Wedoany.com Report-Mar 15, Germany is significantly bolstering its commitment to hydrogen technology through a substantial EUR 154 million investment aimed at developing decentralized innovation and technology centers (ITZ-H2). This funding initiative, led by the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport (BMDV), is part of the broader German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP), financed through the European Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) under the NextGenerationEU program.

The investment will primarily benefit two major clusters: the city of Chemnitz and a northern German cluster that includes Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, and Stade. Chemnitz alone will receive about EUR 84 million, with an additional EUR 14 million co-financing from the state of Saxony. This financial backing underscores the strategic importance of Chemnitz and the surrounding regions in the national push towards innovative energy solutions.

The remaining funds are allocated to the northern German cluster, highlighting the region's pivotal role in advancing hydrogen technology. These hubs are designed to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), startups, and the supply industry by enhancing their capabilities in developing hydrogen technologies and achieving market readiness.

Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing emphasized the critical role of hydrogen in achieving sustainable mobility and a climate-neutral economy. He noted, "Hydrogen presents a great opportunity to make mobility and the economy more sustainable and climate-neutral. We must harness this potential. Only by doing so can we align climate policy goals with industrial policy while also advancing technology."

The funding for the Chemnitz site amounts to around 84 million euros, of which the state of Saxony is contributing around 14 million euros in co-financing. The funds for the federal funding of the ITZ-H2 come from the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP) and are provided via the European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ARF) within the framework 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. HZwo eV, 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 of CO2 emissions. SMEs and startups should benefit from the results and thus become innovators and experts in decarbonization.

Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centers: Focus 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, especially in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen applications.

At the Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for Aviation and Maritime (H2AM) in northern Germany, the focus is on shipping and aviation. The work concentrates on the development and integration of fuel cell systems, hybrid drives, refueling concepts as well as 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 pool expertise in industrial research and development, certification, norming and standardization for technology development at German companies.