IPCEI Hy2Move: EU Approves €1.4 Billion State Aid for Hydrogen Innovation

The European Commission has approved up to €1.4 billion in State aid from seven Member States to support the fourth Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) in the hydrogen value chain, called IPCEI Hy2Move.

This project aims to foster research, innovation, and industrial deployment in hydrogen technologies, targeting significant reductions in emissions from mobility and transport sectors. This effort aligns with the EU’s climate-neutral goals by 2050 and supports the objectives of the European Green Deal, the EU Hydrogen Strategy, and the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy.

Objectives and Scope of IPCEI Hy2Move

1. Innovation in Mobility and Transport: Develop mobility and transport applications integrating hydrogen technologies, such as fuel cell platforms for buses and trucks, and high-performance fuel cell technologies for ships and locomotives.
2. Next-Generation Storage Solutions: Create lightweight, robust hydrogen tanks for aviation to ensure safety and efficiency.
3. Hydrogen Production Technologies: Develop technologies to produce high-purity hydrogen for refueling stations on-site.

The impactof IPCEI Hy2Move

IPCEI Hy2Move was prepared and notified by seven Member States: Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, and Spain. The public funding is expected to unlock an additional €3.3 billion in private investments. The project involves 11 companies, including SMEs and start-ups, undertaking 13 innovative projects. The ecosystem created by IPCEI Hy2Move includes collaboration with over 200 indirect partners, such as universities, research organizations, and other SMEs across Europe.

The completion of the overall IPCEI is anticipated by 2031, with the creation of around 3,600 direct jobs and numerous indirect ones. The project aims to generate positive spill-over effects throughout Europe by widely sharing the results with the European scientific community and industry.

The European Commission assessed the project under EU State aid rules, ensuring the project contributes to a common objective, supports highly ambitious technological advancements, and involves significant financial and technological risks. The aid is proportionate, limited to what is necessary, and designed to avoid undue distortion of competition. Successful projects may return part of the aid received through a claw-back mechanism.

FI Group has been promoting innovation for 20 years, helping from startups to large corporations in the financing of R&D&I at a global level. We advise companies on the management of their R&D&I financing, through the design and implementation of actions aimed at boosting their technological and economic development. Our eagerness to achieve excellence in all our services has led us to assume leadership in the sector, both at national and European level.

Teresa Marina