Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy at KENTECH FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH Opening Ceremony Article

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The world’s first FIP focusing on Hydrogen Technology “Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy at Korea Institute of Energy Technology(KENTECH) FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH” opened in Naju

On September 14^th, KENTECH and Fraunhofer announced the opening of the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy at KENTECH FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH.

The FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH is a Fraunhofer-like research unit embedded in the legal structure of KENTECH, with the aim to become a key partner for applied hydrogen energy research supporting industry along the entire hydrogen value chain.

The opening ceremony of the FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH in Korea was attended by more than 100 renowned representatives from major domestic institutions, including Jeollanam-do Vice Governor Park Chang-hwan, Naju Mayor Yoon Byung-tae, KEPCO Executive Vice President Lee Hyun-bin, German Ambassador Science Counselor, Anett Schwarz, SK E&S Vice President Ha Hyung-eun & Jeon Gyeong-moon, and Korea Gas Technology Corporation General Manager Choi Jong-tae.

In addition, the FIP opening will be celebrated with a ceremony on September 27^th in Berlin, Germany, with the participation of the President of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Prof. Dr. Ing. Reimund Neugebauer, the President of KENTECH, Euijoon Yoon, as well as a large number of representatives from Korean and German industry, academia and public institutions. 

[Logo of the FIP for Hydrogen Energy at KENTECH FIP-H2ENERGY]

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The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft based in Germany is the world’s leading applied research organization. Founded in 1949, it currently operates 76 institutes and research units throughout Germany. Prioritizing key future-relevant technologies and commercializing its findings in business and industry, it plays a major role in the innovation process. International collaborative partnerships with outstanding research partners and businesses all over the world provide for direct dialogue with the most prominent scientific communities and most dominant economic regions.

Hydrogen Technologies is one of seven Fraunhofer Strategic Research Fields forming the core of Fraunhofer’s research portfolio. Within these fields, Fraunhofer aims to address needs and markets that will shape the future. With an equivalent of 660 full time researchers working on Hydrogen Technologies, Fraunhofer stands out as a key player in this field in Europe.

KENTECH and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructures of Materials and Systems IMWS have confirmed their plan to strengthen their cooperation already in November 2021, with the signature of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). Since then, the two partners have successfully joined forces for the preparation of the establishment of the FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH, with the strengthening involvement of 5 more Fraunhofer Institutes, Fraunhofer IGB, Fraunhofer IWES, Fraunhofer ICT, Fraunhofer IFAM and Fraunhofer UMSICHT, who are important technology leaders in the field of hydrogen.

It is very meaningful that the FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH is the world’s first FIP specialized in hydrogen energy. In just over a year since KENTECH opened, the collaboration with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft as the world’s leading applied research organization could be started successfully. By combining their complementary competencies, the partners aim to conduct joint research and development and to valorize, transfer and commercialize their scientific research output.

With the opening of the FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH, KENTECH has laid the foundation to lead the hydrogen life cycle research and technology development in the future, in cooperation with Fraunhofer. In the FIP, a lab-scale equipment, a small-scale research facility for research on green hydrogen production, storage & transportation technology, which has the highest barriers in terms of technological maturity, will be built, and a mid- to long-term pilot-scale plant, a facility for commercialization verification plan to build it.

In addition, through close cooperation with local industries in Germany and Korea, the FIP has the goal of facilitating the exchange of know-how, technology and transferring from academia to industry. With the FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH a future key world-class research institute for hydrogen energy research was established. As a result, it was expected that research and development with a very ripple effect on technology, economics, and society would be carried out through the development of licenses for the core hydrogen energy source technology, led by KENTECH. 

The FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH will be led by Prof. Jihyun Hwang of the KENTECH Hydrogen Energy Track, appointed by KENTECH as FIP Managing Director, and Dr. Klemens Ilse, Group Manager Materials Diagnostics for H2 Technologies at Fraunhofer IMWS, appointed by Fraunhofer as FIP Deputy Director. Therefore, this FIP will be managed by KENTECH in Korea, in close cooperation with Fraunhofer in Germany.

Jihyun Hwang, the head professor of Hydrogen Energy Track said that “For the past year, we have put a lot of effort in the preparation of this joint initiative. From now on, in a joint effort with Fraunhofer, we will focus on research in the area of hydrogen production, storage & transportation (logistics), which has the highest technological barriers, and will make a great contribution to building hydrogen social infrastructure in the future.”

Euijoon Yoon, the president of KENTECH said that "One year after KENTECH opened, the establishment of the FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH is verification we have." He said, “In the future, we will try to make a big contribution to the commercialization of many innovative technologies, developed by the FIP-H2ENERGY@KENTECH. In addition, we will make these efforts centered in the Naju Energy Valley so that the world-wide hydrogen energy technology can be made centered in the Naju Energy Valley.” 

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