Hydrogen Innovation Centre

The Hydrogen Innovation Center (HIC) in Chemnitz is a location of the National Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Centre (ITZ H2). As a development and innovation platform, the HIC supports companies in transferring hydrogen technologies into industrial applications and marketable solutions more quickly.</p

<p>The focus is on close collaboration between industry, research and education. To this end, a modern development and test environment with laboratories, test benches and workshops along the hydrogen-based value chain is being created at the Technology Campus Chemnitz.

Small and medium-sized companies and start-ups in particular will have access to specialised infrastructure, technical expertise and a strong partner network. At the same time, the HIC contributes to the development of future standards and regulations for hydrogen technologies in Germany and Europe.

(December 2024) The city of Chemnitz and the south-west Saxon districts (Vogtlandkreis, Erzgebirgskreis, LK Mittelsachsen and LK Zwickau)  have joined the attached position paper of the BDWR (Bund der Wasserstoffregionen)  . The city of Chemnitz has been a member of the BDWR since its foundation.</p

<p>From the City of Chemnitz's perspective, hydrogen as a storage medium for renewable energies cannot currently be ruled out as an option for supply - especially in our region, which is characterised by SMEs.

There is a risk that regions without this option will be at a disadvantage when it comes to transformation. The stakeholders in our region have recognised the need and are using the paper to advocate access to a hydrogen infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises - which employ around 52 per cent of all employees in Germany.

(29 August 2024) The signals for the establishment of the national hydrogen centre in the Chemnitz Technopark are "green". The Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV) and the Saxon Ministry of Economic Affairs (SMWA) signed the necessary administrative agreement in Chemnitz today. The federal government is supporting the "Hydrogen Innovation Centre" (HIC) project with 72.5 million euros. The Free State of Saxony is co-financing the development phase of the HIC with around 15 million euros until 2028.</p

<p>The HIC in Chemnitz is the Chemnitz site of the national Innovation and Technology Centre for Hydrogen (ITZ), which successfully won the federal competition organised by the BMDV in 2021. The HIC was developed by the national hydrogen technology cluster HZwo e.V., which brings together the expertise of 150 companies and research institutions across Germany. The HIC is to be set up via the subsidiary HIC gGmbH, which was founded in 2024.

Importance for Saxony, Germany and Europe

With the construction of the Hydrogen Innovation Centre (HIC), a development and test environment for hydrogen technologies will be established in the region that is unique in Europe and combines the expertise of the region and the cluster under the umbrella of HZwo e.V.. Chemnitz will be home to the most modern hydrogen centre with test benches, hydrogen training laboratories and workshops, a start-up centre and laboratories for industrial customers who rely on hydrogen. Small and medium-sized enterprises, automotive suppliers and industrial companies will have the opportunity to test and certify their innovations, train employees and develop new standards for the global market at the HIC. The facility also offers start-ups in the field of hydrogen technologies attractive conditions for setting up in the region, thus promoting the creation of new jobs in the region. In addition, the proximity to the research and university campus with Chemnitz University of Technology and the Fraunhofer Institutes IWU and ENAS sustainably strengthens the regional innovative power, further expanding Chemnitz's pioneering role as a location for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies in Europe.

Next steps

In the coming weeks, the focus will be on the prompt approval of the necessary funds by the Federal Ministry of Transport so that the official start of the project can be initiated. The aim is then to finalise the construction planning and obtain planning permission so that the foundation stone can be laid as soon as possible. Commissioning of the first construction phase is scheduled for 2026. In the further course of the project, the focus will be on completing the remaining construction work smoothly in order to realise project completion in 2029. "Time is of the essence," warns Karl Lötsch, adding "The competition for hydrogen technologies is in full swing. New markets are developing worldwide. Hydrogen-based drive systems in particular are taking on a new, strategic importance as part of the transformation of the transport sector. As part of the ITZ, the Hydrogen Innovation Centre will focus on the development of these future technologies," says Karl Lötsch.</p

<p>The ITZ site in Chemnitz will also support small and medium-sized suppliers in particular, who are severely affected by structural change, to develop products for hydrogen-based mobility solutions, train skilled workers and increase the visibility of the Free State in international relocations.

(2 September 2021) Chemnitz will become part of the nationwide hydrogen centre. This was announced on 2 September 2021 by Federal Transport Minister Andreas Scheuer and the Saxon state government.

The HZwo network, which is based at Chemnitz University of Technology, will receive funding of 60 million euros. Alongside Duisburg (North Rhine-Westphalia) and Pfeffenhausen (Bavaria), future research into hydrogen will thus also be based in Chemnitz.

Mayor Sven Schulze: "The decision in favour of Chemnitz as a location is an excellent one and one with a promising future. With the award, the federal government is supporting my efforts to drive forward the modernisation of teaching, research and industry in the city. For the researchers in Chemnitz and the network, this award is an honour for their already outstanding work, for which I would like to offer my warmest congratulations. I will continue to do everything I can to further develop Chemnitz and promote it as a location for future technologies. Today's decision is very good news for Chemnitz."</p