UNLOCK on Strategic Governance of Hydrogen at EERA Event
Turin, Italy | March 26, 2025 — Dr. Beata Kviatek, Jean Monnet Chair in Sustainable EU Economy and Project Leader of the Interreg Europe-funded UNLOCK project (Unlocking the Green Hydrogen Economy for SMEs in European Regions), delivered a compelling presentation at a high-level EERA workshop held at the Luigi Einaudi Campus of the University of Turin. The event, organized jointly by the European Energy Research Alliance (EERA) Joint Programmes on Clean Energy Transition for Sustainable Society (JP e3s) and Fuel Cells & Hydrogen, explored the multifaceted societal and technological impacts of hydrogen deployment in Europe.
Dr. Kviatek’s presentation, titled “Strategic Governance of Green Hydrogen: Socioeconomic Transformations and Policy Imperatives in the UNLOCK Project,” emphasized the often-overlooked yet critical role of governance and social readiness in the clean hydrogen transition. Speaking also as a panelist in the session on "Hydrogen in Society & Economy," she brought a people-centered, systems-thinking approach to a traditionally technology-driven conversation.
A Strategic Forum for Hydrogen and Society
The EERA workshop served as a unique convergence of STEM and SSH research communities, enabling interdisciplinary dialogue around the systemic challenges and opportunities of hydrogen technology. The event was inaugurated by Prof. Egidio Dansero, Vice-Rector for Sustainability at the University of Turin, and featured keynote contributions from Francisco Montalban (President, Andalusian Hydrogen Cluster) and Ecoinnovazione experts Alessandra Zamagni and Giuseppe Cecere, who explored social risks and impact assessments.
Two parallel sessions followed: one focused on technical innovations in electrolysers, storage, and lifecycle assessments, and the other—where Dr. Kviatek contributed—centered on the governance, social acceptance, and just transition dimensions of hydrogen deployment. These conversations are increasingly vital as Europe accelerates its green hydrogen agenda under the European Green Deal and REPowerEU.
Regional Governance and Interregional Cooperation: Lessons from UNLOCK
Drawing on emerging insights from the UNLOCK project, Dr. Kviatek presented a framework for strategic regional governance of green hydrogen that supports inclusive, sustainable, and just energy transitions. She outlined the methodology for interregional learning and policy transfer applied in UNLOCK, and highlighted the project’s work in empowering regional authorities to manage the societal implications of hydrogen technologies, particularly in the SME landscape.
Her contribution reinforced that the success of hydrogen strategies hinges not only on technology, but also on institutional capacity, stakeholder engagement, and equitable policy design.
Enhancing the Role of Applied Research in EU Hydrogen Strategy
Dr. Kviatek’s presence at the EERA workshop underscored the increasing relevance of Hanze University of Applied Sciences and its Centre of Expertise Energy – EnTranCe as key actors in EU energy transition research. Her participation illustrated how applied research institutions can effectively contribute to high-level European discourse, bridging the gap between innovation and societal implementation.
This visibility enhances the strategic positioning of both Hanze UAS and the UNLOCK project within the European research and innovation ecosystem. It affirms Hanze’s role as a credible partner for future EU-funded hydrogen initiatives, particularly in translating technical potential into regionally anchored, people-focused outcomes.