Welcome Address and Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony commenced with a welcome speech by the Rector of Montanuniversität Leoben, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Peter Moser. In his address, he emphasized the pivotal role of the new research center in advancing energy technologies and fostering collaboration between academia and industry:
“With the inauguration of the Hydrogen and Carbon Research Center, we are establishing a central hub for cutting-edge research and innovation here in Leoben. This facility will play a key role in developing new, sustainable technologies that will drive the energy transition and contribute significantly to the decarbonization of our industry. Moreover, the center will directly facilitate the rapid industrial implementation of these technologies, paving the way for a substantial reduction in greenhouse gas emissions at Austria’s industrial sites. The close collaboration with our industry partners and the interdisciplinary research conducted here in Leoben underscore Montanuniversität’s leading role in energy research,” said Rector Moser.
Federal Support for the Development of Sustainable Energy Technologies
Leonore Gewessler, BA, Federal Minister for Climate Action, highlighted the importance of investing in green energy in her remarks:
“There can be no climate-neutral future without green energy. For our industry, this means a decisive shift towards green hydrogen. Today’s research is essential to avoid climate-damaging greenhouse gas emissions tomorrow. That is exactly what will happen here in Leoben-Leitendorf. I wish you every success and look forward to seeing the results.”
Dr. Martin Polaschek, Federal Minister for Education, Science and Research, also stressed:
“Austria is at a turning point. Like many other European nations, we face significant challenges from the energy transition and the decarbonization of industry – yet these challenges also present immense opportunities. It is the excellence of our research and the achievements of our universities that enable us to turn these opportunities into forward-looking innovations and further strengthen Austria’s global competitiveness. The new Hydrogen and Carbon Research Center in Leoben is a prime example of how academia and industry can work together to advance Austria’s commitment to excellence. Particularly noteworthy is the collaboration between Montanuniversität Leoben and TU Graz, which lays a strong foundation for achieving groundbreaking progress in hydrogen research and developing key technologies that will strengthen both our economy and climate protection efforts in the long term.”
Styria as an Innovative Research Hub
MMag.a Barbara Eibinger-Miedl, Styria’s Regional Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, and Research, emphasized the importance of the new research center for advancing green technologies:
“Research, development, and innovation are critical pillars for successfully navigating the green transition. Hydrogen-based technologies, in particular, offer numerous opportunities. Local universities, research centers, and businesses are working on a wide range of projects to continuously improve and expand the use of hydrogen. Our federal state is also part of Europe’s first hydrogen valley for industrial applications. The new research center at Montanuniversität Leoben will further enhance Styria’s internationally recognized expertise in green technologies.”
Helga Ahrer, Member of Styria’s Regional Parliament, conveyed greetings on behalf of Deputy Governor Anton Lang. She stated:
“The new research center in Leoben represents not only progress in energy research but also a significant boost for the regional economy. By establishing this cutting-edge center, we are strengthening the economic foundation of the region, creating future-proof jobs, and promoting the development of high-tech applications. This benefits not only science but also our local industry and the entire Styrian population.”
Strengthening Regional Economy and Research in Leoben
Kurt Wallner, Mayor of Leoben, underscored the importance of the new research center for the city:
“The inauguration of the Hydrogen Research Center at Montanuniversität Leoben marks a significant milestone on the path to a green future. Groundbreaking fundamental research will be conducted here, driving progress toward sustainable energy solutions while contributing to CO2 emission reductions. Hydrogen, as a versatile energy carrier, plays a crucial role in climate protection and the energy transition. With this center, both Montanuniversität and the city of Leoben reaffirm their status as leaders in innovation and research.”
Hydrogen and Carbon Research in Styria
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Helmut Antrekowitsch, Vice-Rector for Research and Sustainability at Montanuniversität Leoben, highlighted the significance of the new center for CO2-neutral technologies and industrial innovation:
“With the inauguration of the Hydrogen and Carbon Research Center in Leoben, we are creating a central hub for forward-looking research and innovation. Advanced process technologies will be developed here to supply large quantities of hydrogen for industrial use. At the same time, the entire hydrogen and carbon value chain – from production and transport to storage and application – will be explored. Another focus will be on recycling processes that play a critical role in closing material cycles. Additionally, research will address the sustainable use of carbon in areas such as agriculture, construction, and high-tech applications, like hydrogen storage, to ensure efficient resource utilization – always in close collaboration with our external partners.”
Mag. Andrea Höglinger, Vice-Rector for Research at TU Graz, commented on the collaboration between the two Styrian universities:
“The investments in additional hydrogen research infrastructure at Montanuniversität Leoben and TU Graz, made possible by federal funding, give further momentum to this forward-looking key technology and solidify Austria’s position as a research and innovation hub. The close alignment of research agendas between the two Styrian TU Austria universities, along with the optimal utilization of infrastructure synergies, is significantly strengthening hydrogen research in Austria. At TU Graz, our focus is on accelerating the development and application of safe, sustainably clean hydrogen technologies for hydrogen production, transport, storage, and the efficient use of green fuels in industry and mobility.”
Significant Collaboration Between Academia and Industry
Dipl.-Ing. Markus Mitteregger, CEO of RAG Austria AG, reaffirmed the strong partnership with Montanuniversität:
“Close collaboration between academia, research, and industry is essential to drive innovation and achieve real-world implementation. The partnership between RAG and Montanuniversität Leoben ensures that research results flow directly into RAG Austria’s demonstration projects and are applied in practice. This supports our forward-thinking energy and raw material projects while contributing to knowledge building in Austria’s scientific community. Such knowledge transfer into the real economy ensures that innovations are validated through rigorous testing and safely scaled for commercial deployment, particularly in the critical areas of hydrogen storage and carbon utilization. This knowledge base is crucial for maintaining Austria’s prosperity and economic competitiveness.”
Dr. Harald Holzgruber, CEO of Inteco GmbH, emphasized the role of industry partnerships:
“INTECO is proud to support Montanuniversität Leoben as an industrial partner. The unique infrastructure and research landscape of this center, which maps the entire methane pyrolysis process chain on a pilot scale, provide a solid foundation for rapid industrial-scale implementation. This will enable the steel industry worldwide to access large quantities of affordable hydrogen – a necessity for drastically reducing CO2 emissions. The partnership between Montanuniversität Leoben and INTECO, with its global plant engineering projects, particularly for the steel industry, guarantees the swift adoption and implementation of this technology.”
A Glimpse Into the Future of Energy Technologies
The Hydrogen and Carbon Research Center assumes a key role in the development of hydrogen and carbon technologies across the entire value chain. Its primary focus lies in the efficient and sustainable use of resources. Hydrogen and carbon are considered fundamental building blocks for a climate-friendly industry and energy economy. The center’s research includes CO2-neutral hydrogen and solid carbon production through methane splitting, the utilization of biomass residual streams, carbon refinement for agricultural applications, and hydrogen use in metallurgical processes.
The center employs a range of state-of-the-art methods based on renewable energy sources. These sustainable technologies have the potential to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and drive the necessary transformation of the industrial, energy, and mobility sectors. Another research priority is carbon application in agriculture, which enhances soil quality and increases crop resilience to drought stress. This approach not only improves yields for farmers but also reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The overarching goal is to slow climate change and promote long-term climate protection for the benefit of society as a whole.
