Chemnitz University and Chile: Cooperation for hydrogen of the future!

Chemnitz University and Chile: Cooperation for hydrogen of the future!

On May 27, 2025, a delegation from the Chilean Embassy visited the Chemnitz University of Technology. The embassy representatives, led by Ambassador María Magdalena Atria Barros, had set themselves the goal of getting to know Chemnitz University of Technology as part of the “Saxon Science Liaison Office Chile” (SSLO Chile) and exploring the university’s hydrogen research. This visit not only served to present current projects, but also to identify common interests between Saxony and Chile.

With the warm welcome from Prof. Dr. Maximilian Eibl and Dr. Benny Liebold, numerous presentations and discussions on international measures and projects took place in Chile. The delegation had the opportunity to visit the Professorship for Alternative Vehicle Drives, headed by Prof. Dr. Thomas von Unwerth, where topics such as international cooperation and the new master's degree program “Hydrogen Technologies” were presented.

An informal exchange and other activities

An informal exchange was possible during lunch in the cafeteria of Chemnitz University of Technology, which underlined the diversity of the topics and the collaboration. After a comprehensive tour of the laboratory, the delegation was received by Chemnitz Mayor Sven Schulze in the town hall. The visit ended ceremoniously with the entry of María Magdalena Atria Barros in the Golden Book of the city of Chemnitz.

The SSLO Chile is part of a broader strategy that aims to promote international academic mobility as well as research and education between Saxony and Chile. What is particularly noteworthy is that, in addition to Chile, Saxony has also opened offices in countries such as Taiwan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, Vietnam and India in order to acquire international students in disciplines with a shortage of skilled workers and to establish contacts with the Saxon economy, as the platform Studium.sachsen.de reports.

Hydrogen as a key technology

Hydrogen research plays a central role in the collaboration. Hydrogen is considered a promising energy source of the future, with safety aspects and the entire value chain being of great importance. According to the Energy Research Network, Cluster 4 highlights important topics such as the production, infrastructure and use of hydrogen. Safety management in the hydrogen value chain is crucial to promote social acceptance.

Ensuring safe hydrogen technologies is considered an essential prerequisite. Clear norms and quality standards are needed to define terminology, safety requirements and testing and certification bases. In January 2024, the “Standardization Roadmap for Hydrogen Technologies” project funded by the BMWK was started, the aim of which is to identify standardization needs by the end of 2025.

Sustainability plays a central role in the development of the hydrogen economy, which examines all production paths in terms of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts. It is important to improve the understanding and quantification of hydrogen emissions and promote their minimization. These new approaches offer significant perspectives for training professionals and engaging citizens to create a holistic picture and shape the hydrogen technologies of tomorrow.