About HIP

Providing knowledge exchange, funding, and business development support to Scottish businesses and researchers

Funding for the Hydrogen Innovation Programme has now close. We are no longer accepting project applications for the HIP.


We have recently launched our 2025 Hydrogen Innovation Programme (HIP), we offer a range of innovation and business development support services as well as project funding for Scottish Businesses to work with Scottish universities on projects that create products and services in support of the low carbon and green hydrogen economy.

Below are some FAQ’s on funding eligibility and wider support offer.


 

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the Hydrogen Innovation Programme provide?

The Hydrogen Innovation Programme offers Scottish companies access to a range of innovation and business development support services including access to Scottish universities’ expertise and facilities.

This can include project funding for collaborative innovation projects to develop technologies and services to support the green hydrogen economy.

Who is eligible for support?

To access funding or wider support, we welcome applications from Scottish companies, or non-Scottish companies who have, or wish to establish, a base in Scotland.

Our ETP innovation project funding is also only accessible by SMEs but wider support is accessible by all companies large and small.

What kind of projects are eligible for funding?

  • The project idea should represent an advance in technological innovation that develops green, and low carbon, hydrogen products, processes, and systems
  • The novel idea should be one that can be commercialised successfully
  • The development of the innovation should require Research & Innovation that can be delivered in collaboration with an academic partner from a Scottish university

What technologies are eligible for funding?

We are looking to fund technological innovations (products, processes & systems) that will support a green hydrogen economy, for example:

  • Heating
  • Industrial processes
  • Fuel cells
  • Hydrogen propulsion systems
  • Energy storage
  • Transport
  • Hydrogen as an energy vector
  • Hydrogen transmission & distribution
  • Production of green hydrogen
  • Hydrogen derivatives e.g. ammonia & methanol

What contribution are businesses required to make?

Businesses must contribute a minimum of 30% of the total project costs. This can be an “in-kind” or cash contribution.

How much funding is available?

Funding up to £10,000 is available to support collaborative R&I projects with a Scottish university. Funding is awarded to proposals that clearly outline an innovative technical solution that can be successfully commercialised in support of the hydrogen economy.

Can I access additional support, even if I do not receive grant funding?

Yes, we are able to offer a range of support services to businesses. This includes:

  • Business start-up/diversification support
  • Advice on alternative funding sources, partners, and other innovation support services
  • Support with scoping and consortia-building for funding bids
  • Advice and support for identification of commercialisation pathways and international opportunities
  • Support to identify markets and applications for innovations

Who can I contact for more information?

For any general enquiries, please email contact@etp-scotland.ac.uk

What Next?: A Step by Step Guide

  • Check your eligibility: You need to be a business (of any size) with a base in Scotland.

  • Submit an expression of interest: Fill out the following form to register your interest and start the process.

  • Introduction meeting: Our Hydrogen Business Development Manager will contact you to discuss your expression of interest and confirm whether it is eligible for funding from us.

  • Identifying an academic research partner: If your expression of interest is eligible for funding, our Hydrogen Business Development Manager will support you in identifying a suitable academic research partner from one of the 14 Scottish universities who are members of ETP’s research alliance. 

  • Application development and submission: The Hydrogen Business Development Manager will support you and your research partner to complete and submit the funding application form. 

  • Application assessment: Your application will be assessed by us and the Scottish Government, who fund the Hydrogen Innovation Programme. If approved, you’ll be awarded the requested funding amount and can start work with your academic partner.

Register your Interest

If you would like to make an enquiry about you can access support from HIP, please contact us and our Hydrogen Business Development Manager will get back to you as soon as possible.

Contact Us

Collaborative Projects Funded Through Hydrogen Innovation Programme to date 2022-2025

Check out the collaborative projects already funded by the Hydrogen Innovation Programme below.

Company University Project Title
Aich2 Energy Ltd. Heriot-Watt University Techno-Economic Assessment of Solid Green Hydrogen as Alternative Fuel Source
Dalhousie Estates University of Dundee ARM Hub Hydrogen Energy Park to Decarbonise Heavy Duty Vehicles
Evolve Metals University of Strathclyde Modelling the Neocycl Green Hydrogen Copper Refinery
Flexergy University of Strathclyde A Thermodynamic and Energy Balanced Model for the Ultra-Efficient Hydrogen Compression, Storage, and Distribution Technology
Flexergy University of St Andrews Identification of an ideal fluid, fluid handling and materials for large scale, low cost, ultra-efficient hydrogen compression
Hydro-C University of Strathclyde Techno-Economic Modelling of Scalable Green Hydrogen Hubs (GH18 Hubs)
Laidir Circular Mobility Robert Gordon University Developing a High Temperature Fuel Cell Solution in Order to Scale-Up from Kilowatt to Megawatt
Power Circle Projects Ltd. University of Strathclyde Biomethane Carbon Capture for the Production of Renewable Hydrogen
Stewart-Buchanan Gauges Ltd. Glasgow Caledonian University Valves Safety-Related Performance Analysis to be Ready-for-Hydrogen Applications

Hydrogen Innovation Programme Case Studies

Find out more about the projects funded under the Hydrogen Innovation Programme here.

Case Studies

Support Organisation

This Programme has gratefully been made possible by the Scottish Government

ETP Member Universities

ETP is a research alliance comprised of 14 Scottish HEIs, each with areas of outstanding research capability in the energy sector.