Launch of Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centers in Chemnitz and Northern Germany
The Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport ( BMDV ) continues to invest in hydrogen technology and supports the development of decentralized hydrogen innovation and technology centers (ITZ-H2). Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing today presented funding notices totaling 154 million euros to representatives of the two locations in Berlin: Chemnitz and the northern German cluster of Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Stade.
The funding for the Chemnitz location amounts to around 84 million euros, of which the state of Saxony is contributing co-financing of around 14 million euros. The funds for the federal funding of the ITZ-H2 come from the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP), among others, and are provided via the European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ARF) as part of NextGenerationEU.
Volker Wissing, Federal Minister for Digital Affairs and Transport:
Hydrogen offers a great opportunity to make mobility and the economy more sustainable and climate-neutral. We must use this potential. This is the only way to combine climate policy goals with industrial policy goals and at the same time advance the technology. The hydrogen innovation and technology centers supported today are making a decisive contribution to this. The mission is clear: the hydrogen centers are intended to support small and medium-sized companies and the supplier industry in particular in the transformation to climate-friendly technologies. As incubators, they create the conditions for bringing new applications to market maturity – with the latest development, inspection and test infrastructure.
Saxony’s Minister of Economic Affairs Dirk Panter , who was represented in Berlin by State Secretary for Economic Affairs Thomas Kralinski:
I am extremely happy for the city of Chemnitz, whose rich industrial heritage has also helped it to win the title of European Capital of Culture 2025. Chemnitz is now once again actively shaping the future of the economy and is further expanding its position as an important international hydrogen technology location. As part of the ITZ network, the Hydrogen Innovation Center will operate a state-of-the-art test environment and world-class research and development for hydrogen technologies of the future. HZwoeV, as the sponsor, will ensure that the technology and knowledge transfer offers actively shape the transformation of the supplier industry and help meet the increasing demand for well-trained specialists in the hydrogen economy. As the Free State of Saxony, we are sticking to our financial commitment even in these economically challenging times and are co-financing the strategically important project with around 14 million euros.
Hans-Georg Tschupke, Chairman of the Forum of the Hanseatic Hydrogen Center 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 shipping and aviation sectors. With the North German Hydrogen Strategy, we recognized this importance early on. We benefit from more than a hundred years of aviation and shipping experience that are available for the development of alternatively powered aircraft and ships at the site. With our location advantages and our expertise in these areas, we are jointly assuming responsibility for decarbonization and the reduction ofCO2 emissions.SMEsand startups should benefit from the resultsand thus become innovators and experts in decarbonization.
Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centers: Focal points in Chemnitz and Northern Germany
With the Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centers (ITZ-H2), the BMDV is implementing a central measure of the Federal Government’s National Hydrogen Strategy. The two locations in Chemnitz and the northern German cluster of Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Stade will specifically support small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ), start-ups and the supplier industry in further developing hydrogen technologies and bringing them to market maturity.
The so-called Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Chemnitz focuses 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 procedures and digital twins, particularly in the area of fuel cells and hydrogen applications.
The Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for Aviation and Maritime (H2AM) in northern Germany focuses on shipping and aviation. The work concentrates on the development and integration of fuel cell systems, hybrid drives, refueling concepts and the storage and logistics of hydrogen and its derivatives.
Both centers offer state-of-the-art development and test environments with specialized hydrogen laboratories and workshops at the highest international level. They also combine expertise in industrial research and development, certification, norming and standardization for technology development at German companies.
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Launch of Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centers in Chemnitz and Northern Germany, source
