A new hydrogen research forum has been established in Finland, with the aim to promote Finnish hydrogen expertise via common visions for the future and to represent academic actors alongside other fields. VTT is launching the Hydrogen Research Forum Finland together with several research and education institutions in the field. The goal is to build success in the international hydrogen market.
A sufficiently broad and high-quality scientific base is a prerequisite for the emergence of revolutionary innovations and functional applications. In hydrogen research, co-operation between different actors is particularly important, as through that, Finland can take its place as a significant player in the rapidly growing global hydrogen market, says Antti Arasto, VTT's Vice President for Industrial energy and hydrogen.
Finland’s central universities and research institutions have agreed on a new partnership by establishing Hydrogen Research Forum Finland. The forum promotes Finnish hydrogen research competence through action plans, visions of the future and communication, representing academic operators alongside other hydrogen operators.
The key missions of Hydrogen Research Forum Finland are:
• Promoting a national hydrogen action plan and visions of the future for research and education
• Providing a communication forum for research actions
• Strengthening education of the hydrogen economy through communication, joint planning and events
• Providing a channel for independent and research-based information to support decision-making
• Increasing the academic visibility of Finnish research on hydrogen and the hydrogen transition, both nationally and internationally
Hydrogen Research Forum Finland’s partnership includes Aalto University, LUT University, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, Åbo Akademi University, the universities of Jyväskylä, Turku, Tampere, and Vaasa as well as the University of Oulu, which will initially coordinate the forum’s operations.
The hydrogen transition has given rise to a vast number of alliances operating from different perspectives, such as Hydrogen Cluster Finland, formed by corporate operators. The need for research-based open and independent discussion has been recognised in the hydrogen transition and related research, which the academic operators are addressing through Hydrogen Research Forum Finland.
Where necessary, Hydrogen Research Forum Finland also serves as an operator representing academic research alongside the national private or public sector hydrogen alliances.
“Hydrogen Research Forum Finland is a forum for those in hydrogen research and for those interested in hydrogen research, enabling more holistic views to be formed. This is also important for the establishment of a comprehensive national hydrogen action plan that would make Finland an internationally competitive operator in the hydrogen transition. The forum also brings academic operators together as partners in discussion to support national decision-making,” explains Timo Fabritius, Professor at the University of Oulu and Coordinator at Hydrogen Research Forum Finland.
In the hydrogen economy, it is to be expected that there will be fierce international competition between different technologies, and there are thousands of hydrogen projects in the pipeline both in Europe and globally. Finland has all the tools to succeed in the international hydrogen market.
Focal points for the entire hydrogen value chain in hydrogen production, logistics and utilisation
“The partners of Hydrogen Research Forum Finland cover the entire hydrogen value chain, providing a strong and easily accessible knowledge base promoting Finland’s position in the international hydrogen collaboration” says Antti Arasto.
The first step in the forum’s work is to devise a proposal on a national hydrogen action plan. The action plan will account for the development of the required research infrastructure, national and international cooperation as well as the impact of the hydrogen transition on society as a whole. An international conference around the theme of hydrogen is being planned for 2023 to summarise the intensifying national dialogue.
On the basis of their ongoing research, the partners of Hydrogen Research Forum Finland are enhancing their activities in hydrogen production, transmission and utilisation.
The partners of Hydrogen Research Forum Finland cover the entire hydrogen value chain, providing a strong and easily accessible knowledge base promoting Finland’s position in the international hydrogen collaboration."
Further information
LUT University, Petteri Laaksonen, Research Director: [email protected], tel. +358 (0)40 508 8498
University of Oulu, Professor Timo Fabritius, Coordinator of the Hydrogen Research Forum Finland: [email protected], tel. +358 (0)40 554 6683
University of Vaasa, Professor Seppo Niemi: [email protected], tel: +358 (0)50 430 8519
VTT, Antti Arasto, Vice President for Industrial energy and hydrogen: [email protected], tel: +358 (0)400 159 052
