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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
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 micro-credentials
- 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.
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Fraunhofer IWES
The Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES conducts application-oriented research for a sustainable future. The focus topics of the Fraunhofer IWES are offshore, hydrogen, test infrastructure and digitalization. The research work in these future-oriented key technologies plays a central role in the innovation process and strengthens the business location for the benefit of our society by transferring the research results to industry. More than 400 employees at nine locations are developing innovative methods to accelerate the expansion of the wind energy and hydrogen economy, minimize risks, and increase cost efficiency.
Fraunhofer IMWS
The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS offers microstructure-based diagnostics and technology development for innovative materials, components and systems. Building on its core competencies in high-performance microstructure analysis and microstructure-based materials design, the Institute investigates questions of functionality and application performance as well as the reliability, safety and service life of materials used in various market and business areas with major importance for social and economic development. For its partners in industry and the public sector, Fraunhofer IMWS enables the accelerated development of new materials, increases material efficiency and cost-effectiveness, and helps to conserve resources. In doing so, the Institute contributes to ensuring the innovative capacity of key future fields and to sustainability as the greatest challenge of the 21st century.
Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
Around 3.000 students, 75 professors, and over 350 employees shape Merseburg University of Applied Sciences as a place of modern teaching and learning, dedicated research and administration, and shared encounters. With its three departments—Engineering and Natural Sciences, Business and Information Sciences, and Social Work.Media.Culture - which work together interdisciplinarily, Merseburg University of Applied Sciences has been contributing to social, cultural, economic, and technological change in the Central German metropolitan region since 1992.
The university's research and knowledge transfer profile is defined by its two interdisciplinary and cross-departmental focal points: Sustainable Processes and Digital Change. The central institution Continuing Education/HoMe Academy is the interdisciplinary and cross-departmental platform for continuing education at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences. Our diverse range of continuing education courses is aimed at companies, professionals, students, and anyone interested in lifelong learning.
Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg
Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg (OVGU) possesses extensive expertise in hydrogen technologies and collaborates with recognized research institutions in key areas such as energy conversion, energy storage and Power-to-X technologies. Its research approaches range from micro-structural analyses of processes in fuel cells and electrolyzers to a macro-level perspective on integrating hydrogen technologies into techno-economic and ecological systems – for example in sustainable chemical production, circular-economy concepts and sector coupling.
OVGU actively strengthens cooperation between hydrogen research and industry, contributes to the continuing education of specialists and promotes the public ac-ceptance of energy-transition processes. A central role in this is played by the Centre for Scientific Continuing Education (ZWW), whose mission is to transfer knowledge and research through contemporary training formats and to develop and implement these formats for diverse target groups within the framework of lifelong learning.
The range of offerings extends from interdisciplinary lecture series to networked pro-grams such as hydrogen-technology courses for international and local students, working professionals and other interested persons. To this end, the ZWW works closely with a partnership network of scientists and researchers from both university and non-university institutions. In addition, the center designs educational formats to foster public understanding of energy transformations within society, for example through STEM projects and intergenerational initiatives.
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
The clear concept of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences is convincing because it consistently combines science and innovation. In Bernburg, Dessau and Köthen, we offer innovative research and teaching at an international level. We also offer a good quality of study and life for around 7,000 students, 2,500 of whom have an international flair. The Bachelor's and Master's degree programs in the various Departments have one thing in common - in addition to imparting specialist knowledge, they prepare students for a successful career start.
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences is involved in several projects aimed at establishing a green hydrogen economy. The H2HUB continuing education project provides specialists, managers, and students with modular courses and information on topics such as hydrogen production, transport, storage, and safety.
In the H2-Microgrids@LSA research project, the university is developing concepts for reliably supplying small and medium-sized enterprises in Saxony-Anhalt with green hydrogen away from large pipelines, thereby strengthening energy security and climate protection. In addition, the international H2DEKO project addresses issues of climate-neutral logistics and the import of green hydrogen, particularly in cooperation with Korea, with the aim of establishing global supply chains and centers of excellence for hydrogen.
Through expert forums and networks – such as the German-African Green Hydrogen Forum – the university also facilitates exchange between science, industry, and international partners, thereby supporting the dissemination of expertise on green hydrogen.
Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems IWES
Telsche Nielsen, Joint Project Leader H2HUBPlus
Head of Knowledge Transfer & University Cooperations
Phone: +49 47114 290-217
Email: telsche.nielsen@iwes.fraunhofer.de
Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS
Dr. Kerstin Witte-Bodnar
Team Leader Microstructure and Materials Analytics
Materials diagnostics for H2 technologies
Phone: +49 345 5589-244
Email: kerstin.witte-bodnar@imws.fraunhofer.de
Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg
Center for Continuing Education (ZWW)
Yvonne Paarmann
Head
Phone: +49 391 67 57211
Email: yvonne.paarmann@ovgu.de
https://www.ovgu.de/ZWW.html
Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
Andreas Kröner, Project Leader H2HUBPlus at Merseburg University of Applied Sciences
Head of Continuing Education/HoMe Academy
Phone: +49 3461 46-2928
Email: andreas.kroener@hs-merseburg.de
Anhalt University of Applied Sciences
Dr. Hartmut Lange
Anhalt Continuing Education Center, Operational Project Leader H2HUBPlus
Phone: +49 3496 67 1922
Email: Hartmut.Lange@hs-anhalt.de
The partners organize networking events to identify synergies, establish new partnerships, and strat ...
Copyright: © Michael Palatini
Members of the H2HUBPlus project team.
Copyright: © Michael Palatini
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The partners organize networking events to identify synergies, establish new partnerships, and strat ...
Copyright: © Michael Palatini
Members of the H2HUBPlus project team.
Copyright: © Michael Palatini
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