2 February 2026
At the Smart Specialization Panel in Rzeszów, Dr Beata Kviatek highlighted how the UNLOCK project supports SME participation in Europe’s green hydrogen economy, sharing insights on regional innovation, governance and cross‑regional cooperation.
On 10 December 2025, the Smart Specialization Panel: Quality of Life – “Podkarpackie hydrogen economy on the World Map” brought together international experts, policymakers and industry representatives to position the Subcarpathian (Podkarpackie) Region within the rapidly expanding network of European and global hydrogen valleys. The event was hosted in Rzeszów by the Ignacy Łukasiewicz Rzeszów University of Technology, together with the Podkarpackie Hydrogen Valley Association, highlighting the region’s ambition to play an active role in the green hydrogen transition.
The panel was opened by Prof. Jarosław Sęp, President of the Podkarpackie Hydrogen Valley Association, who underlined the strategic importance of hydrogen valleys as interconnected ecosystems supporting innovation, industry development and quality of life through regional and international cooperation.
The event featured speakers from established and emerging hydrogen ecosystems in Europe and beyond. Michał Klimczyk, Member of the Board of the Podkarpackie Hydrogen Valley Association, presented current regional activities and challenges, with a particular focus on the role of cooperation and knowledge exchange in strengthening regional hydrogen value chains and SME participation.
Further international perspectives were provided by Dr Melinda Krebsz (The Australian National University), who shared insights into hydrogen activities in Australia; Richard Laurens, Director General of Vallée Sud Hydrogène (France); and Margherita Matzer, Project Coordinator of Austria’s HI2 Valley. Additional contributions addressed hydrogen mobility, industrial applications and research cooperation, with speakers from CTAG – Automotive Technology Centre of Galicia, Lviv University of Technology, and Polish research institutions.
At the invitation of the Podkarpackie Hydrogen Valley Association, Dr Beata Kviatek, Jean Monnet Professor in Sustainable EU Economy at Hanze University Groningen (The Netherlands) and Lead Partner of the Interreg Europe project UNLOCK – Unlocking Green Hydrogen Economy for SMEs in European Regions, delivered an online contribution focusing on European cooperation in the green hydrogen economy.
In her presentation, From Regional Innovation to European Synergy: Advancing the Green Hydrogen Economy for SMEs, Dr Kviatek highlighted how experiences from hydrogen valleys such as the Northern Netherlands, Europe’s first hydrogen valley, can inform policy design and implementation in other regions, including Podkarpackie. She emphasised the importance of governance frameworks, coordinated policies and SME involvement alongside infrastructure development.
Drawing on insights from the UNLOCK project, Dr Kviatek outlined key challenges faced by regions developing hydrogen economies, including fragmented regulations, limited standardisation and complex permitting processes. She explained how UNLOCK supports regions through policy learning, exchange of good practices and capacity‑building, helping public authorities create more supportive environments for SMEs.
For hydrogen valleys such as Podkarpackie, these lessons are particularly relevant as regional initiatives scale up towards integrated European value chains. The UNLOCK project provides practical tools to align local strategies with EU energy and climate priorities, strengthening competitiveness, innovation capacity and sustainable growth.
The Smart Specialization Panel confirmed the growing importance of hydrogen valleys as engines of regional development, innovation and quality of life. By linking the Podkarpackie Hydrogen Valley with international experience and Interreg Europe policy learning, the event demonstrated how regions can move from regional innovation towards stronger European synergy.
Dr Kviatek’s contribution highlighted the added value of interregional cooperation through the UNLOCK project, supporting regions like Podkarpackie in unlocking the potential of the green hydrogen economy for SMEs and local communities.
Main image: Robert / Adobe Stock
