DAAD Green Hydrogen Research Tour

Jun 15, 2025 - Jun 15, 2025

“Green Hydrogen Research and Technology in Germany”

September 14 – September 20, 2025

Leipzig – Halle (Saale) – Bad Lauchstädt – Goslar – Salzgitter – Braunschweig – Hannover – Bremen – Hamburg

The DAAD invites advanced doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers from the European Research Area (ERA) and eligible countries to meet with colleagues at renown German institutions that are actively contributing to green hydrogen research, in order to get first-hand information and insights into promising research results and technological developments towards the green hydrogen economy.

In its quest for a secure, environmentally friendly and cost-effective energy supply, Germany is moving away from nuclear power and fossil fuels in favour of renewable energies and higher energy efficiency. In this context, hydrogen is seen as an extremely versatile energy source. Produced in a climate-friendly way, hydrogen (H2) and its derivatives will help to ensure the long-term success of the energy turnaround and to make progress in mitigating climate change.

The German government has been supporting the creation of an appropriate political environment for accelerating the growth of the hydrogen industry. Since the launch of the National Hydrogen Strategy, Germany has been supporting the creation of an enabling political environment to accelerate the development of the hydrogen market, promoting effective ways to secure availability of hydrogen and hydrogen products, and investing in the development of an efficient hydrogen infrastructure, while also working towards establishing the safe use of hydrogen in industrial applications. In this way, Germany aims to position itself as a leading supplier of hydrogen technologies and to implement the clean hydrogen economy on a large scale.

The DAAD Green Hydrogen – Research Tour 2025 therefore focuses on the presentation of research progress in hydrogen production and use and the technological developments for the hydrogen economy along its value chain. The Tour 2025 will include dialogues with researchers and practitioners at universities, non-university research institutions, companies, and collaborative projects, covering a broad spectrum of activities in research and technological application, including the following:

Analysis, characterization and diagnostics for safe materials, components and systems for the hydrogen economy.
Testing facility and real laboratory for the entire green hydrogen value chain on an industrial scale.
Large-scale energy storage ranging from subsurface energy systems over battery safety to chemical energy storage through hydrogen production.
Visits to laboratories producing hydrogen and batteries.
Generation of Green Hydrogen and Power to X technologies.
Different projects focusing on Hydrogen production, storage in steel tanks, and distribution.
Factory transformations needed to decarbonize the value chain, from conversion, storage transportation and use of energy to its systemic relation and interaction with the society.
Projects for the development of the hydrogen economy and industrial transformation via hydrogen hubs in northern Germany.
Research facilities for developing, manufacturing and testing tailor made catalyst materials for applications in energy conversion.
Digital decision support tools for designing resilient socio-technical systems focusing on renewable energy.
Federal initiatives to make Northern Germany a development pole of the green hydrogen economy with the participation of industry, start-ups, experienced specialist and different stakeholders.

Participants will meet with researchers from the following universities, companies and research institutions and each link provides detailed information on the aspects to be covered during the visit:

Halle (Saale) – Fraunhofer Institute for Microstructure of Materials and Systems IMWS. Link
Bad Lauchstädt Energy Park – the future of green hydrogen. Link
Clausthal / Goslar – Clausthal University of Technology (TUC), Research Center Energy Storage Technologies (EST). Link
Salzgitter – Wasserstoff Campus Salzgitter – Link
Braunschweig – Technische Universität Braunschweig – Link
Hannover – Energieforschung – Leibniz Universität Hannover. Link
Bremen – University of Bremen – Link
Hamburg – Hamburg University of Technology – TUHH – Link
Hamburg – Universität Hamburg – Link
Hamburg – Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research IAP – Link
Hamburg – Green Hydrogen Initiative of Northern Germany “HY 5” – Link

Participants can expect:

An overall view of the German higher education, research systems and funding opportunities.
First-hand insights into the developments and innovative projects in the field of green hydrogen production, transport and infrastructure, market stimulation and cross-cutting issues.
The opportunity for a mutual exchange of current research results with experts actively investigating, developing, and implementing new technologies, norms and standards in the field.
An overview of the green hydrogen research landscape and career options in Germany, as well as of the funding opportunities for academic exchange, institutional and individual collaboration.
The opportunity to join one of the DAAD Green Hydrogen Working Groups (Link) to create long-term ties with other fellows and experts from the DAAD Green Hydrogen community, and to profit of research and networking opportunities, according to their personal interests.
The programme will be conducted in English and will have a very interactive approach. Our hosts will provide valuable insights into their activities, and participants will be asked to share their perspectives and knowledge with the group.

Whom are we looking for?

Fellows in this programme are typically postdoctoral researchers and advanced doctoral candidates (Degree to be awarded by 2026 at the latest) with well-documented experience in their respective fields of research. Participants are expected to show interest in a cooperation or a research stay in Germany.

What is being funded?

Program-related costs in Germany (accommodation, domestic travel, most meals, insurance).
Lump sum towards international travel costs from the ERA or eligible countries to Germany. The DAAD will pay the travel allowances for DAAD scholarship holders (Incoming / Outgoing) according to the “Travel allowances for German and foreign scholarship holders, valid from 01.04.2024” document (Link [pdf-file]). The travel allowance will be paid after the end of the DAAD GH2 Research Tour 2025 and on presentation of the corresponding electronic invoice.

What will be the itinerary?

The DAAD – Green Hydrogen – Research Tour 2025 officially starts in Leipzig on Sunday afternoon, September 14. 2025, with a welcome session and ends with a closing dinner on Friday evening, September 19, 2025, in Hamburg. The night from Friday, September 19, to Saturday, September 20 is also booked and covered by DAAD. Participants may stay in Germany for another 5 working days before or after the tour at their own costs, and they are encouraged to make use of this opportunity for further networking and arranging meetings with research and academic institutions, and industries actively working on green hydrogen.

What is absolutely required?

Applicants must be established in any of the eligible countries for at least 12 months before the start date of the research tour.
Hold a PhD degree received no earlier than 2020 and at the latest by 2026 and be actively engaged in research or work on topics related to clean hydrogen. Those interested must demonstrate academic or professional background in the field of green hydrogen.
Participants must be interested in a research cooperation with German partners and/or be motivated to carry out a research stay in Germany.
Applicants from the following countries are eligible to apply for the DAAD Green Hydrogen Research Tour in Germany: EU member states, Albania, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, Côte d’Ivoire, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Ghana, Island, Israel, Japan, Kosovo, Mexico, Morocco, Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Namibia, New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Senegal, South Africa, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Togo, Türkiye, Tunisia, Ukraine, USA, United Kingdom and Uruguay.

How to apply:

Applicants are required to complete the survey through the following link: Application form for the DAAD – Green Hydrogen – Research Tour 2025 and to submit the requested PDF-files by Sunday, 15 Juni at 23.59 hrs (UTC +1), 2025.

More Information: https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/daad-funding-programmes/green-hydrogen/research-tour/2025-info/