The LAUNCH2 alliance officially began operations during the World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2026 held in Rotterdam, with the aim of accelerating hydrogen innovation and strengthening Europe’s regional energy ecosystem.
The initiative brings together the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the municipalities of Rotterdam and Schiedam, the Province of South Holland, InnovationQuarter, TU Delft, TNO, and Smart Delta Drechtsteden in a joint strategy aimed at facilitating the development and scaling up of technologies related to hydrogen.
Hydrogen in Rotterdam drives LAUNCH2
With this partnership, the participating institutions aim to provide a more efficient point of contact for companies and organizations working on projects linked to the energy transition and regional hydrogen value chains.
Likewise, LAUNCH2 will serve as a platform connecting companies, public bodies, and knowledge institutions to facilitate access to infrastructure, collaboration networks, pilot testing, and industrial scaling opportunities.
The project seeks to strengthen Rotterdam’s position as one of Europe’s leading hubs for the development of clean technologies and hydrogen-based solutions.
Support for pilot projects and industrial scalability
Among the first initiatives supported by LAUNCH2 is FLIE-SubZero Rotterdam, a pilot facility focused on industrial electrification processes. The lease agreement for these facilities was signed by PlatformZero and TNO, with the participation of the Port of Rotterdam Authority as an investor and project facilitator.
In addition, the Province of South Holland contributed through grants aimed at developing the infrastructure needed to accelerate testing and technology deployment.
Another project included in this ecosystem is the development of a circular iron fuel facility led by RIFT in Rotterdam. InnovationQuarter supported this initiative through funding from the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund to facilitate the move from the pilot phase to commercial implementation.
A regional ecosystem focused on the energy transition
The creation of LAUNCH2 responds to the need to coordinate more efficiently the hydrogen-related initiatives already operating in the region.
Participants believe that greater institutional cohesion will accelerate technological innovation and improve companies’ ability to develop low-emission energy solutions in an increasingly competitive industrial environment.
The alliance also aims to consolidate a regional network of knowledge and infrastructure capable of attracting new investment and facilitating the growth of projects associated with green hydrogen and industrial decarbonization.
Source and photo: Port of Rotterdam