Technological Infrastructures

Sustainable innovation and the energy transition take centre stage in the Belgian capital. On the occasion of European Hydrogen Week 2026, the NASCHA project, together with its sister project NACHIP and HyMantoValley, will present activities supported by the EU’s Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument to an audience of businesses, researchers, public institutions and investors on 27 and 28 October, at the Hydrogen Pavilion, Stand B4, at Brussels Expo. The aim is to demonstrate how interregional cooperation plays a key role in accelerating the uptake of hydrogen technologies and creating new growth opportunities for local economies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Area Science Park will actively contribute to the event through the participation of Fabrizia Salvi, bringing the activities and future prospects of the European NASCHA project (North Adriatic Smart Communities Hydrogen Accelerator) to the forefront of international discussions. “Taking part in European Hydrogen Week alongside NACHIP and HyMantoValley,” explains Salvi, “provides an important opportunity for dialogue and collaboration between projects that, with the support of the European I3 programme, are contributing to the development of the hydrogen ecosystem. It will also be an opportunity to announce NASCHA’s first Open Call, which will open on 12 November, offering European SMEs the chance to contribute innovative solutions to the development and enhancement of the project’s pilots.” For the NASCHA consortium, the Brussels event represents an opportunity to highlight the role of local and smart communities of practice in the practical adoption of hydrogen-based solutions. By connecting diverse yet complementary regional ecosystems, the project aims to foster innovations that address specific local challenges while also being successfully replicated in other European contexts, across areas such as hydrogen production and storage, transport and distribution, and its various applications. Given the limited number of places available for the networking sessions and panel discussions included in the joint I3 for Hydrogen programme, the organisers recommend that interested businesses and stakeholders register early for the various sessions taking place over the two-day event. REGISTRATION AND PROGRAMME