Login

ELEVATECEE Kick-Off Meeting, 5 November 2025 in Bratislava, Slovakia

Driving Cross-Border Hydrogen Cooperation in Central Eastern Europe

On 5 November 2025, 16 partners from Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, and Belgium, gathered in Bratislava for the official launch of ELEVATECEE, a European project aimed at Empowering Local and Cross Border Energy Value Chains and Advancing Technological Excellence in Central Eastern Europe.

The project brings together national and regional stakeholders from the quadruple helix to identify and develop complete hydrogen value chains, from energy generation and hydrogen production to transport, storage, and end-use applications. ELEVATECEE will particularly focus on hard-to-abate sectors, driving industrial modernisation across the region and supporting EU climate goals.

Setting the Stage for Regional Cooperation

Hosted by the Slovak Innovation and Energy Agency (SIEA), the Kick-Off Meeting featured a full day of collaboration, presentations, and strategic discussions. Partners used the opportuntiy to exchange and align on the next steps for successfully implementing the project’s ambitious objectives.

Over the next 18 months, the consortium will focus its efforts on three key areas:

  • Identifying Value Chains: Mapping energy generation, hydrogen production, transport and storage, and usage, in order to identify high-impact value chains in the cross-border regions of Slovakia, Austria, and Hungary (led by WIVA P&G, Austria)
  • Project Development: Turning identified opportunities into concrete investment projects, including concept development, risk assessment, financial planning, and ensuring regulatory compliance (led by Hydroeconomy Technology Cluster, Hungary).
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Ensuring engagement across all parts of the quadruple helix — industry, academia, government, and civil society — by organising conferences, mapping stakeholders, and establishing a cross-border investors panel (led by SIEA, Slovakia).

Beyond technical discussions, the Kick-Off provided the opportunity for partners to informally exchange ideas and strengthen connections during a networking lunch, setting the foundation for close cooperation in the coming months. The day concluded with a wrap-up session, summarising next steps and reaffirming the consortium’s  shared commitment to the path forward.

Motivated for the Journey Ahead

The Kick-off marked a strong start to an exciting journey — driven by a diverse and highly motivated consortium ready to advance hydrogen innovation throughout the CEE region!