The Port of Rotterdam Authority has joined a new regional partnership aimed at accelerating hydrogen innovation and supporting the development of hydrogen chains.
LAUNCH2 officially started during the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2026 in Rotterdam. The initiative brings together the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Municipality of Rotterdam and the Municipality of Schiedam, the Province of South Holland, InnovationQuarter, TU Delft, TNO and Smart Delta Drechtsteden.
The partnership is designed to connect companies with public authorities and knowledge institutions, while improving access to expertise, infrastructure, testing opportunities and upscaling support.
For Rotterdam, the initiative is intended to support its position as a European hydrogen hub by bringing greater coordination to existing regional projects and industrial energy transition initiatives.
READ: Port of Rotterdam to host circular iron fuel production
Projects linked to the LAUNCH2 approach include the FLIE-SubZero Rotterdam pilot hall for industrial electrification and RIFT’s planned circular iron fuel facility in Rotterdam.
The lease agreement for the FLIE-SubZero pilot hall was signed by PlatformZero and TNO on 1 April.
The Port of Rotterdam Authority is involved in the project as an investor and facilitator, while the Province of South Holland has provided a subsidy for the required infrastructure.
InnovationQuarter has also contributed funding to RIFT through the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund, supporting the project’s move from pilot phase towards commercial realisation.
LAUNCH2 will connect existing hydrogen and energy transition initiatives across the region, with the aim of creating greater cohesion and accelerating innovation.
For more information:
Port of Rotterdam – https://www.portofrotterdam.com/en
