On March 26, 2025, the fourth Hydrogen Energy Specialized Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition officially commenced at the opening ceremony of the 2025 International Hydrogen Energy Conference and the International Hydrogen Energy and Fuel Cell Industry Exhibition (referred to as “CIHC2025”). This year’s competition has undergone a comprehensive innovation upgrade aimed at promoting the deep integration of the technology chain, industry chain, and financial chain, thereby stimulating new productive forces in hydrogen energy through initiatives such as attracting enterprises, talent, and investment.
The event was launched by notable figures including Gan Yong, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and former vice president of the Academy, Bian Guangqi, deputy director of the Energy Conservation and Technology Equipment Department of the National Energy Administration, Yan Guochun, a member of the Party Group and deputy general manager of the National Energy Group, Peng Suping, an academician and professor at China University of Mining and Technology, Zheng Nanfeng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, James George, the deputy representative of the United Nations Development Programme in China, Pang Guoying, director of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Department of the Hong Kong SAR Government, Yu Zhuoping, a professor at Tongji University, Wu Jianxun, deputy mayor of Ordos, Li Jie, executive deputy mayor of Gaoyou, and Yang Su, secretary and director of the Qin Chuangyuan Innovation Promotion Center. The launch ceremony was broadcast live by various media outlets, including CCTV and Xinhua News.
Under the guidance of national energy regulatory authorities, the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, and the China Association for Science and Technology, the China Hydrogen Energy Alliance initiated the first Hydrogen Energy Specialized Innovation Competition in 2022. Since then, three successful editions have taken place in key hydrogen energy cities such as Ordos, Changshu, Xixian New Area, and Jiaxing. Over 60 academicians and experts, 15 local hydrogen energy industrial parks, 13 regional hydrogen energy organizations, and more than 60 investment institutions have actively participated. Over 400 high-quality hydrogen energy enterprises and projects have enthusiastically entered the competition, while accompanying initiatives such as “Walking with Hydrogen” and “Spark Action” have attracted approximately 50 million online and offline viewers. As a result of the competition, over 60 enterprises have completed investment connections, more than 30 have been recognized as national and provincial-level specialized innovative enterprises, and over 20 enterprises and projects have secured investments, including notable examples of international capital, such as Saudi Aramco, investing in Chinese enterprises. Additionally, two domestic companies have successfully gone public.
The competition aims to identify and nurture specialized innovative enterprises in the hydrogen energy sector and enhance the core strengths of the hydrogen energy industry. It focuses on deploying innovation along the industrial chain while promoting multi-layered integration of hydrogen technology, industry, applications, and finance.
The 2025 Hydrogen Energy Specialized Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition is market-oriented and policy-driven, collaborating with Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Jiangsu, and Shaanxi provinces to support local hydrogen energy ecosystem development and promote the globalization of China’s hydrogen energy industry. This year, the competition has undergone comprehensive optimization and innovation in areas such as competition format, participation rules, award categories, and entrepreneurship acceleration. Four main competition categories have been established: the “Specialized Innovative Enterprise Technology Roadshow,” the “Scientific Achievement Project Transformation Competition,” the “Hydrogen Energy Scenario Simulation Technology Application Competition,” and the “Long-term Testing Challenge for Electrolyzers.” The “Roadshow” targets mature enterprises and high-growth teams across the hydrogen energy supply chain, while the “Scientific Achievement Competition” invites universities, research institutes, and startups to present innovative projects and solutions across the hydrogen energy field. The “Hydrogen Energy Scenario Simulation Technology Application Competition” aims to identify high-quality talent with comprehensive simulation technology capabilities to drive breakthroughs in the digital hydrogen energy supply chain. Finally, the “Long-term Testing Challenge” focuses on both alkaline and PEM electrolyzers to evaluate their longevity and reliability, selecting the frontrunners in the field of water electrolysis hydrogen production systems.
Currently, the registration process for the 2025 Hydrogen Energy Specialized Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition has officially begun. This initiative seeks to unite China’s hydrogen energy innovation efforts, fostering collaboration among government, industry, and academia to explore the future of the hydrogen energy sector. It aims to empower hydrogen energy enterprises and stimulate innovative vitality, providing substantial momentum for the prosperity of the hydrogen energy industry ecosystem. Entrepreneurs in the hydrogen energy field, both domestic and international, are encouraged to actively register and participate.
