The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV) is continuing to invest in hydrogen technology and is supporting the establishment of decentralised hydrogen innovation and technology centres (Innovations- und Technologiezentren Wasserstoff (ITZ-H2)). Today in Berlin, Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing handed over funding notices in the amount of 154 million euros to representatives of both locations: Chemnitz as well as the northern German cluster of Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Stade.
The funding amount for the Chemnitz location comprises around 84 million euros, of which the state of Saxony is co-financing in the amount of approximately 14 million euros. Financing for the ITZ-H2 federal funding comes from the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP), among other sources, and is provided through the European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ARF) as part of NextGenerationEU.
Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital and Transport:
Hydrogen offers a great opportunity to make mobility and the economy more sustainable and climate neutral. We must exploit this potential. This is the only way to unite both climate policy and industrial policy targets and at the same time, further advance the technology. The hydrogen innovation and technology centres that have received funding today will contribute decisively to this goal. The mission is clear: the hydrogen centres will specifically support small- and medium-sized businesses as well as the supplier industry in making the transformation towards climate-friendly technologies. As incubators, they create the conditions for bringing new applications to market maturity – with cutting-edge development, testing and trial infrastructure.
Saxony’s Economic Minister Dirk Panter, represented in Berlin by Economic Secretary Thomas Kralinski:
I am absolutely delighted for the city of Chemnitz, whose rich industrial heritage also helped it win the title of European City of Culture 2025. Chemnitz is now once again actively shaping the future of the economy, expanding its position as a significant international hydrogen technology location. Within the ITZ network, the hydrogen technology centre will run a state-of-the-art test environment as well as world-class research and development for hydrogen technologies of the future. As the responsible entity, HZwo e.V. will ensure that the technology and knowledge transfer actively shape the transformation of the supplier industry and assist in meeting the rising demand for well-trained specialists in the hydrogen economy. As the Free State of Saxony, we are steadfast in our financial commitment, even in these economically challenging times, and are co-financing the strategically important projects in the amount of approximately 14 million euros.
Hans-Georg Tschupke, Chairman of the Forum of the Hanseatic Hydrogen Centre for Aviation and Maritime in northern Germany:
The use of hydrogen and its derivatives is an important prerequisite for a climate-neutral basic materials industry as well as in the areas of shipping and aviation. With the Northern Germany Hydrogen Strategy, we recognised the significance of this early on. We benefit from more than one hundred years of aviation and shipping experience that is available for the development of alternatively operated airplanes and ships at this location. With the benefits of our location and our expertise in these areas, we are together taking over the responsibility for decarbonisation and reduction of CO2 emissions. SMEs and start-ups will benefit from the results, thus becoming the innovators and experts of decarbonisation.
Hydrogen innovation and technology centres: focus on Chemnitz and northern Germany
With the hydrogen innovation and technology centres (ITZ-H2), the BMDV is implementing a key measure of the federal government’s National Hydrogen Strategy. Both the locations of Chemnitz and the northern German cluster of Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Stade will specifically support small- and medium-sized businesses (SMEs), start-ups as well as the supplier industry to further develop hydrogen technologies and bring them to market maturity.
The so-called Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Chemnitz focusses on supporting the transformation of the supplier industry and mechanical engineering. The focus here is on components, assemblies and systems as well as new test processes and digital twins, particularly in the area of fuel cells and hydrogen applications.
At the Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for Aviation and Maritime (H2AM) in northern Germany, shipping and aviation take centre stage. The work is concentrated on the development and integration of fuel cell systems, hybrid drives, refuelling concepts as well as hydrogen storage and logistics and their derivatives.
Both centres provide state-of-the-art development and test environments with specialised hydrogen laboratories and workshops at the highest international level. In addition, they bundle expertise in industrial research and development, certification and standardisation for technology development at German companies.
Source of original release: BMDV
Photo: ©BMDV/Woithe