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HITTING THE

ACCELERATOR

A new programme called HyDEX has been launched in the
Midlands with hopes of fostering a new hydrogen economy
for the region and the UK as a whole
A universities of Midlands Innovation to develop new energy innovations.
new programme has been
(Aston, Birmingham, Cranfield,
launched which is designed
The aim of HyDEX is to address the
to support and foster the
Keele, Leicester, Loughborough,
challenge of building a thriving new
business, industrial and manufacturing
creation of a new hydrogen
Nottingham and Warwick), and also
economy in the Midlands.
currently exists. The programme will
HyDEX – also known as the Hydrogen the British Geological Survey (BGS). sector in hydrogen, where very little
ERA aims to harness the Midlands’
Development and Knowledge combined research excellence and allow businesses to accelerate the
Exchange – brings together the industry expertise to play a critical development and viability of new
university partners in the Energy role in tackling some of the biggest hydrogen products and associated
Research Accelerator (ERA), with challenges facing the UK. intellectual property, while supporting
multinational businesses, SMEs and Via Innovate UK, the government the transition from declining industrial
other partners, in order to accelerate has committed an initial capital sectors and enabling the training and
innovation in hydrogen, build investment of £60 million, and the re-skilling required.
markets and the supply chain, and ERA has secured additional co- The £4.99 million, three-year
support the skills needed for the new investment of £120 million. This has programme, funded via the RED Fund
hydrogen economy. been invested in 23 state-of-the-art scheme, run by Research England,
The Energy Research Accelerator facilities which are being used by which is part of UK Research and
(ERA) consists of the partner university and industrial researchers Innovation (UKRI), will see the ERA

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