E-Mobilitätscluster Regensburg establishes research and development network: “New technologies with hydrogen and fuel cells”.
Regensburg, 22.07.2020 – E-Mobilitätscluster Regensburg (Regensburg e-mobility cluster) and the Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg are setting up Bavaria’s largest research and development network for hydrogen in cooperation with IHK Regensburg für Oberpfalz and Kelheim. The first online workshop took place on 17 June 2020 with over 100 participants on the topic of ‘Developing new technologies based on hydrogen and fuel cells for the mobility of tomorrow’.
Ambitious climate protection goals require collective thinking in the areas of energy, industry and mobility. Hydrogen provides multiple solutions for the mobility sector that will be developed and utilized in the e-mobility cluster. New drive technologies like, for example, e-mobility, play the key role in achieving climate protection goals: reducing CO2 emissions in the transport sector by around 40 per cent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels will only be possible if using alternative drives and fuels is a major component.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Rabl from OTH Regensburg, partner of the network, emphasised in the kick-off workshop that hydrogen technologies are strategically important for e-mobility: “Hydrogen can be used in fuel cells to generate energy for electric drives. This technology can be used in electric cars, but also in buses and trucks, because for these, larger ranges are required and heavy loads have to be transported.” Uwe Pfeil, Manager of E-Mobilitätscluster Regensburg, is looking forward to a fast-growing network: “Drawing from our cluster activities, we bring a lot of experience with us in network-building. We have now identified hydrogen as an important technological field and are happy to commit ourselves to developing this new innovation network.”
The workshop orients itself towards companies with relevant competencies in the R&D area which are prepared to work as part of cross-company open innovation projects, share knowledge and jointly develop new technologies. The aim of the network is to jointly develop a technological emphasis and work out possible approaches for joint R&D projects. Furthermore a specific collaboration with OTH Regensburg was already presented in the workshop. From 2021, a hydrogen test environment will be available, also to companies.
Following the successful online workshop, four follow-up ‘Mobility needs hydrogen’ events will take place, focusing on demonstration projects, systems engineering, production technology and electrolysis. New partners can join the innovation network at any time.
About the e-mobility cluster
The E-Mobilitätscluster Regensburg is organised by R-Tech GmbH. R-Tech GmbH is a company of the city of Regensburg and is tasked with supporting the innovation capabilities of regional technology companies and can act supraregionally in projects, collaborations and networks. The company runs one of the largest Bavarian start-up and innovation centre – TechBase – and organizes the e-mobility cluster and IT logistics. In the period of 2010 to 2020, approx. 50 innovation projects with a project volume of 20 million euros were started by R-Tech GmbH. These are regional, national as well as international joint projects with several companies and research institutes. Aside from activities in the R&D area, R-Tech supports companies with technology marketing. This comprises all activities, such as conception of flyers and image brochures, creating and operating project websites, publishing newsletters, establishing social media, organizing and executing events and congresses and organisation of and participation in joint exhibition stands at trade fairs, e.g. LogiMAT (Stuttgart), eMove360 (Munich) and it-sa (Nuremberg), R-Tech GmbH has a broad international network, particularly with other automotive clusters in Europe.
Contact
Uwe Pfeil
Cluster Manager R-Tech GmbH
Franz-Mayer-Str.1
93053 Regensburg
Tel.: 0941/604 889-55
Email:
www.elektromobilitaet-regensburg.de