Beyond the Hype: Taiwan-Czechia Hydrogen Cooperation Takes Shape
20.10.2026 / 06:59 | Aktualizováno: 20.10.2026 / 07:02
In recent years, clean hydrogen has enjoyed an unprecedented political and business momentum. As countries gradually begin to pivot towards green energy and renewables, hydrogen presents significant opportunities for cross-border collaboration. Despite this, while hydrogen is characteristic of being light, storable, and energy dense, and produces no direct emissions of pollutants or greenhouse gases, it has not yet realized its potential to support clean energy transitions. With this in mind, the Czech Economic and Cultural Office alongside the Czech government agency CzechInvest organized the very first Taiwan-Czechia Hydrogen Strategic Forum on the sidelines of Energy Taiwan and Net-Zero Taiwan 2026.
The delegation to Taiwan included a representative from Materiálový a Metalurgický Výzkum s.r.o., Technical University of Liberec, and Charles University/Drážní Revize s.r.o. As part of their programme, our speakers had the opportunity to meet leading experts in Taiwan’s hydrogen and circular economy ecosystems ranging from academia to industry and government. They have joined the Energy Taiwan and Net-Zero Taiwan networking dinner, discussed hydrogen cooperation with representatives of the Industrial Technology Research Institute, and visited the Research Institute for Democracy, Society and Emerging Technology which has its own hydrogen technologies research team.
Figure 1: Meeting with Industrial Technology Research Institute
The key highlight of their visit was the Taiwan-Czechia Hydrogen Strategic Forum, which saw 400 registered participants. The 2.5 hours long forum featured 6 distinguished speakers and included discussions about the Czech-Taiwanese hydrogen cooperation corridor, joint projects and building pathways to European applications; hydrogen economy era including policy drivers and regulatory frameworks; SOFC technologies for heavy duty mobility; new technology integration for the sustainable production, use, and storage of hydrogen; and hydrogen R&D opportunities. The forum also featured a presentation dedicated to the Taiwan-Czechia collaborative R&D grant program SIGMA under the Technological Agency of the Czech Republic.
Figure 2: Taiwan-Czechia Hydrogen Strategic Forum
On the sidelines of the official program, Materiálový a Metalurgický Výzkum s.r.o. also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan’s National Chin-Yi University of Technology. The MoU sets a framework for strengthening cooperation in materials engineering, metallurgy, hydrogen energy, circular economy, and industry-academia collaboration. A key focus of the partnership is hydrogen storage technologies. NCUT’s Hydrogen Energy Center brings expertise in hydrogen and fuel-cell research, while MMV contributes its strengths in materials and metallurgical R&D. The two sides aim to combine these capabilities and work with industrial partners to advance technology development, validation, and commercialization in the hydrogen sector. Beyond research, the cooperation is hoped to include joint research projects, researcher and student mobility, talent development, and technology transfer.
Figure 3: Signing Ceremony between MMV and NCUT
Beyond the valuable exchange of expertise and policy perspectives, the Taiwan-Czechia Hydrogen Strategic Forum highlighted the significant potential for deeper cooperation between Czech and Taiwanese partners across the hydrogen value chain. Opportunities range from joint research in hydrogen production, storage, materials, and fuel-cell technologies to industrial collaboration in energy infrastructure, advanced manufacturing, and decarbonization solutions.
Figure 4: Taiwan-Czechia Hydrogen Strategic Forum Speakers Line-up
The forum also demonstrated Taiwan's growing role as a regional hub for clean energy innovation. Czech companies, research organizations, and universities interested in hydrogen and net-zero technologies may find promising opportunities at next year's Energy Taiwan & Net-Zero Taiwan, Taiwan's largest B2B platform for renewable energy and net-zero solutions, jointly organized by TAITRA and SEMI. The exhibition brings together stakeholders from across the renewable energy ecosystem, including hydrogen, energy storage, smart energy systems, circular economy, and carbon reduction technologies, offering an excellent gateway to partnerships and business opportunities in Taiwan and the wider Asia-Pacific region.
Figure 5: Technical University of Liberec Presentation
Building on the momentum generated by this year's forum, the Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei looks forward to supporting the continued development of Taiwan-Czechia cooperation and helping connect Czech innovators with new partners in Taiwan's rapidly evolving hydrogen and clean-energy sectors.
Author: Dominika Urhová, Head of Science and Technology Section, Czech Economic and Cultural Office in Taipei