Hydrogen is no longer a vision of the future — it’s the energy of today.
And Slovakia has made it clear that it wants to be part of this change.
On October 21, 2025, Bratislava hosted the first edition of H2SK FORUM, a national and international conference dedicated to developing the hydrogen ecosystem beyond 2030. The event was organized by the Ministry of Economy of the Slovak Republic and the National Hydrogen Association of Slovakia (NVAS), with EASTGATEH2V proudly joining as a partner of this event.
More than 150 experts from industry, academia, municipalities, and public administration met to discuss how Slovakia can strengthen its position in Europe’s clean energy transition.
Building the hydrogen ecosystem of tomorrow
H2SK FORUM connected ideas, policies, and projects that are shaping the future of hydrogen in Central Europe.
European leaders Jorgo Chatzimarkakis (Hydrogen Europe) and Valérie Bouillon-Delporte (Clean Hydrogen Partnership) outlined Europe’s goals for 2030:
- 80% self-sufficiency in hydrogen production
- fourfold increase in synthetic fuel output.
Representatives of Slovak industry — Slovnaft and Duslo — shared their decarbonisation experiences and challenges, highlighting the importance of stable regulation and support for RFNBO fuels (renewable fuels of non-biological origin).
At the regional level, the V4 countries and Austria agreed that new investment incentives and simplified rules are essential to scale hydrogen technologies.
EASTGATEH2V – a Slovak success story that stands out
Among the showcased initiatives, the EASTGATEH2V Hydrogen Valley drew particular attention.
Presented by our coordinator – Katarína Sasaráková from the Košice Self-Governing Region, the project was recognised as a model example of regional cooperation and innovation.
EASTGATEH2V connects green hydrogen production, storage, and use in transport and industry — all within a single regional ecosystem. It demonstrates how science, business, and local governments can work together to make clean hydrogen part of everyday life.
The response was very positive. Experts from across Europe referred to EASTGATEH2V as a reference point for regional hydrogen development — proving that Slovak regions can lead Europe’s green transformation. EASTGATEH2V is part of the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and the network of European Hydrogen Valleys.
From innovation to education
H2SK FORUM also celebrated the next generation of hydrogen innovators.
Students from H2 Grand Prix Slovakia were recognised for their achievements at the global competition in Germany, showing how education and technical creativity can drive Slovakia’s sustainable future.
Hydrogen development starts with collaboration
The forum confirmed that Slovakia has both the expertise and the will to accelerate hydrogen development.
By connecting the public sector, industry, academia, and civil society, the so-called quadruple helix model, the country is laying the foundations for a resilient hydrogen economy.
Projects like EASTGATEH2V show how this cooperation works in practice.
By uniting regional strength and European innovation, Slovakia is becoming part of the continent’s clean energy movement.
A future worth fueling
EASTGATEH2V represents the bridge between vision and action.
From the Košice Region to Brussels, hydrogen is connecting regions, technologies, and people.
H2SK FORUM 2025 made one thing clear — the hydrogen future starts now, and Slovakia is ready.