The hydrogen economy will only succeed through collaboration – across regions, sectors, and national borders. That is the central premise of this panel. Drawing from real-world experience in Northern Germany, panelists will explore how regional alliances such as HY-5 and models like the North Sea Powerhouse are turning abstract cooperation into tangible progress.

This panel will discuss:

• How regional initiatives such as HY-5 contribute to aligning hydrogen strategies across states and borders by acting as an interface between governments and industry, facilitating the creation of new policies
• How coordinated visibility and investment promotion – through close ties to both business and government stakeholders – can help accelerate infrastructure and permitting efforts
• How companies benefit from having a joint regional contact point that speaks the language of business, connects projects across administrative boundaries, and provides access to a broader hydrogen ecosystem
• What practical lessons can be transferred to other regions, especially in terms of aligning public ambitions with private capabilities

HY-5, the Green Hydrogen Initiative of Northern Germany, is the joint cooperation of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Niedersachsen, and Schleswig-Holstein. It serves as a blueprint for interregional coordination with a clear economic focus. The initiative, promoting the states as an economic stronghold, aims to make Northern Germany the leading future region for green hydrogen in Europe. As a model for regional cooperation and coordination with a clear economic focus, it serves as a blueprint for similar initiatives and plays a crucial role in bridging political strategy and financial implementation.

By promoting Northern Germany as a unified hydrogen region abroad and supporting cross-border cooperation, HY-5 provides businesses and international partners with a central point of access. Its close ties to both regional authorities and the private sector enable it to help move ideas into action – complementing official strategies with market-oriented momentum.

This is not just a discussion about what could be – it’s about what is already working and how we scale it up together.