New German Hub Aims to Turn Fuel Cells Into Reality

€4.9mn H₂-iNFFra platform to test fuel cells between 2025 and 2027, linking research with industrial rollout

22 Sep 2025

Germany has launched a €4.9mn hydrogen research platform in Braunschweig to speed the move from laboratory development to industrial deployment of fuel cell technologies.

The H₂-iNFFra initiative, announced in August and scheduled to run until 2027, is supported by €4.3mn in public funding. It is being developed by Technische Universität Braunschweig and the Fraunhofer Institute for Surface Engineering and Thin Films (IST), which will build shared infrastructure for testing hydrogen systems under near-industrial conditions.

The project operates within the same regional innovation ecosystem as the €73mn Clean Power Conversion scheme but with a narrower focus. While CPC covers a broad range of energy conversion technologies, H₂-iNFFra concentrates on testing durability, performance and cost reduction in fuel cells.

“H₂-iNFFra is not just about research,” said a Fraunhofer IST project leader. “It is about giving industry the tools to scale hydrogen technologies.” Shared facilities are intended to lower barriers for developers who would otherwise face the expense of creating their own test environments.

Germany’s timing reflects international competition. Japan and South Korea are advancing commercial hydrogen fuel cell programmes, while Berlin aims to secure a stronger position in the sector. The platform is also designed to support a European supply chain for components, reducing dependence on imports.

Analysts caution, however, that long-term success will depend on greater involvement from private investors and alignment with broader EU hydrogen policy. Without this, public programmes risk delivering limited impact beyond the pilot stage.

By 2027, the Braunschweig hub is expected to be fully operational, providing a testbed for buses, trucks and industrial systems powered by hydrogen. Policymakers hope it will accelerate the wider use of fuel cells and strengthen Europe’s position in the global clean energy race.