Implementation
The establishment and testing of the Hydrogen Competence Centres followed a structured and collaborative implementation process, ensuring that the centres are not only conceptually sound but also practical, scalable, and aligned with regional needs.
A shared framework was developed and tested across regions, combining stakeholder engagement, capacity mapping, training development, and pilot activities. This approach enabled both advanced and emerging hydrogen regions to co-create solutions and validate them in real conditions.
Two complementary implementation approaches were applied:
Zagreb: a physical One-Stop Shop Competence Centre, implemented as a central, accessible hub for stakeholders. The centre was launched in a temporary space and is evolving into a permanent facility, offering consultations, workshops, educational materials, and project support. It directly engages citizens, businesses, and public authorities, turning hydrogen knowledge into visible and usable services.
Styria: a distributed, network-based model, building on existing institutions, research centres, and regional platforms. Instead of a single physical hub, implementation focused on training materials, expert networks, and knowledge transfer mechanisms, enabling municipalities and stakeholders to access hydrogen expertise through established channels.
Together, these approaches demonstrate flexible implementation pathways adaptable to different regional contexts and maturity levels.
Implementation steps
1. Capacity mapping and stakeholder engagement
The process began with identifying key actors, existing competences, and training offers across regions. Stakeholders from government, industry, academia, and energy agencies were actively involved through workshops, consultations, and expert discussions.
2. Framework development and co-design
A common blueprint for competence centres was co-developed, focusing on training pathways, stakeholder roles, and competence profiles. This ensured alignment with both regional needs and European hydrogen strategies.
3. Testing through pilot activities
The framework was tested in practice through hybrid events, workshops, and the launch of pilot centres. A transnational webinar with diverse stakeholders provided real-time feedback and validated the relevance of the approach.
4. Development of training and support services
Targeted materials and activities were created, including training programs, advisory services, and knowledge resources. These were tailored to different user groups, from policymakers to technical experts and local communities.
. Integration and scalability
The tested models are being integrated into a broader collaboration platform, enabling knowledge sharing, replication, and scaling across regions. The modular structure ensures that regions can adopt and adapt the model based on their specific context.
Through this implementation process, the Hydrogen Competence Centres demonstrate how regions can move from fragmented knowledge to coordinated, capacity-driven hydrogen ecosystems, ready to support long-term energy transition and innovation.