Successful networking in Duisburg: Regional hydrogen practice meets research, industry and politics

On 5 February 2026, the 4th networking meeting of the Mat4Hy collaboration platform took place in Duisburg together with H2!Raum – directly opposite the ZBT.

The morning impressively demonstrated how much is already happening in the region: from research and infrastructure projects to industrial scale-ups, craftsmanship perspectives and the very practical challenges for first movers.

Facts, figures and data

  • Date: 05.02.2026

  • Location: Duisburg (Fraunhofer InHaus, directly opposite the ZBT)

  • Format: Networking meeting with expert input, panel discussion and networking

  • Organisation: Mat4Hy and H2!Raum

  • Welcome: Prof. Dr. Michael Brodmann (Westphalian University of Applied Sciences)

  • Moderator: Dr. Theresa Schredelseker (ZBT)

  • Panel moderator: Dr. Peter Beckhaus (ZBT Managing Director)

Presentations: Four insights from the region

Four presentations provided insights into hydrogen technologies and projects from the Ruhr area and North Rhine-Westphalia:

  • Prof. Dr. Anna Grevé (Head of Electrochemical Energy Storage, Fraunhofer UMSICHT) showed how EnerPort II is setting a milestone on the way to a climate-neutral terminal at duisport.

  • Frank Balzer (Director of New Businesses, Air Liquide) provided insights into the 20 MW PEM electrolyser ‘Trailblazer’ in Oberhausen – including technical implementation and accompanying certification paths.

  • Max Krings contributed the perspective of an owner-managed SME and explained how hydrogen is being discussed in the heating industry.

  • Marc Bunse (Managing Director, AGR Abfallentsorgungsgesellschaft Ruhrgebiet) shared his experiences of building a hydrogen filling station and an electrolyser and highlighted the challenges faced by first movers in practice.

Panel discussion: framework conditions, transfer, implementation

  • The discussion – with the participation of Mahmut Özdemir (hydrogen representative of the SPD parliamentary group in the Bundestag) – highlighted how crucial reliable framework conditions, pragmatic implementation paths and constant research funding are in bridging the ‘valley of death’ between research and application.

Networking & outlook: initiating cooperation, accelerating transfer

  • During the subsequent networking session, contacts were deepened, ideas for cooperation were concretised and new starting points for joint projects were collected. The networking meeting thus once again demonstrated the importance of continuous exchange – especially when projects move from planning to implementation.

    Mat4Hy and H2!Raum create a platform for this, bringing together stakeholders along the value chain. ZBT is a proud partner in Mat4Hy and supports open, practical dialogue between research, industry and public stakeholders.

Media

Vertiefte Gespräche beim Empfang. Vertiefte Gespräche beim Empfang.
peter beckhaus panel discussion peter beckhaus panel discussion
anna greve anna greve
Mat4Hy H2Raum Mat4Hy H2Raum
Theresa moderiert Mat4Hy H2Raum Theresa moderiert Mat4Hy H2Raum
Mat4Hy. Mat4Hy.
Michael Bordmann und Mahmut Özdemir. Michael Bordmann und Mahmut Özdemir.

Contact

Head of Science Management and Communication

Dr. Theresa Schredelseker
+49 203 7598-3357

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