
Kick-Off for Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centers in Chemnitz and Northern Germany
The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) is investing in hydrogen technology and funding the establishment of decentralized hydrogen innovation and technology centers (ITZ-H2). In Berlin, Federal Minister Dr. Volker Wissing handed over funding decisions for 154 million euros to representatives of the Chemnitz sites and the northern German cluster from Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Stade.
The funding for Chemnitz amounts to around 84 million euros, with co-financing from the state of Saxony amounting to 14 million euros. The funds come from the German Recovery and Resilience Plan (DARP), among others, and are provided by European Recovery and Resilience Facilities (ARF).
Federal Minister Wissing emphasized the importance of hydrogen for sustainable mobility and the economy. The ITZ-H2 are intended to support small and medium-sized enterprises and the supply industry in particular in the transformation to climate-friendly technologies. They act as incubators for the market maturity of new applications with modern development, testing and testing infrastructure.
Saxony’s Economics Minister Dirk Panter praised Chemnitz’s role as a future hydrogen technology location. The Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) will create a state-of-the-art test environment and promote research and knowledge transfer. HZwo e.V. will ensure that the supplier industry is actively involved in the transformation. Saxony is co-financing the strategic project with 14 million euros.
Hans-Georg Tschupke, Chairman of the Forum of the Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for Aviation and Maritime in Northern Germany, emphasized that hydrogen is essential for a climate-neutral industry as well as for shipping and aviation. The region benefits from decades of experience in these areas. The North German Hydrogen Strategy promotes developments for emission-free aircraft and ships, from which SMEs and start-ups in particular should benefit.
With the ITZ-H2, the BMDV is implementing a central measure of the National Hydrogen Strategy. The Chemnitz and Northern Germany sites provide targeted support for SMEs, start-ups and the supplier industry in the further development and market maturity of hydrogen technologies.
The HIC in Chemnitz focuses on the transformation of the supplier industry and mechanical engineering. The focus is on components, assemblies, systems, new test procedures and digital twins, particularly in the field of fuel cells and hydrogen applications.
The Hanseatic Hydrogen Center for Aviation and Maritime (H2AM) in northern Germany focuses on shipping and aviation. Topics include 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 an international level. They also combine expertise in industrial research, certification, standardization and standardization for German companies.
Source: https://bmdv.bund.de/SharedDocs/DE/Pressemitteilungen/2025/015-wissing-startschuss-innovationszentren-wasserstoff.html