The HIC in Chemnitz is one of four strategic locations in the national Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Center (Innovations- und Technologiezentrum (ITZ)) that together receive up to 290 million euros of federal funding. In Chemnitz, a development and test environment for hydrogen technologies, unique in Europe, is being created on the 37,000-square metre technology campus.
Germany faces the largest industrial transformation in recent history. In particular, the suppliers, machine and plant manufacturers, with their numerous small- and medium-sized companies have to master the transition to a post-fossil economy. Hydrogen plays a key role in this – not only in transport, but also in energy provision and in industrial processes. Saxony, with over 700 automotive manufacturers, machine and plant companies, is one of the most important cluster regions in Germany. The HIC in Chemnitz acts as a catalyst of this transformation and supports companies in tapping into new value-added potential. The HIC’s focus on small- and medium-sized businesses addresses a core challenge of the structure of the German economy: SMEs comprise the backbone of the German economy, but often don’t have access to the resources for their own hydrogen research and development. The HIC closes this gap by offering rentable hydrogen laboratories and test benches for the first time, as well as development services that are also accessible to small- and medium-sized businesses without their own research infrastructure.
Ministerial Director Bettina Lauer, Head of Innovative and Climate-Friendly Mobility at the Federal Ministry of Transport said at the opening:
“At the Transport Ministry, we firmly believe that hydrogen and renewable fuels will play an important role in shaping sustainable mobility, in addition to battery-electric applications. That is why it is so significant that now one of four Innovation and Technology Centers is launching in the form of the Hydrogen Innovation Center. Through them, we are accelerating the transformation of the supply industry towards sustainable drives. A key role is played here by small- and medium-sized businesses. With the center, funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport with around 70 million euros, we are creating optimal conditions for them for research, development and innovation in Chemnitz.”
The ‘Hydrogen Innovation Center’ project as a Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Center in Chemnitz is funded by the Federal Ministry of Transport (BMV) in the amount of 84,398,790.54 euros in the framework of the Guideline for the Promotion of Projects in the Course of Establishing a Decentralized Innovation and Technology Center for Hydrogen. Funding for this measure is also being provided as part of the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) through the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (ARF) in the NextGenerationEU program. The project is also cofinanced by the State of Saxony. The funding guideline is coordinated by NOW GmbH and implemented by Project Management Jülich (PtJ).
“The Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centers are a key instrument in translating research into marketable products and involving supplier industries along the value chain. The now opened Hydrogen Innovation Center in Chemnitz is a prime example of this: it enables small- and medium-sized businesses access to state-of-the-art laboratories, test benches and development platforms and impressively illustrates how strong networks creating synergies strengthen Germany as a technology hub internationally. As NOW GmbH, which coordinates the funding guideline on behalf of BMV, we warmly welcome this development – because it will give rise to future , ‘Made in Germany’ technologies that complement battery solutions where necessary and thus pave the way for a sustainable transport system”, explains Dagmar Fehler, CEO and Spokesperson of NOW GmbH.
Further information can be found here: Hydrogen Innovation Center Chemnitz becomes key player in German hydrogen ecosystem – HZwo
Image source: HZwo e.V.
