A New Talent Generation for the Future of Hydrogen Research and Innovation in Catalonia and Baden-Württemberg

TALENT H2 CAT-BW is an innovative doctoral program aiming at training the next generation of leading researchers in the field of hydrogen, positioning Europe at the forefront of hydrogen innovation. This program is led by the Ministry of Research and Universities of Catalonia (Spain) and the Ministry of Science, Research and the Arts of Baden-Württemberg (Germany), marking the first collaborative initiative of its kind between two prominent European regions recognized for their excellence in research and innovation.TALENT H2 CAT-BW will support 40 doctoral researchers through 36-month fellowships, promoting a unique interdisciplinary, intersectoral, and international approach to hydrogen research and innovation. The program is committed to adhering strictly to the principles of Open Science while upholding the highest standards of research quality. A distinctive aspect of the program is that the PhD projects will be set out interregionally, with each fellow supervised by a principal supervisor at their host institution and a co-supervisor from the other region. This arrangement enables fellows to complete placements in both regions, providing them with access to cutting-edge infrastructure and expertise, as well as a rich and enriching experience that significantly contributes to their personal and professional development. In addition to these placements, the fellows will also participate in internships and research visits to organizations and enterprises across Europe and internationally.The program is embedded within the respective regional hydrogen ecosystems, commonly referred to as Hydrogen Valleys, which include over 500 entities and features participation from 21 different implementing partner organizations from both regions. TALENT H2 CAT-BW adheres to the European Competence Framework for Researchers (ResearchComp) and is fully aligned with the Smart Specialisation Strategies of Catalonia and Baden-Württemberg, the European Hydrogen Strategy (2020), RePowerEU (2022), and the European Green Deal, all of which set ambitious sustainability goals and position hydrogen as a crucial element in achieving these targets.