HYDROGEN CENTER
The future of green hydrogen technologies in the Interreg Slovenia-Austria cross-border area
The Hydrogen Center is a permanent, cross-border research and industrial network that connects and builds on regional advantages in research and development potential for the hydrogen technology sector. It provides companies with access to infrastructure, new development knowledge and technological achievements in the area of Slovenia and Austria.
Single point of entry
MEMBER NETWORK
The membership network and (digital) platform are intended for cross-border cooperation between companies, research and development centers and educational institutions with an emphasis on joint research and development of innovations, project cooperation, provision of individual services and exchange of knowledge and experience.
Membership in the Hydrogen Center is free of charge and open to various potential stakeholders: SMEs, large companies, research and development organizations with their laboratories, centers of excellence, educational institutions, start-ups, researchers, students and other individuals from the program area who, with their professional, development and research work, knowledge, competences and experience, significantly contribute to the development of breakthrough hydrogen technologies and their greater use in the cross-border area and beyond.
THE HYDROGEN CENTER PLATFORM ENABLES
Research infrastructure overview
Knowledge exchange
Information about tenders
Presentation of organizations and achievements
International integration and networking
Training and education
H2GreenFUTURE WORKING GROUP
The H2GreenFUTURE Working Group brings together researchers, industry representatives, R&D centres, technology parks, students, and other individuals from Slovenia and Austria to share their knowledge, experience, and information about hydrogen technologies. Working together, we will identify pilot project boundary conditions, stimulate innovation, participate in educational activities and support the implementation of the H2GreenTECH Roadmap for hydrogen technologies in Interreg region Slovenia – Austria.
The activities of the members of the H2GreenFUTURE Working Group will take place until the end of the project in November 2026 through 2-3 regional expert meetings (DEC-MAY 2025), interregional congresses in Ljubljana, Maribor and Graz and an extended policy forum.
The Working Group is constituted as part of Work Package 1 – Cross-border Pilot Project Implementation Showcasing.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate through a pilot all the integral pre-conditions that would be necessary for the implementation of such or a larger hydrogen technology project.
CONTACT
- Dr. Jure Voglar: jure.voglar@ki.si (Leader: WP1 and A1.1 Interested stakeholder inclusion in design; A1.3 Assessment of (pilot) replicability/scalability)
- DI Christian Seidl, BSc: christian.seidl@hochschule-burgenland.at (Leader: A1.2 Implementation of interregional hydrogen pilot)
HYDROGEN CENTRE STAKEHOLDER BOARD
The Hydrogen Center Stakeholder Committee, composed of representatives from educational and research institutions, industry, political bodies, ministries/agencies, and other supporting institutions, will promote cross-sectoral cooperation to build a hydrogen technology innovation ecosystem. This collaboration is crucial for overcoming development barriers, shaping legislation, and fostering the development and implementation of hydrogen technologies in both countries. Board members will participate in decision-making to accelerate the transition to green energy.
The source document for the work is the Cross-border benchmarking policy analysis in the field of hydrogen developed as part of the Interreg project H2GreenTECH.
The activities of the members of the Stakeholder Board will take place until the end of the project in November 2026. The Stakeholder Board will meet at least twice a year (both online and in person). The focus will be on creating a sandbox simulation and identifying appropriate regulatory measures based on case studies (H2 pilot and local energy communities). Prior to the final simulation/implementation, a separate meeting will be organised for cross-border knowledge exchange between policy makers from both countries on the development of the hydrogen economy
The Stakeholder Board is constituted as part of Work Package 2 – Pilot H2 Regulatory Sandbox.
OBJECTIVE
Identify challenges in the field of legislation and regulation, address them by formulating proposals and test the proposals through a regulatory sandbox simulation.
CONTACT
- Andreja Kumer: andreja.kumer@stajerskagz.si (Leader: WP2)
HYDROGEN CENTER MANAGEMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD OF HYDROGEN CENTER:
President: dr. Blaž Likozar
National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
E-mail: blaz.likozar@ki.si
Vice President: dr. Viktor Hacker
TU GRAZ, Austria
E-mail: viktor.hacker@tugraz.at
COORDINATORS:
Andreja Kumer
Chamber of commerce and industry of Štajerska, Slovenia
E-mail: andreja.kumer@stajerskagz.si
Petra Props
National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
E-mail: petra.props@ki.si
PROFESSIONAL SUPPORT POINTS:
National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Contact: prof. dr. Blaž Likozar
E-mail: blaz.likozar@ki.si
Graz University of Technology, Graz, Austria
Contact: prof. dr. Viktor Hacker
E-mail: viktor.hacker@tugraz.at
Carinthian University of Applied Sciences, Villach, Austria
Contact: dr. Claudia Pacher, dipl. ing.
E-mail: forschung@fh-kaernten.at
H2GreenFUTURE CONSORTIUM PARTNERS:
Chamber of commerce and industry of Štajerska
Ulica talcev 24, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Contact: Andreja Kumer
E-mail: andreja.kumer@stajerskagz.si
HYDROGEN CENTER
E-mail: hydrogencenter@stajerskagz.si
Tel.: +386 2 220 87 00
National Institute of Chemistry, Slovenia
Hajdrihova ulica 19, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
Contact: Petra Props
E-mail: petra.props@ki.si
Forschung Burgenland
Steinamangerstraße 21, A-7423 Pinkafeld, Austria
Contact: Chistian Seidl
E-mail: christian.seidl@forschung-burgenland.at
Graz University of Technology
Inffeldgasse 25, 8010 Graz, Austria
Contact: dr. Michael Lammer
E-mail: michael.lammer@tugraz.at
Carinthian University of Applied Sciences
Europastrasse 4, 9524 Villach, Austria
Contact: dr. Wolfgang Werth
E-mail: W.Werth@fh-kaernten.at
Zasavje Regional Development Agency
Kolodvorska cesta 2, 1410 Zagorje ob Savi, Slovenia
Contact: Nina Juratovec
E-mail: nina.juratovec@rra-zasavje.si