[Five-Year International Collaboration to Pioneer Next-Generation Water Electrolysis Technology]
A consortium led by Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) has been selected for the ‘Global Hydrogen Research (H2GATHER)’ project—one of the flagship international initiatives supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT of Korea. This project is part of the Global Cooperation Flagship Program, which aims to tackle climate change through international research collaboration.
Spanning five years and backed by approximately KRW 10.2 billion (USD 7.5 million), the H2GATHER project focuses on developing Anion Exchange Membrane Water Electrolyzer (AEMWE) technology, which is a next-generation solution for clean hydrogen production. The primary goal is to achieve world-class innovation through partnerships with leading global research groups.
The project is led by Professor Yong-Tae Kim from POSTECH’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, with Professor Moon Jeong Park (Department of Chemistry) and Professor Jihwan Ahn (Department of Mechanical Engineering). The project will also involve leading Korean institutions such as Seoul National University, KAIST, UNIST, KENTECH, Korea University, Sogang University, Chung-Ang University, Gyeongsang National University, and Sangmyung University. Industry partners–including Umicore Korea, Techwin, Orion Polymer, and AcroLabs–will support the commercialization of the developed technologies.
International collaborators include world-renowned experts such as Professor Edward H. Sargent of Northwestern University, a leading authority in hydrogen evolution catalysts; Professor Chulsung Bae of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, an expert in membrane durability; and Professor Joseph Kwon of Texas A&M University, an expert in system modeling and economic analysis, all of whom will contribute to advancing the project’s technological capabilities.
The research team will work to advance all core components of the AEM system—including catalysts, membranes, cells, and stacks. Specific research objectives include developing high-performance, durable catalysts using nickel-based non-precious metals; ensuring long-term durability through the development of novel ionomers and hybrid membranes; and establishing hydrogen production systems suitable for industrial application through 3D-printed cell fabrication, plasma surface treatments, and techno-economic analysis.
“This project is expected to narrow the technological gap between Korea and global leaders in AEMWE,” said Professor Yong-Tae Kim, the project director. “This will be a crucial step toward achieving Korea’s target hydrogen production cost of USD 1 per kilogram by 2030. We hope hydrogen technology will emerge as Korea’s next strategic industry, following semiconductors and secondary batteries.”