Pohang City and Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning Join Hands to Lead Hydrogen Convergence Innovation Industry

First Mutual Cooperation Agreement with Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute among Basic Local Governments
Leading Innovation Industry, Advancing National Hydrogen Economy and Fostering Regional Industries

Pohang City signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute on the 22nd to lead the hydrogen convergence innovation industry.

Pohang City signed a mutual cooperation agreement with the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning on the 22nd to lead the hydrogen convergence innovation industry. (Lee Seung-jae, President of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning, Lee Kang-deok, Mayor of Pohang City, left) Photo by Pohang City

The signing ceremony was attended by Mayor Lee Kang-deok, President Lee Seung-jae of the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute, related officials, and Bae Young-ho, Director of Pohang Technopark, among about 10 others. This agreement is significant as it is the first cooperation agreement the institute has made to establish partnerships with basic local governments.

Through this agreement, the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute, the dedicated agency for hydrogen industry promotion, and Pohang City, a leading domestic hydrogen fuel cell specialized city, will establish a comprehensive cooperation system to foster the hydrogen convergence innovation industry and take the first step toward early transition to a carbon-neutral hydrogen economy.

Pohang City and the institute will actively cooperate in the future on ▲establishing a national hydrogen economy foundation ▲formulating and implementing regional hydrogen industry master plans ▲fostering new hydrogen industries using clean and eco-friendly energy resources ▲supporting the growth of hydrogen-related companies throughout the hydrogen lifecycle ▲creating R&D and industrial environments in hydrogen mobility and power generation fields ▲and nurturing customized talent and promoting employment and entrepreneurship tailored to corporate demand.

The Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute is an energy R&D specialized organization under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy that leads carbon neutrality realization through energy technology innovation and industrial promotion. As the official hydrogen industry promotion agency of the Ministry and the executing agency for the hydrogen fuel cell cluster project and hydrogen specialized complex under the Ministry, it has continuously collaborated with Pohang City and Gyeongbuk Province since 2019, when the cluster project was planned.

The city has maintained continuous cooperation with the institute and actively pursued hydrogen industry promotion policies such as the opening of the hydrogen fuel cell certification center (2019), hydrogen industry convergence workforce training (2020?2024), enactment of Pohang City hydrogen ordinance (2022), and establishment of a dedicated hydrogen energy industry department (2023).

Based on these efforts, Pohang City achieved the preliminary feasibility study approval for the hydrogen fuel cell cluster in 2023 and, in November last year, became the first in the country to be designated as a hydrogen specialized complex.

With this agreement, the city expects to create a foundation for leading the innovation of the hydrogen industry through joint efforts between local governments and the central government, ensuring the successful establishment of the hydrogen specialized complex and advancing as a global hub for the fuel cell industry.

Mayor Lee Kang-deok said, “The success of the hydrogen specialized complex requires not only the efforts of local governments but also continuous interest and support from the central government. We will unite with the Korea Energy Technology Evaluation Institute around the Pohang hydrogen specialized complex to foster the hydrogen fuel cell industry as a national future growth industry and lead the world as the number one hydrogen industry country by driving innovation in the hydrogen industry.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.