PROGRAMME

Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in Germany has long been recognized for fostering industry-academia partnerships to develop practical solutions for global industries. South Korea shares complementary strengths with Germany. With the objective of expanding technological innovations and consolidating international research collaboration between South Korean companies and Fraunhofer institutes in Germany, K-FAST (Korea-Fraunhofer Collaboration Hub for Science and Technology) is established in 2024 funded by the KIAT and Korean Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). Promoting collaboration demand between Korean companies and relevant institutions, matchmaking, joint R&D project planning, and support for researchers dispatched from Korea are the main roles of the K-FAST. This special session will be organized by K-FAST and KIAT. The presenters will share their view about the R&D collaboration and suggest plausible R&D strategies, plans, and concrete proposals. All audiences who have interests on the international R&D programs are encouraged to join this session.

Under the coordination of the Korea-Europe Quantum Science Technology Cooperation Center (KE-QSTCC), four Korea-Europe joint research centers have been actively collaborating to share research outcomes and operational updates, while jointly exploring strategies to generate synergy and address shared challenges in the field of quantum science and technology. We propose a special session to present the recent academic outcomes of three of these joint research centers, each of which has made notable progress in its respective focus area, including: (1) SKKU–University of Glasgow: Superconducting Electro-Optic technology for Near-infrared single photon counting, (2) KAIST–University of Würzburg: Development of chip-scale, scalable quantum light sources and photonic integrated circuit technologies, (3) SNU–EPFL: Semiconductor-based scalable quantum computing. These centers were recently established and are approaching their initial performance evaluations. The EKC provides a timely and valuable platform for disseminating their early research findings and fostering further academic exchange. This session aims to highlight the collaborative research achievements between Korea and Europe in the rapidly advancing domain of quantum science and technology and to encourage further cooperation across institutions.

In nature, hydrogen primarily exists in compound forms such as water, organic matter, and fossil fuels. In order to use hydrogen as an energy source, it must first be extracted from these compounds. Unlike fossil fuels that can be directly used as a primary energy source, hydrogen must be produced from resources such as lignite, oil, and natural gas, or through water electrolysis powered by renewable or clean electricity sources like solar, wind, and nuclear energy. Especially, fossil fuel-based reforming methods can be recognized as a source of clean hydrogen if they are carried out simultaneously with carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS). Similarly, electrolysis-based hydrogen production must utilize clean renewable sources to meet environmental standards. Ensuring both the environmental sustainability and economic viability of the hydrogen production process has thus become a key technological challenge. Leveraging its characteristics of large-scale storage and long-distance transportability, hydrogen can store surplus electricity generated by renewable and nuclear energy sources, transport it to end-use sites, and reconvert it into electricity using fuel cells or hydrogen turbines. By addressing the intermittency and variability challenges of renewable energy, this approach enables more stable and efficient energy use. Consequently, hydrogen is anticipated to firmly establish itself as a critical energy carrier, underpinning the large-scale deployment of renewable energy sources. The use of hydrogen is rapidly expanding in industrial sites as well. In the transportation sector, hydrogen technology is being applied not only to passenger vehicles but also to a wide range of mobility solutions, including commercial vehicles, trains, ships, drones, and construction machinery. In the energy sector as well, hydrogen is gaining attention as an optimal energy solution for distributed power generation through fuel cells, hydrogen turbines, and hydrogen engines. These developments are expected to accelerate the realization of a sustainable hydrogen-based economy. The Hydrogen Energy Special Session II at EKC2025 in Vienna is expected to serve as a platform to present and share innovative business models to meet the demands of the rapidly expanding hydrogen market. The session will also facilitate discussions on various strategies, including the development of a robust hydrogen industry ecosystem, product and process innovation, and improving public acceptance. By doing so, it aims to enhance industrial competitiveness and foster greater innovation across the sector. Ultimately, the session is expected to promote international collaboration and mark an important milestone in the transition to a hydrogen-driven future energy society. The EKC2025 secretariat cordially invites you to attend this conference and help forge a new "Silk Road" of collaboration between Europe and Korea.