Green Hydra

06/10/2026

Green hydrogen innovation in action. 💧⚡

Highlights from the 7th International Meeting of Green Hydra in Zagreb, held on 23–25 September 2026 and hosted by the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency.

During the meeting, Green Hydra partners explored how SMEs can become more active in the green hydrogen economy through:
🔹 inspiring Croatian hydrogen projects and initiatives
🔹 study visits to Končar, Patria Composite and the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Laboratory at the University of Zagreb
🔹 the “From Root Causes to Action” workshop led by Hanze University of Applied Sciences

From technology and research to policy and business opportunities, Zagreb showed how cooperation across Europe can help turn hydrogen innovation into practical solutions for regions and SMEs.

Thank you to the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency, Interreg Europe and everyone who contributed to the meeting.

🇪🇺 Green Hydra is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Europe programme.

06/10/2026

How can SMEs become active players in Europe’s emerging green hydrogen economy? 🌱⚡

This was one of the central questions during the 7th International Meeting of Green Hydra, held in Zagreb on 23–25 September 2026 and hosted by the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency.

The meeting brought Green Hydra partners together with Croatian companies, researchers and public institutions to explore how hydrogen innovation is already being transformed into concrete projects — and what can help smaller companies become part of this growing ecosystem.

Following the opening by Marijan Krpan, President of the Management Board of the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency, the plenary session showcased five very different examples of hydrogen innovation in Croatia:

🔹 North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV) – presented by Vjekoslav Jukić, Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Croatia
🔹 Hydrogen in roof tile production – presented by Krešimir Ižaković, NEXE Dilj Ltd.
🔹 HERMES, an innovative hydrogen system for railways – presented by Petar Milas, ALTPRO Ltd.
🔹 LOOPER, producing hydrogen from waste – presented by Almir Sedić, INDELOOP Ltd.
🔹 Čaporice Energy Park, combining renewable energy and hydrogen technologies – presented by Ante Čikotić, INOVAPRO Ltd.
One message became particularly clear: SMEs do not have to remain on the sidelines of the hydrogen transition.

Many of the companies presenting their solutions are SMEs themselves. Their experience demonstrates what becomes possible when innovation, public policy, research and funding come together.

Thank you to Interreg Europe and our hosts at the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency for creating the space for this exchange of experience across European regions.

🇪🇺 Green Hydra is co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Europe programme.

Photo credit: Samir Cerić Kovačević

Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe

25/09/2026

Partners and experts in IE project Green Hydra are intensively searching for better ideas for financing for SMEs in the green H2 value chain during their “From Root Causes to Action“ workshop, facilitated by Hanze University of Applied Sciences, in Zagreb, Croatia.

Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe

25/09/2026

Partners and experts in IE project Green Hydra are intensively searching for better ideas for financing for SMEs in the green H2 value chain during their “From Root Causes to Action“ workshop, facilitated by Hanze University of Applied Sciences, in Zagreb, Croatia.

Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe

24/09/2026

Partners in Interreg Europe project Green Hydra are enjoying the fruitful cooperation during their 7th international meeting “Upscaling innovations in the Green H2 Ecosystem - Opportunities for SMEs” in Zagreb, Croatia.

Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe

10/09/2026

🌿⚡ Strengthening Cyprus’ Green Hydrogen Ecosystem: SMEs at the Centre of the Discussion

As Green Hydra partners prepare for the next interregional meeting in Zagreb later this month, we look back at an important stakeholder exchange held this summer in Cyprus.

On 13 July 2026, the 5th GREEN HYDRA Regional Stakeholder Group Meeting took place at the Municipality of Latsia-Geri, bringing together municipal representatives, European programmes experts and the SME sector.

The meeting focused on a central question for the GREEN HYDRA project: What needs to change to make it easier for SMEs to enter and grow within the emerging green hydrogen economy?

Participants discussed some of the main barriers still limiting wider hydrogen uptake in Cyprus and across Europe, from regulatory gaps and high technology and infrastructure costs to limited competitiveness and access to finance. Particular attention was given to how these challenges affect SMEs, which often face greater difficulties in making the investments needed to participate in new hydrogen value chains.

🌍 The discussion also built on lessons and good practices from recent GREEN HYDRA interregional activities in Spain and the Netherlands, including experiences in hydrogen production and electrolysis, hydrogen refuelling infrastructure, industrial hydrogen networks, and cooperation between hydrogen producers and users.

🤝 The meeting once again highlighted the importance of close cooperation between public authorities, SMEs, businesses and research organisations to turn emerging hydrogen opportunities into practical and supportive regional policies.

