the hydrogen economy. In some regions, hydrogen mobility is already becoming a familiar sight on the streets. One of the main reasons for this is GHG quota trading, which provides companies with additional income. At the same time, they make an important contribution to reducing local and global CO₂ emissions.
The diverse group of participants – consisting of regional representatives, operators and manufacturers of plants and vehicles, as well as political decision-makers – enabled an intensive exchange of ideas. A key finding was that many regions are already gaining practical experience with hydrogen technologies and are taking on a pioneering role. These pioneers must be specifically supported through appropriate regulatory frameworks and funding measures. The nationwide ramp-up of the hydrogen economy must be accompanied by appropriate funding instruments and practice-oriented legislation – the necessary knowledge and social acceptance are already in place.
About HyLand
‘HyLand – Hydrogen Regions in Germany’ is a competition launched in 2019 by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV). HyLand motivates stakeholders in all regions of Germany to initiate, plan and implement hydrogen-related concepts. The objective of the competition is to identify and promote the most innovative and promising regional concepts. In the first two phases of the HyLand programme, 53 regions were already funded and supported in establishing a hydrogen economy in the following three categories: HyStarter, HyExperts and HyPerformer. Many regions have already submitted their final reports and feasibility studies and are about to enter their next development phase. Further information on HyLand I + II as well as the final reports can be found here: www.hy.land