IPCEI on Hydrogen
A solid Hydrogen research platform
IPCEI stands for Important Project of Common European Interest — large-scale European initiatives in strategic sectors that bring together companies and Member States to achieve goals no single market actor could deliver alone. By pooling knowledge, expertise, and funding, IPCEIs help Europe tackle major market gaps and societal challenges while boosting growth, jobs, and competitiveness.
Every IPCEI requires European Commission approval to ensure projects serve an overriding European interest, would not happen under normal market conditions, and avoid distorting competition.
One of today’s most important areas is hydrogen. IPCEIs are creating a strong renewable hydrogen value chain at lower costs, supporting the European Green Deal, the EU Hydrogen Strategy, and REPowerEU.
Europe’s Final Hydrogen IPCEI Wave Accelerates Clean Mobility
The European Commission has approved the fourth and final wave of Important Projects of Common European Interest (IPCEI) for hydrogen: Hy2Move, dedicated to advancing hydrogen mobility. This marks the conclusion of the Hydrogen IPCEI programme launched in 2019.
Building on earlier waves—Hy2Tech (July 2022), Hy2Use (September 2023), and Hy2Infra (February 2024)—Hy2Move helps complete a programme expected to mobilise over €43 billion in public and private investment, supporting more than 120 projects by nearly 100 European companies.
Hydrogen Europe welcomed the decision as a strong signal for decarbonising mobility. CEO Jorgo Chatzimarkakis noted: “We are delighted to see the successful final chapter of the hydrogen IPCEIs. It is now crucial that Member States make the necessary resources available for all waves and establish the right conditions for these projects to be delivered as soon as possible.”
Hy2Move brings together Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain, contributing up to €1.4 billion in public funding, which is expected to leverage at least €3.3 billion in private investment—a combined €4.7 billion effort.
The initiative will deliver 13 projects led by 11 companies (with SME support), focusing on:
Hydrogen transport applications: Buses, trucks, maritime, and aviation.
High-performance fuel cells: Powering locomotives and ships.
On-board storage solutions: Lightweight hydrogen tanks for aircraft.
Production for mobility: Supplying hydrogen refuelling stations with ultra-pure, pressurised fuel.
Looking ahead, timely funding allocation by Member States will be critical. Hydrogen Europe urges a renewal and streamlining of the IPCEI mechanism to secure Europe’s climate ambitions and industrial competitiveness.
National strategy for research, development and innovation 2030
European innovation Scoreboard
National hydrogen strategy
Lightweight, silent, and designed for short-range flights and logistics, H2 VTOL aircraft are perfectly suited for urban air mobility and emergency services.
The H2 VTOL project will significantly contribute to the implementation of the Action Plan of the National Hydrogen Strategy by increasing energy security and decarbonizing Slovakia thanks to the use of hydrogen in transport.
The goals of the project will lead to the advancement of Slovakia in the innovation ranking, will increase investments into research and development and attract highly qualified people from abroad, thereby fulfilling all key objectives of the National Strategy for Research, Development and Innovation 2030.
At the same time, the project will play a specific role in the implementation of the Manifesto of the Government of the Slovak Republic in the field of energy policy and long-term priorities.
Project goals:
H2 VTOL
Hydrogen-Powered Vertical Take-off and Landing 4-seater aircraft
H2 Storage
Lightweight pressure vessel for hydrogen mobility and infrastructure applications
Project timeline
Project partners
Universities
Aalto University
Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems
School of Chemical Engineering
Cooperation primarily in the field of modification of thermoset and thermoplastic composites with biocomponents in order to achieve higher modulus, tensile strength and impact strength.
Politecnico di Torino
Topics from the field of conceptual and preliminary aircraft design & tradeoff studies plus Finite Element Method (FEM) structural analysis for material and layup optimization, educational public program focused on General H2 training for airport service staff and in other related fields will be supported.
Slovak University of Technology in
Bratislava – Faculty of Materials Science
and Technology in Trnava
Topics from the field of application of various principles (Isogrid reinforcement, Triply Periodic Minimal Surface, Generative Design) in topological optimization of the sandwich's core or structural parts using Fused Filament Fabrication and Continuous Fiber Fabrication additive manufacturing, educational public program focused on General H2 training for airport service staff and in other related fields will be supported.
Technical University of Košice
Faculty of Aeronautics
Topics from the field of implementation of ANFIS principles in the preparation of algorithms of main control unit for H2 VTOL hybrid Fuel Cell – battery propulsion system and in the field of deployment of thermoplastic composites and 3D printing technologies in aircraft structures. Partners will also cooperate on modern education focused on General H2 training for airport service staff in the form of virtual reality.
Topics from the field of experimental studies, expert reports, professional analyses, development studies and predictions oriented to hydrogen aviation, educational public program focused on General H2 training for airport service staff and in other related fields will be supported.
Brno University of Technology
– Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
Institute of Aerospace Engineering
Topics from the field of airframe development including static analysis, fatigue crack propagation simulation and dynamic analysis. Strength and fall tests of the landing gear performed in the aircraft testing laboratory and hydrogen education program and in other related fields will be supported.
Augsburg University of Applied Sciences
Mechanical and Process Engineering
Collaboration primarily in the field of Fiber Patch Placement, cryogenic hydrogen cooled axial flux motor and development of efficient material for high pressure tanks.
University of Tartu - Institute of Chemistry
Chair of Colloidal and Environmental Chemistry
Collaboration primarily in the field of polymer electrolyte fuel cells and metal-air batteries.
VSB-Technical University of Ostrava
Faculty of Safety Engineering
Collabiration primarily in the field of testing of tank prototypes and with the subsequent multilateral discussion about test results.
Academy of Fine Arts and Design in Bratislava
Studio of Transport Design
Collaboration primarily in the field of complex design proposals for hydrogen mobility solutions.