Next stop: Zagreb, Croatia, 24–25 September 2026, where GREEN HYDRA partners will continue exploring opportunities for SMEs and learn directly from organisations working with hydrogen technologies, renewable energy and hydrogen applications.

🇪🇺 GREEN HYDRA – Improving policies for engaging SMEs in the green hydrogen ecosystem is supported by the Interreg Europe 2021–2027 programme.



Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe

13/07/2026

13/07/2026

🌱⚡ Last week, Green Hydra partners gathered in Seville to discuss one of the biggest challenges facing the hydrogen sector – how to accelerate market uptake and create new opportunities for SMEs.

Hosted by the Seville Chamber of Commerce, the Green Hydra Local Stakeholders Meeting brought together representatives from public authorities, the Andalusia Energy Agency, the University of Seville, industry leaders, and business associations.

The discussions focused on key barriers to the development of the green hydrogen market, including:
🔹 limited market demand,
🔹 high production costs,
🔹 investment challenges,
🔹 and the role of regional policies in making green hydrogen more competitive.

Participants also exchanged updates on the progress of the Green Hydra project and explored practical solutions to strengthen the hydrogen ecosystem and support SME participation across the value chain.

🤝 The active engagement and valuable insights shared by all stakeholders once again highlighted that collaboration between policymakers, businesses, academia and industry is essential for building a sustainable hydrogen economy.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to another successful Green Hydra stakeholder meeting!



Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe

02/07/2026

5th Local Stakeholder Group Meeting Held in Forlì: Green Hydrogen as a Complementary Energy Source for SMEs

Following the well-established format of the previous editions, the 5th Local Stakeholder Group meeting of the GREEN HYDRA project took place on 25 June 2026, this time hosted at the premises of Fores Engineering. The company, one of the Lead Partner's local stakeholders, has built its reputation as a specialist in Skid & Packages solutions for the Oil & Gas industry and is now actively preparing its transition into the emerging green hydrogen market — making it an ideal setting for a discussion on how established industrial players can diversify towards clean energy technologies.

The meeting brought together representatives of the hosting company, the Municipality's project staff, the ITS vocational training school and the Greentech Cluster, ensuring that the perspectives of industry, public administration, education and the wider green technology community were all represented around the table.

The discussion focused on the barriers that SMEs face in entering the green hydrogen value chain. Participants examined obstacles ranging from high investment costs and technological uncertainty to regulatory complexity and the shortage of qualified technical personnel — a challenge to which vocational training institutions such as ITS can respond by developing dedicated skills programmes. A shared conclusion emerged from the debate: green hydrogen should be seen as a complementary renewable energy source within a diversified energy mix, rather than a full replacement for other renewables. A realistic, gradual integration of hydrogen alongside existing clean energy solutions was considered the most viable pathway for SMEs.

A highlight of the meeting was the presentation by the hosting stakeholder of its 2H2FORLAB initiative — an innovation project developed in cooperation with the Engineering Department of the University of Bologna. The small-scale demonstrator implements a circular economy production chain that integrates photovoltaic energy generation with the production of hydrogen, methane and thermal energy, offering the participants a tangible example of how sector coupling and circularity can work in practice at a scale accessible to SMEs.

Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe

22/06/2026

Partners gather in Groningen, the Netherlands, in June 2026 to learn from a regional leader how to help small businesses join the green hydrogen economy.

Last week, partners of the Green Hydra project gathered in Groningen, the Netherlands, for a three-day study visit focused on one key question: how can more small and medium-sized businesses take part in the green hydrogen economy?

Hosted from 16 to 18 June 2026, the visit brought together representatives from across Europe to exchange ideas, explore regional good practices, and learn from one of Europe’s leading hydrogen regions. Northern Netherlands was selected as host because of its strong position in hydrogen development and its practical experience in building a regional ecosystem that connects research, infrastructure, producers and users.

During the visit, partners met local experts, visited the Centre of Expertise Energy in Groningen, learned more about projects such as H2opper and UNLOCK, and took part in working sessions focused on the barriers that still prevent SMEs from entering the green hydrogen sector. Discussions explored not only the challenges, but also the policy solutions that can help smaller businesses benefit from the opportunities created by the clean energy transition.

On the final day, participants visited Resato Hydrogen Technology in Drenthe and joined the New Energy Forum at Hydrogen Valley Airport Eelde, gaining direct insight into hydrogen technologies and regional innovation in action.

The visit gave each partner region new ideas and practical inspiration for developing better policies to support SME participation in the green hydrogen ecosystem, helping ensure that the transition to clean energy creates opportunities for businesses of all sizes.



Comune di Ravenna
Cámara de Comercio Sevilla
Donegal.ie
Nicosia Development Agency - ANEL
Business agency association
Interreg Europe