The LAUNCH2 partnership has officially commenced, announced during the World Hydrogen Summit and Exhibition 2026 in Rotterdam.
The initiative brings together the Port of Rotterdam Authority, the Municipality of Rotterdam, the Municipality of Schiedam, the Province of South Holland, InnovationQuarter, TU Delft, TNO and Smart Delta Drechtsteden in a coordinated effort to accelerate hydrogen innovation and strengthen Rotterdam’s position as a European hydrogen hub.
LAUNCH2 consolidates the efforts of public-sector bodies and knowledge institutions to support the development of regional hydrogen chains in a more focused and effective manner.
Companies can approach the partnership for assistance in identifying partners, accessing specialised knowledge, connecting to infrastructure and finding opportunities for testing and scaling hydrogen technologies.
The initiative is designed to create greater cohesion among existing regional hydrogen activities rather than duplicating efforts already underway.
Practical functions of LAUNCH2 include connecting companies, public authorities and knowledge institutions, supporting innovation and upscaling processes, facilitating knowledge and network sharing, and reinforcing the broader regional hydrogen ecosystem.
Two concrete initiatives illustrate the approach already in practice.
The FLIE-SubZero Rotterdam pilot hall for industrial electrification, for which a lease agreement was signed by PlatformZero and TNO on April 1, has the Port of Rotterdam Authority involved as investor and facilitator, with the Province of South Holland providing infrastructure subsidy.
For RIFT’s circular iron fuel facility, InnovationQuarter contributed funding through the Rotterdam Energy Transition Fund to support the project’s progression from pilot phase to commercial realisation.
