Joint research on hydrogen topics

Research institutions from Saxony-Anhalt and South Korea want to intensify their cooperation and exchange on hydrogen topics. The Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS in Halle (Saale) and the An-halt University of Applied Sciences have signed a cooperation agreement with the Korea Institute of Energy Technology (KENTECH). Joint research projects and workshops are planned.

MoU Unterzeichnung Fraunhofer IMWS, Hochschule Anhalt, Kentech
© Fraunhofer IMWS / Markus Scholz
Prof. Jörg Bagdahn, President of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Prof. Erica Lilleodden, Director of the Fraunhofer IMWS, and Prof. Jonghee Han, Distinguished Professor Hydrogen Energy at KENTECH (left to right), signed the cooperation agreement.

The memorandum of understanding aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of hydrogen production - particularly from renewable sources - as well as hydrogen storage and transportation. Within the Fraunhofer Innovation Platform for Hydrogen Energy, the Fraunhofer IMWS is already working very actively with KENTECH to develop technologies along the entire hydrogen value chain.

"I am very pleased about this valuable cooperation agreement. It demonstrates the importance and international visibility of research in Saxony-Anhalt. At the same time, the intensified exchange will help to create viable solutions for the enormous demand for a sustainable energy supply in Germany and South Korea," said Dr. Reiner Haseloff, Minister President of Saxony-Anhalt, on the occasion of the signing.

Prof. Dr. Chinho Park, Acting President of KENTECH, underlines the relevance of the cooperation for successful economic development in Germany and South Korea: "Our research is clearly geared towards commercialization and the needs of industry. We also want to use the international exchange of experience to enable dynamic growth through modern solutions for the energy system and for the humankind."

For Prof. Dr. Erica Lilleodden, Director of the Fraunhofer IMWS, the agreement that has now been signed takes an already very successful collaboration to the next level: "In addition to our long-standing cooperation with partners from South Korea in photovoltaics, we now also have a very well-established partnership in hydrogen technologies. Both sides will benefit from pooling our expertise. Very importantly, the agreement underlines the importance of material design and diagnostics for future-oriented materials in the energy sector."

Prof. Dr. Jörg Bagdahn, President of Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, was also delighted with the agreed plans: "By cooperating with KENTECH, we have gained an excellent partner. This sharpens our profile in the field of renewable energies and underlines the importance of internationality for our university."