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Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Platform founded in Hungary

The long term goal of the Platform is to promote the development of hydrogen economy in Hungary. Members of the platform are research intstitutes, university departments, public associations and private companies from the energy sector.

The Hydrogen and Fuel Cell National Technology Platform (HTC Platform) held its first general assembly and a project kick-off meeting 3rd of February 2009 in Budapest.
The Platform is managed by CHIC Central Hungarian Innovation Centre Npc. and has already been joined by several research institutes, university departments, public associations and private companies from the energy sector, for example the Department of Energy Engineering of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics (BME), the Dep. of Biotechnology and Dep. of Solid State and Radiochemistry of the University of Szeged, the Chemical Research Center and the Research Institute for Technical Physics and Material Science of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, etc.

The goal of the Platform is to promote the development of hydrogen economy in Hungary in a close cooperation with European organization, such as the European Hydrogen Association, as well as other hydrogen related initiatives of the European Commission. The 2008-2010 program of the platform includes the following objectives:

- carrying out detailed sector analysis,
- preparing strategic research program for hydrogen and fuel cells in Hungary,
- preparing policy paper for decision-makers in energy- and environmental policy.

Establishing the Platform and the first two-year programme are financed from grant from the National Research and Development Agency (NKTH). The first general assembly appointed the boards of the Platform. The Scientific Advisory Board is chaired by Tamás Jászai, Professor Emeritus, BME. The Executive Board is headed by Géza Mészáros, director of CHIC, with two further members: Professor Antal Penninger (BME) and Dr. Antal Ferenc Kovács, president of the Hydrogen Section of the Hungarian Energy Association, director of EETEK Holding Ltd.

The HTC Platform is a volunteer organisation, open to new members, who agree with the goals and ready to work with the Platform. Further information can be found at the URL of the Hydrogen Section of the Hungarian Energy Association (www.met.mtesz.hu) The website of the HTC Platform is under construction.