11th RUHR Symposium
New Materials for the Hydrogen Economy
- 26.05.2026
Hydrogen is considered a central pillar for a climate-neutral industry. For it to establish itself as a sustainable energy source on a large scale, high-performance materials and intelligent systems are needed. The 11th RUHR Symposium “Functional Materials for Hydrogen” at the University of Duisburg-Essen will address this topic on June 16 and 17. Representatives from research and industry will gather at the Fraunhofer-inHaus Center in Duisburg to discuss the entire hydrogen value chain. Registration is still open.
How can new materials make hydrogen technologies more efficient, durable, and cost-effective? That is the central question of the symposium. In high-profile tandem presentations, the speakers will combine perspectives from both science and industry.
The focus is on technological concepts for the hydrogen economy as well as the question of what economic and regulatory conditions are necessary for its expansion. In addition, the role of hydrogen in steel production will be discussed, particularly direct reduction, which can significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Other presentations will focus on electrolysers—systems for producing (green) hydrogen from renewable energy—and how materials and components interact efficiently in this process. Additional topics include electrodes and membranes that can be produced cost-effectively and maintain long-term performance, as well as electrochemical conversion, which is used, for example, in CO2 capture from the air.
The symposium at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE) is organized by the Center for Nanointegration Duisburg-Essen (CENIDE), this time in collaboration with the Faculty of Engineering and the NRW research project Natural Water to Hydrogen. “The event also underscores UDE’s high level of expertise in the field of functional materials and hydrogen,” explains Dr. Tobias Teckentrup, Managing Director of CENIDE. “Researchers are working on innovative materials for electrolysers, membranes, energy storage systems, and industrial applications. In doing so, they are making important contributions to the energy transition and a climate-friendly industry.”
The UDE’s RUHR Symposium has been taking place since 2014. The interdisciplinary exchange aims to initiate new collaborations and help translate materials science findings more quickly into practical technologies.
Further information, the program, and the option to register are available at: www.ruhr-symposium.de