HyAcademy interview for ECHO 2025: The Future of Hydrogen Technologies and Education

In a recent interview for ECHO 2025, Professor Karel Bouzek of the University of Chemistry and Technology in Prague (VŠCHT) shared valuable insights on the current state and future of hydrogen technologies in the Czech Republic and Europe. As one of the leaders of the HyAcademy.EU project, Prof. Bouzek emphasized the crucial role of education, research, and innovation in driving the hydrogen transition.

Prof. Bouzek, a leading Czech expert on hydrogen technologies and former chairman of the Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform (HYTEP), spoke about the scientific, industrial, and societal challenges that shape the hydrogen economy. His interview highlights key themes at the heart of the HyAcademy mission: connecting academic excellence, industrial innovation, and skills development to build Europe’s hydrogen future.

“There is still a lack of awareness and education in the field of hydrogen technologies,” Bouzek noted. “Czech society often believes that nuclear energy alone will solve our energy problems. Yet to phase out fossil fuels across sectors, we need corresponding alternatives — and that opens the door for hydrogen.”

In the interview, Prof. Bouzek discussed the progress of alkaline electrolysis, one of his key research areas, and explained its advantages for efficient and cost-effective hydrogen production. He also reflected on broader systemic barriers, such as slow infrastructure development, limited pilot and demonstration projects, and the imbalance between industrial and research support within European funding programmes.

At the same time, he highlighted positive developments in education and workforce training. Through international cooperation within the TeachHy and HyAcademy.EU projects, VŠCHT and its partners are developing advanced educational materials and e-learning resources that make hydrogen knowledge accessible to universities and secondary schools across Europe.

“HyAcademy aims to connect research institutions, universities, and schools into a shared network that will help train the next generation of hydrogen specialists,” Bouzek explained. “Education is a fundamental part of building a sustainable hydrogen economy.”

Prof. Bouzek’s perspective reinforces HyAcademy’s central objective — to strengthen hydrogen literacy and skills through multilingual, practice-oriented learning. His leadership within the project ensures that educational innovation remains grounded in scientific excellence and industrial relevance.

As hydrogen technologies move from laboratories to large-scale implementation, experts like Prof. Bouzek play a vital role in shaping both the research agenda and the educational frameworks that will empower Europe’s future hydrogen workforce.

Read the full interview in Czech: Link