The accelerator should serve as an interface between start-ups, research, industry and other institutions in Hamburg and lead to even more start-ups and technologies. The goal is for participating industrial companies to collaborate with start-ups and to facilitate access to infrastructure for testing and pilot projects along the entire hydrogen value chain. Sallar Faridi, Director of Plug and Play, said: "Join us in building an ecosystem of change-makers who are interested in shaping an innovative hydrogen ecosystem in Europe and beyond…we will run innovation programs twice a year, connecting the world's best start-ups with the most innovative corporations through networking, events, world-class mentoring, and potential for investment."
The platform is backed by the Fraunhofer Institutes for Solar Energy Systems ISE and Open Communication Systems FOKUS in the field of hydrogen technologies and energy transition, digital transformation, and innovation management. Other partners are the U.S. Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI), the City of Hamburg as well as Shell and Phillips 66/JET.