Chalmers University of Technology, together with industry partners including Volvo, Scania, Siemens Energy, PowerCell, GKN Aerospace, Johnson Matthey, Stena, MannTek, Insplorion, RISE, and support from the Swedish Energy Agency, will continue the TechForH2 hydrogen research center for another five years following approval of a new funding period beginning in 2027.
The initiative, which was originally launched in 2022, has been awarded funding for a second phase with a total budget of SEK 153 million over five years. The center focuses on developing technologies that can accelerate the use of hydrogen in heavy-duty transport and other hard-to-abate sectors.
TechForH2 has established itself as one of Sweden’s leading hydrogen research collaborations, bringing together academia and industry to address technical, economic, and societal challenges related to hydrogen adoption. The goal is to support the transition away from fossil fuels by making hydrogen solutions more practical, efficient, and commercially viable.
The research program covers five key areas: onboard hydrogen storage, additive manufacturing, hydrogen sensing technologies, fuel cells, and broader societal aspects of hydrogen deployment. These fields span a wide range of disciplines, from advanced materials science and nanotechnology to energy systems and infrastructure development.
According to the center, the next phase will build on the progress achieved during the first five years, with no major changes planned to the overall research structure. Instead, efforts will focus on deepening existing work and overcoming remaining barriers that limit wider hydrogen adoption.
The involvement of major industrial companies such as Volvo, Scania, Siemens Energy, and PowerCell highlights the growing interest in hydrogen technologies for future transport and energy systems. Heavy-duty transport is widely viewed as one of the sectors where hydrogen could play a particularly important role, offering advantages in applications requiring long range, fast refuelling, and high energy demand.
Beyond technology development, TechForH2 also aims to strengthen Sweden’s position within the global hydrogen economy by creating closer links between research institutions and industry. By combining scientific expertise with real-world industrial needs, the center hopes to accelerate innovation and support the commercialization of next-generation hydrogen solutions.
