The two-day kick-off meeting, 26 and 27 November in Trieste, started the implementation of the project NASCHA - North Adriatic Smart Communities Hydrogen Accelerator, important transnational initiatives aimed at developing hydrogen technologies in the North Adriatic region.
The host of the meeting was Area Science Park, Project coordinator, with the participation of all 20 partners from Croatia, Slovenia and the Italian region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. The meeting presented the goals, activities and plans for the next three years, as well as the roles of individual partners in the implementation of the project.
NASCHA the project is funded by the programme I3 Interregional Innovation Investments Facility with a total budget of almost €11 million. Its goal is accelerate the development and deployment of renewable hydrogen through the implementation of five pilot projects and the development of three Smart Communities of Practice in Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.
The project builds on the North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley (NAHV) and strengthens regional capacities in the following areas:
- urban energy solutions;
- transport and mobility;
- sustainable irrigation;
- production, storage and distribution of hydrogen.
The project will develop TRL 6 solutions to market-ready TRL 9, with a strong focus on standardisation, investment preparation and cross-border knowledge transfer.
From the second year of the project, it will be open. two calls for SME funding, which provides support of up to EUR 60,000 per company, with business acceleration programmes and preparation for investors.
The initial meeting marked a strong start of the project and confirmed a high level of readiness and engagement of all partners. The implementation of the project will contribute to strengthening the North Adriatic hydrogen ecosystem and creating conditions for new technologies, investments and cooperation in the region.
We look forward to playing an active role in the project and contributing to the development of innovative, sustainable and transnationally connected renewable hydrogen solutions.
