16 oktober 2025
On 30 September 2025, Dr. Beata Kviatek, representing Hanze University of Applied Sciences and Entrance – Centre of Expertise Energy, took the stage at the European Hydrogen Week conference “Hydrogen Valley: A Cross-Cutting Perspective for the Development of Europe and Eastern Poland” in Brussels.
The event was hosted by Business & Science Poland, the NCBR Office in Brussels, East Poland House, Hydrogen Poland, and the Marshal Office of the Podkarpackie Voivodeship. It brought together policymakers, researchers, and industry leaders to explore how regional cooperation can drive Europe’s transition toward a hydrogen-based energy system.
In her address, Dr. Kviatek emphasized the crucial role that universities and research centers play in connecting regions and accelerating knowledge transfer. She noted that while these institutions often serve as knowledge brokers—bridging science, industry, and policy—their efforts must be supported by active regional authorities. Political commitment, well-adapted policy instruments, and effective governance are essential to ensure that research and innovation lead to tangible results.
Drawing on Hanze’s leadership in the Interreg Europe UNLOCK project, Dr. Kviatek demonstrated how interregional learning and peer-to-peer exchange empower regions to adopt tested policy tools and strengthen their hydrogen ecosystems.
Dr. Kviatek outlined a vision for Europe’s hydrogen future:
By 2030, regions will act as orchestrators of pilot hydrogen clusters, connecting stakeholders and shaping new supply chains.
By 2050, pioneering areas such as the Northern Netherlands are expected to evolve into Northwest European hydrogen hubs, leveraging decades of experience in storage, pipeline repurposing, and cross-border cooperation.
In her concluding remarks, Dr. Kviatek called on the European Commission and national governments to further empower regions in their hydrogen transitions by:
Through participation in European Hydrogen Week, Hanze University of Applied Sciences and Entrance – Centre of Expertise Energy reaffirm their role as knowledge leaders in the Northern Netherlands Hydrogen Valley. Their expertise in applied research, regulatory foresight, and hydrogen education ensures that regional innovation directly contributes to European hydrogen policy and implementation.
As Dr. Kviatek concluded: “Universities and research centers are vital connectors and knowledge brokers. But their leadership must be matched by proactive regional authorities. Interregional learning, as demonstrated in UNLOCK, is the bridge that transforms local innovation into European-scale impact.”
