A strong bond between Research and Industry

Value-added community for Hydrogen System Production for a strategic partnership between Fraunhofer and industry, as well as among the participating companies

Become a partner

Prospective partners can choose from various partnership levels, which are tailored to their prior experience in the hydrogen sector or in the production of hydrogen systems, as well as to their business objectives. The partnerships offered — Starter, Expert, and Champion – build on one another, with each level incorporating the benefits of the previous one. This allows entry at any level, with the option to gradually expand the partnership.

Starter

Key elements of this partnership level include building technological and economic expertise for the production of hydrogen systems, as well as engaging with key stakeholders along the value chain. In addition, opportunities to connect with experts in thematic working groups are provided.

The Starter Level includes the following services:

  • Annual update of the Market and Technology Compass
  • 1 two-day workshop at Fraunhofer IWU in Chemnitz: on developing the company's market position
  • Referenfabrik.H2 - factory meeting: Free participation for two attendees at the annual plenary session of the value-added community with partners and experts in hydrogen system production
  • Integration of the company profile into the Technology-Mall
  • Active participation in working groups and expert exchanges

Expert

This partnership level is aimed at companies that have already gained experience in the production of hydrogen systems and in addressing specific issues or manufacturing challenges. The Referenzfabrik.H2 provides specific expertise and infrastructure that can be leveraged to develop solutions. The value-creation community offers support from concept development through to implementation.

In addition to the services included in the Starter level, the Expert plan offers a scope of research to be defined by mutual agreement, enabling the creation of solutions tailored to the customer’s specific needs. These include, for example:  

  • Design and Engineering
  • Design of flow fields, cells, stacks, and systems
  • Derivation of tools, machines, and equipment
  • Process development and comparisons
  • Prototype manufacturing
  • Inspection tasks ranging from individual parameters to the entire system
  • Cost Calculation for Product Manufacturing
  • Access to the Hy-Ventus and Hy-Victus reference solutions

Champion

This partnership level is intended for partners who have already mastered specific process steps or services within the value-added community for Hydrogen System Production and intend to scale up their prototype solutions to industrial-scale production. Champions have access to the Referenzfabrik.H2’s infrastructure for prototype manufacturing and quality control systems to build tailored interface expertise, for example for integration into supply chains. The “Champion of the Referenzfabrik.H2” label also enables the integration of materials, tools, machinery, and equipment into the existing infrastructure of the Referenzfabrik.H2 and their networking with the latest developments and solutions from the participating Fraunhofer Institutes. These technologies can then be made available to a broad market (both within and outside the Referenzfabrik.H2).

The Champion Level includes the following services:

  • Provision of tools, machinery, and equipment, and integration into the physical value chain
  • Generation of digital twins for integration into the virtual technology mall, incorporating specific parameters and showcasing key functionalities to align with the virtual process chain
  • Developing cross-functional expertise: technology development and optimization, as well as process chain analysis and integration
  • Zero series production
  • Access to inspection facilities and quality control
  • In-house training on specific topics

Value-added community for Hydrogen System Production