Excellent young scientists for the hydrogen industry: New research training group of BAM and BTU starts

The research training group "Trustworthy Hydrogen" begins with an orientation week. In a three-year program, it is intended to enable doctoral students to actively shape the development of a hydrogen economy in Germany and Europe as scientists in industry, research or the public sector.

The President of BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg Prof. Gesine Grande, who is also a member of the BAM Board of Trustees, says: "With today's official start of our joint research training group Trustworthy Hydrogen, we have reached a milestone: in our steadily growing scientific cooperation with BAM, in the cross-institutional promotion of highly qualified young scientists, and for the safe and sustainable use of hydrogen as a technology of the future. In this way, BTU and BAM are joining forces to contribute to the success of the energy transition, the training of future leaders of a sustainable hydrogen economy, and the creation of an excellent research cluster."

"The move away from fossil fuels and the transformation to climate neutrality has taken on a special urgency in recent months. It is now a matter of concrete implementation of decided goals in Germany and Europe. With the launch of our graduate college, we are setting a forward-looking example: We are training the leaders of tomorrow today so that the sustainable development of a hydrogen economy succeeds and Germany can maintain its leading position in this field in the long term," explains BAM President Prof. Dr. Ulrich Panne.

Hydrogen is a key element for the transformation of economy and society towards climate neutrality. The transformation of the energy system to a hydrogen economy will require a large number of highly qualified specialists in the coming years. Up to now, there has been a lack of suitable qualification programs.

This gap is closed by the graduate college "Trustworthy Hydrogen" of BAM and BTU. Both institutions, which have been cooperating in research and teaching for many years, are leading in Germany in research on modern hydrogen technologies. BAM has bundled its extensive activities in the field in the competence center H2Safety@BAM. At the BTU, numerous disciplines conduct interdisciplinary research on the production and use of green hydrogen.

The seven doctoral students of the new research training group not only have access to the outstanding hydrogen expertise of BAM and BTU as well as a unique research infrastructure at both locations. They also benefit from a large network of national and international partners in industry, science and politics.

The Research Training Group provides them with a comprehensive knowledge of the entire value chain and the framework conditions and safety standards required for the market implementation of hydrogen. Soft skills in fields such as science communication and policy advice round out the program.

The qualification starts with labwalks, lectures by hydrogen experts from BAM and BTU, and a tour of BAM's twelve square kilometer test and trial site in Brandenburg, where new hydrogen technologies are tested for their safety, as part of an orientation week.