The hydrogen start-up event of the year 2023
Thank you for taking part!
01
Introduction
Thank you to our more than 350+ guests who joined us for the first HYDROVERSE CONVENTION, where we brought together start-ups and experts from the European hydrogen industry to share their insights, ideas and experiences.
Last year’s Convention provided a central stage for Europe’s up-and-coming start-ups in the industry to shine, while offering innovators, companies and investors the opportunity to exchange ideas and network. Due to its huge success, we’ll be back: Join us for the next round of hydrogen innovation on 18 June 2024 in Essen!
In the meantime, take a stroll down memory lane and discover our program from the first HYDROVERSE CONVENTION below.
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02
Program
Take a look at what our program had in store for visitors last year: discover hands-on pitches, thought-provoking panels and inspiring networking sessions. We designed the program to make a dynamic and engaging experience possible – for participants of all backgrounds and interests. Our program also included a dedicated networking area. Â
Admission
Opening speech
Empowering European Manufacturers for Green Hydrogen Success
Keynote Speaker: Philipp Offenberg
Senior Manager Europe, Breakthrough Energy
Making hydrogen happen: How to catalyze and fuel change
Panelists: Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (Hydrogen Europe), Dr. Stefan Kaufmann (Hydrogen Executive Advisor to the Thyssenkrupp Board), Dr. Cecilia Papini (SNAM)
Pitch Session #1
With pitches from Arthur Bus, Boson Energy, Carnot, HTM, PMR Tech, Turn Energy
Networking break
Pitch Session #2
With pitches from CENmat, CibusCell, Fast Sense, JOLT, Point Twelve, xemX
Building a thriving H2 economy in Europe: Ways to foster talent and encourage growth
Panelists: Dr. Gokce Mete (South Pole), Dr. Gregor Polcyn (WEW GmbH) and Paulina Jänsch (Leanox Impact Capital),
Pitch Ceremony
Farewell
Networking Party
04
Start-Ups
A wide range of European Hydrogen Start-ups gave unique insights into their business ideas and discussed current H2 challenges with our visitors.Â
05
Speaker
Our speakers came from a wide range of backgrounds, including academia, industry, and government. They provided a diverse and comprehensive perspective on the latest developments of hydrogen technology and innovation.
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis
Hydrogen Europe
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis has been working at Hydrogen Europe since 2016. He currently holds the position of CEO. He previously covered roles in the planning department of the Foreign Office of Germany, at Infineon Technologies and was Member of the European Parliament (2004-2014) inter alia in the ITRE Committee (Industry, Technology, Research and Energy) where he could contribute to lay the cornerstone for the first and the second Joint Undertaking on hydrogen and fuel cells. He was awarded Hydrogen Person of the Year at the World Hydrogen Awards 2022.
Paulina Jänsch
Leanox Impact Capital
Paulina Jänsch is founder and partner of the Essen-based venture capital fund Leanox Impact Capital. She is a financial expert in the field of sustainable investments and advises family offices, universities, foundations, startup associations and incubators.
Paulina is an active advocate for female empowerment and stands out for her inclusive and empathetic leadership style. Her goal is to attract more women as business angels and to achieve more parity in the start-up scene.
Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Hydrogen Executive Adviser to the thyssenkrupp Board
Dr. Stefan Kaufmann served as Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen at the German Ministry of Education and Research from June 2020 to July 2022. In this position, he was a regular guest at the State Secretaries’ Committee for Hydrogen of the Participating Ministries as well as the National Hydrogen Council.
Since August 2022 he is working as a Senior Adviser. In one of his main mandates he is adviser to the thyssenkrupp board regarding all cross-business hydrogen activities and projects and represent the company nationally and internationally in all matters related to hydrogen.
Dr. Gregor Polcyn
WEW GmbH
Dr. Gregor Polcyn is founder and managing director of WEW GmbH, an emerging start-up, that develops and produces innovative alkaline water electrolysis stacks. His responsibilities within the company mainly include technology development and production processes.
He has been dedicated to the field of hydrogen and electrolysis for over 15 years. After completing his Ph.D. in technical electrochemistry, he spent more than nine years gaining valuable experience in leadership positions specializing in electrolysis plants at a world-leading engineering company.
Dr. Gokce Mete
Hydrogen for Net Zero Initiative
Dr. Gokce Mete is Senior Expert in heavy industry transition and low-carbon hydrogen at South Pole and leads the Hydrogen for Net Zero Initiative (H2NZ). She also leads the policy and advocacy efforts of South Pole in the low-carbon hydrogen space and is responsible for developing hydrogen business opportunities.
Gokce is co-founder of the Women in Green Hydrogen Network, author of over 30 publications, and has over a decade of policy and regulatory analysis, public affairs, project development and stakeholder management experience.
Philipp Offenberg
Breakthrough Energy
Philipp Offenberg has spent several years building up expertise in the field of energy, climate action, and sustainability, while working in high-level public policy positions. He serves as Senior Manager on the Breakthrough Energy Europe team, where he is responsible for BE Europe’s EU-level policy engagement and Germany strategy.
Between 2016-2019, Philipp worked as an Advisor on energy and climate policy in the strategy department of former European Commission President, Jean-Claude Juncker.Â
Dr. Cecilia Papini
SNAM
Dr. Cecilia Papini is Manager of Decarbonization Technology Solutions at Snam and currently leads the HyAccelerator program, Snam’s corporate accelerator focusing on hydrogen and decarbonization start-ups.
Previously she obtained a PhD in Chemistry from Sorbonne University working on enzymatic systems for hydrogen production and worked as a Strategy Consultant.
06
Location
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07
About H2UB
H2UB – The #HYDROVERSE
H2UB connects start-ups with companies, universities, research institutes and investors. We create synergies that accelerate the development of the hydrogen market in Europe. We present our main event – the HYDROVERSE CONVENTION – where we take you to the HYDROVERSE. Here, everybody comes together – start-ups, innovators, companies, investors.
The HYDROVERSE CONVENTION is the European hydrogen start-up event of the year. If you are into hydrogen innovation, don’t miss it!
Read more about the H2UB, our start-up programs and community events on our website:
08
Press
Pictures
Here you can find pictures for free use. When using the photos, please refer to the source H2UB.Â
Logo-Kit #2023
All pictures #2023
Press Releases
English press release
HYDROVERSE CONVENTION brings 350 experts from the hydrogen industry to Essen
Deutsche Pressemitteilung
HYDROVERSE CONVENTION holt 350 Expert*innen aus der Wasserstoff-Wirtschaft nach Essen
Press & Media Information
FAQ – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, press representatives can be accredited for free for the HYDROVERSE CONVENTION #2024. More information will be available as soon as tickets are on sale.
No, a press card is not necessary for accreditation.
No, there is no limit to the number of press tickets available. We can provide press tickets to all interested media representatives.
Just come to our registration desk, check in with your name, and you will receive a press badge.
We are happy to facilitate interviews with your desired interview partners. Please submit your interview request to Marina Scheider, PR & Communications (marina.scheider@h2ub.com). Once we have received all the necessary details, we will notify the requested speaker and provide them with your contact information so they can reach out to you directly.
Yes, we provide a dedicated business area on-site for accredited press representatives to conduct interviews.
09
Contact
Feel free to contact us if you have any questions, requests or suggestions.
Carolin Nickel
Event Management
Marina Scheider
PR & Communications
Partner