Training Alliance for the Regional Hydrogen Industry

Central Germany is increasingly emerging as a key hub for the hydrogen economy. Numerous projects have already been launched—but their success depends largely on having a sufficient number of qualified specialists and managers. At the same time, the region offers ideal conditions for the production and use of green hydrogen, for example for energy storage or as a basis for industrial processes.

To tap into this potential, targeted training programs, new learning formats, and close collaboration between academia, industry, and society are needed. Only in this way can the growing demand for skilled workers be met and the transition to a sustainable energy supply be successfully achieved.

The follow-up project H2HUBPlus, which will launch in December 2025, will further expand the existing H2HUB learning alliance in a targeted manner. The goal is to deve lop innovative and interconnected educational programs in the field of hydrogen and make them accessible to a variety of target groups – from specialists and executives to students and the general public.

The approach combines scientific expertise with practical training formats. This includes, among other things, expanding educational partnerships with companies, new continuing education programs for working professionals, and flexible learning formats such as microcredentials. Digital solutions such as virtual learning environments (VR/AR) and AI-supported knowledge transfer complement the offerings. At the same time, new formats such as summer schools, public dialogue initiatives, and demonstrators are being established to disseminate knowledge more widely and strengthen societal acceptance.

The participating partners – Anhalt University of Applied Sciences, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Merseburg University of Applied Sciences, and the Fraunhofer Institutes IWES and IMWS – are contributing their respective strengths in a targeted manner and are jointly creating a high-performance learning platform for the region.

The project thus makes an important contribution to securing a skilled workforce, strengthening regional competitiveness, and successfully implementing the energy transition in Central Germany. H2HUBPlus is funded with approximately 5.3 million euros by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) under the STARK guidelines.