Dr.-Ing. Mariya E. Ivanova, Technology Development Manager at the H2START Centre of Excellence, Trakia University, delivered a focused lecture on the key scale-up challenges in the hydrogen sector during the recent Erasmus+ ENHANCE Winter School on Sustainable Innovations in Advanced Ceramics. Framed within the context of current research and innovation in ceramic technologies for hydrogen applications, Dr. Ivanova engaged MSc and PhD students in a structured exploration of how advanced materials research intersects with practical engineering hurdles in moving hydrogen from laboratory concepts toward scalable solutions.
The 2026 Erasmus+ ENHANCE Winter School “Shaping the Future: Sustainable Innovations in Advanced Ceramics” is co-organized by Gdańsk University of Technology (Poland), Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (Norway), Trakia University (Bulgaria) and Kyushu University (Japan). It combines online and on-site activities for master’s students and doctoral candidates to explore ceramic materials for sustainability, with a particular emphasis on energy conversion.
Dr. Ivanova addressed “Technical Challenges of Scaling Up Hydrogen,” placing material science for hydrogen technologies within the broader context of advanced materials and energy systems. Her presentation reflected the strategic research and innovation aims related to ceramics for fuels and electrolyzers currently underway at H2START, including the development of dedicated infrastructure such as the Centre for Technological and Process Development, the Test Centre for Materials, Components and Stacks, and the Centre for Microstructural Characterization of Materials, Components and Stacks. The centres focus precisely on scaling up – progressing technologies from early-stage laboratory validation (TRL 1–3) toward higher levels of technological readiness (TRL 4–7).
Hydrogen is increasingly recognized as a key enabler of Europe’s energy transition, placing new demands on universities to educate specialists capable of working at the interface of advanced materials, electrochemical systems and sustainable energy technologies. In this context, Dr. Ivanova’s lecture at the Erasmus+ ENHANCE Winter School reflected not only current scientific challenges in scaling up hydrogen solutions, but also H2START’s broader commitment to integrating research excellence into higher education and advanced training.