Hydrogen R&I in Europe has expanded significantly, however, further efforts are required to strengthen system integration, align national and EU funding pathways, and support regions lagging behind
The report Mapping of R&I projects on hydrogen and fuel cells at EU level describes initial work on creating an overview of hydrogen-related research and innovation (R&I) activities in Europe as a basis for the work and decision making of the IWG Hydrogen. The authors used publicly available data from European funding programmes such as Horizon Europe, Horizon 2020, and the 7th Framework Programme, as well as complementary sources from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and Mission Innovation.
The report presents two key outcomes:
- A database of 763 projects was compiled using data from CORDIS and the European Commission’s Hydrogen Monitoring Flash (2024). These projects cover hydrogen production, transport, storage, end-use applications, and cross-cutting issues and will be used by the IWG to identify research gaps.
- Hydrogen valleys – integrated regional ecosystems covering production, distribution, and multiple end-uses – are emerging as key drivers of the EU’s clean hydrogen economy. A dedicated database of 85 hydrogen valleys was developed through desk research, surveys, and interviews. It will serve to guide the IWG’s support towards a greater number of hydrogen valleys in Europe that are more interconnected.
The report also examines funding mechanisms and the distribution of EU and national funding. Furthermore, the report includes individual country analyses and two case studies related to hydrogen valleys. A follow-up update of the project database and hydrogen valley list is planned for Q1 2026 to fill data gaps and capture more of the Horizon Europe funding period.