PhD-title: Regions ’ role in the formative phase of an HFC innovation system

The concept of a hydrogen economy captures the high expectations that hydrogen and fuel cell (HFC) technology may bring for the future. According to hydrogen economy supporters, this emerging technology will be able to bring radical changes to all parts of the energy sector through its many application types within transport, stationary and portable devices. If the hydrogen is produced from renewable energy sources, this new energy carrier can help in reducing one of our times ’ biggest environmental challenges – the emission of CO2. However, as an emerging and disruptive technology, HFC faces severe challenges on its development path before it will be able to compete with incumbent energy technologies. The vision of a hydrogen economy is reflected in the political support HFC technology has received in the last decade. Not only from a national (or supra-national) level (in particular USA, Japan, and Europe) but also the regional (sub-national) level seems to play an important role in driving the development (e.g. North-Rhine Westphalia