Czechs to work with South Koreans on hydrogen technology development

The Czech Republic and South Korea will cooperate on the development of hydrogen technologies and fuel cells. This is set out in a memorandum signed at a press conference today by the Engineering Test Institute (SZU) and the Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform (HYTEP), together with the Korean innovation center (WFRIC). The agreement aims to advance hydrogen technologies in Czechia.

According to the parties involved, the memorandum should facilitate the exchange of information on hydrogen technologies. „In addition, both organizations expect it to greatly support the development of human resources and the hydrogen-related industry by providing specialist technology for performance assessment and safety certification inspections of hydrogen products,“ said WFRIC head Hongki Lee.

According to Aleš Doucek, chairman of the HYTEP board, bringing Czech and Korean institutions together in the sector will improve awareness and deployment of hydrogen technologies, particularly fuel cells, in the Czech Republic. „Technical standardization is a key prerequisite for the mass deployment of hydrogen technologies. We recognize that our sector is still at an early stage and that we have a long way to go before achieving full commercialization, as we have seen with other low-emission technologies. That is precisely why it is essential to work together with stakeholders in countries where hydrogen technologies are already more widely used,“ Doucek said. Tomáš Hruška, director general of the Engineering Test Institute, added that the cooperation would also lead to more innovation in the sector.

WFRIC is a Korean institute and innovation center for hydrogen fuel cells. It works to commercialize the sector through research, business support and technology transfer for hydrogen businesses.

The Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform was established in 2006 to promote the development of the hydrogen economy in the Czech Republic. The Engineering Test Institute conducts product testing, inspection and certification. It helps manufacturers, importers and exporters bring products to market.