The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and The Hong Kong and China Gas Company Limited (Towngas) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Cooperation to establish Hong Kong's first hydrogen energy innovation platform. Leveraging global academic and industry expertise, the two parties will collaborate on areas such as technology commercialisation and related fields. This partnership aims to accelerate the development and broader application of hydrogen energy technologies, injecting fresh momentum into the nation's dual-carbon strategy and the global transition to a low-carbon future.
HKUST and Towngas will jointly establish the Hong Kong Hydrogen Hub, an open innovation platform dedicated to attracting leading universities, research teams, innovative enterprises, and industry organisations worldwide. The Hub will focus on five core pillars: technology commercialisation, startup incubation, policy and standards formulation, green certification, and professional talent development, all aimed at driving the high-quality development of the hydrogen energy industry. Research will concentrate on hydrogen production, storage and safety, hydrogen fuel cells, and hydrogen energy generation, while also cultivating high-quality innovative talent with R&D and engineering expertise to meet industry development needs.
The national 15th Five-Year Plan explicitly identifies hydrogen energy as one of the new drivers of economic growth. Meanwhile, the Strategy of Hydrogen Development in Hong Kong, formulated by the HKSAR Government, aims to position the city as a demonstration base for hydrogen energy development in the nation and to facilitate the growth of the industry across the Belt and Road region.
As a world-class university, HKUST maintains extensive collaborations with numerous universities and industry partners worldwide and boasts strong capabilities in the new energy field, particularly in core hydrogen energy technology research and development, supported by a solid foundation for technology commercialisation. As an integrated energy enterprise, Towngas has accumulated extensive practical experience in hydrogen storage, transportation, and application, and has established a comprehensive multi-scenario deployment encompassing natural gas-hydrogen blending, green methanol, sustainable aviation fuel, and more. By leveraging HKUST's academic strengths and Towngas' industry expertise, this collaboration represents a pivotal effort to advance national strategies and global climate action.
Prof. Penger TONG, Associate Vice-President for Research and Development (Research) of HKUST, stated, "HKUST has been committed to advancing sustainable energy innovation through the establishment of the Energy Institute-a multidisciplinary platform that fosters cutting-edge research, technological breakthroughs, and innovative education in sustainable energy. Our scholars have developed green hydrogen production technologies, liquid hydrogen storage materials, and durable fuel cell, enabling cost-effective and widespread adoption of green energy. We believe this collaboration will invigorate the development of hydrogen energy and drive industrial upgrades in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and across the nation."
Mr. Edmund YEUNG Lui-ming, Executive Director and Chief Financial Officer of Towngas, stated, "We will seize in-depth industry-academia-research collaboration as an opportunity to continue driving energy technology transformation at Towngas, making a significant contribution to the realisation of the country's dual carbon strategic goals and the sustainable development of global energy."
By leveraging Hong Kong's international resources and the robust industrial foundation of the Greater Bay Area, both parties aim to make Hong Kong Hydrogen Hub a catalyst for translating hydrogen technologies from laboratory research to commercial deployment. This initiative seeks to foster deeper integration between global research capabilities and industry needs, provide core support for the nation's efforts to build a clean, low-carbon energy system, and contribute to the global pursuit of carbon neutrality.
