Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS
The follow-up project H2HUBPlus starts in December 2025. Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Merseburg University of Applied Sciences, the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS will offer cross-linked training courses in the field of hydrogen for specialists and managers from the energy sector and industry in Central Germany, as well as for students, pupils and the general public. The interconnected learning alliance will also provide important impulses for the success of the hydrogen economy in the follow-up project.
Central Germany is rapidly developing into a key region for the hydrogen economy. Numerous projects have already been launched, but their success depends crucially on the availability of qualified specialists. The region, especially Saxony-Anhalt, offers ideal conditions for the production and processing of green hydrogen from renewable energies, both for storing surplus energy and as a basic building block for the chemical industry. In order to leverage this potential, targeted training measures must be developed, such as new continuing education programs for existing staff and the establishment of close cooperation between industry, educational institutions, and politics to meet the growing demand for skilled specialists and managers.
The partners have been actively working on the H2HUB project since 2022. The initiative is now being funded for an additional four years. A key component of the follow-up project, H2HUBPlus, is the expansion of the learning alliance. The project is receiving funding of around 5.3 million euros from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) as part of the funding guideline for strengthening the transition dynamic and new development in the mining regions and at coal-industry sites (STARK), supervised by the German Federal Office for Economic Affairs and Export Control (BAFA) as the project management agency.
"Sustainably produced hydrogen is a key component of the energy transition and economic transformation in Central Germany. Targeted knowledge transfer from research and development to application is crucial for its success: Through close cooperation between science, industry, and society within the framework of H2HUBPlus, innovative training opportunities are being created, synergies are being leveraged, and activities in the region are being coordinated to address current and future demand for skilled personnel and strengthen the region's competitiveness," says joint project leader Telsche Nielsen from Fraunhofer IWES.
H2HUBPlus builds on the successfully developed structures and formats of the first funding phase and expands the range of services to include additional formats and target groups. The measures include, among others:
- Expansion of educational partnerships with companies and public institutions
- Development of additional training formats for working professionals
- Making offerings more flexible through the development of microcredentials
- Establishing public offerings such as citizen dialogues, demonstrators, and education labs
- Developing digital qualification components, including VR/AR learning environments and AI-based knowledge transfer
- Implementing a summer school and hybrid education formats for the transition from university to profession
Each partner contributes its specific expertise: Merseburg University of Applied Sciences stands for continuing education with immersive learning environments, Anhalt University of Applied Sciences for acceptance development and continuing education, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg for integration and permeability in the education system, and the Fraunhofer Institutes IWES and IMWS for knowledge transfer from application-oriented research and development.
The project makes a significant contribution to securing skilled specialists, increasing social acceptance of the energy transition, and strengthening regional structures. The planned measures promote competitiveness and quality of life in Central Germany and support the objectives of the STARK guideline.