Hydrogen Innovation Programme (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

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.

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.

• 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

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

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

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.

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

Our aim is to tailor a support package for your organisation. Please complete an EOI and we can call to discuss your requirements in more detail.

Our Hydrogen Innovation Programme is now open for Expressions of Interest. 

If you want to access ETP hydrogen innovation project funding, you need to submit an EOI by the 16th June 2025.  Projects will then be assessed and those eligible for project funding will be asked to submit a short funding application.

Successful projects will need to be complete by the 31st Jan 2026.

If you are looking for wider support, we will continue to accept EOIs after 16th June, however we encourage those interested to engage early with the programme to maximise the opportunity.

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