The Green Innovations in Hydrogen for Sustainable Energy Transition (H2start) project is a purpose-built structure launched in 2025 as an autonomous entity of the University of Thrace in Stara Zagora. 

The primary objective of H2start is to conduct research and innovation activities in the domain of renewable hydrogen technologies and energy transition. 

The research agenda of H2start encompasses pivotal areas such as hydrogen production (electrolysis, PCCC), storage, transport, fuel cells, testing, and applications in electromobility. 

The organization’s strategic framework encompasses three core application areas: Clean Energy Transition, Decarbonization of Industry and Transportation, and Coal Regions in Transition. These areas are aligned with the national strategies (PVP, SRP, NHP, ISIS) and the CH JU SRIA, and are societally relevant sectors where renewable hydrogen technologies are bringing together researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, business organizations, and citizens to build a sustainable energy future. The primary objective of this initiative is to establish a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Stara Zagora for renewable hydrogen technologies. 

For further information, please refer to our website: https://www.h2start.eu/The partners of the H2start project, hereafter referred to as “Partners,” are the University of Thrace (TRU – coordinator), the National Research Council (CNR, Italy), the Polytechnic University of Turin (POLITO, Italy), and the Bulgarian Hydrogen, Fuel Cells and Energy Storage Association (BGH2A). The project is funded by the European Research Executive Agency (REA), operating under delegated powers from the European Commission. 

This statement pertains to the privacy practices of H2start in relation to the H2start website. It is imperative to note that H2start and its partners do not assume responsibility for the content or privacy practices of external websites. It is important to note that external links to other websites are not always clearly identified as such. Within the H2start domain, users may encounter links to external websites that direct them to various sites over which H2start or its Partners exercise no editorial responsibility or control. H2start and its Affiliates strongly encourage compliance with this Website Privacy Statement and such external sites. Individual users are advised to consult the privacy statements of the respective websites or to contact the website administrators to gain a comprehensive understanding of the policies and practices that govern their operations. 

General Statement 

H2start and its Partners are committed to respecting the privacy of individuals and actively seek to protect the privacy rights of those who share information with H2start. H2start and its Partners do not collect personal information about individuals without their consent, except in circumstances where H2start or its Partners are legally obligated to do so. Any personal information voluntarily provided to H2start will be treated with the highest standards of security and confidentiality, in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1988 to 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

H2start and its Partners do not collect any personal data about individuals on this website other than the information voluntarily provided by these individuals (e.g., by emailing one of the Partner organizations or filling out a form). Any information provided in this manner will be utilized exclusively for the purpose for which it was initially collected. 

Information shared with H2start is typically presented in anonymized, aggregated form, unless explicit consent has been obtained to the contrary. This includes instances where such information is disclosed in the context of a case study involving the individual and H2start. Consent may be withdrawn at any time. Typically, consent is formally obtained and confirmed through the completion and submission of a consent form. The withdrawal of consent may be requested by contacting the relevant institution. 

Personal Data Collection 

H2start collects personal data voluntarily provided to the company’s website. H2start collects personal data that individuals voluntarily provide to us through our website. When individuals voluntarily submit data, typically through web forms, H2start will collect and process that data. 

In the event that contact is initiated for business purposes, the data will be processed exclusively for such business purposes. 

In the event of contact for public engagement purposes, data will be processed for said purposes exclusively. 

In the event that contact is initiated for media-related purposes, the data will be processed exclusively for such media-related activities. This encompasses activities such as subscribing to receive information or updates from H2start or its newsletter. 

In the context of applying for a position at H2start, the processing of personal information is restricted to the specific purposes related to the application process. 

Google Analytics 

H2start has an appropriate legal mechanism in place with Google for the purposes of complying with GDPR and national Bulgarian data protection legislation. H2start employs Google Analytics to collect real-time data about individuals and their visits to the H2start website (https://www.h2start.eu/). 

The utilization of Google Analytics by H2start is guided by the principle of enhancing comprehension regarding the demographics of its website visitors. This process enables the organization to assess the efficacy of its digital presence and formulate strategies for continuous improvement. Aggregated, anonymized results are provided to our funders as part of our reporting metrics. It is imperative to note that no personally identifiable information is disclosed to our funders. The data is further utilized to compile statistical reports, but not for the purpose of re-identification. It is imperative to note that all reports are aggregated and anonymized. 

H2start and its partners do not identify users or facilitate the merging of personally identifiable information with non-personally identifiable information collected through Google Analytics or its features unless users have affirmatively consented (opt-in) to such identification or data merging. This is contingent upon H2start and its partners maintaining such Google Analytics features at the time of consent and not having disabled such features prior to consent. It is imperative to note that H2start and its Partners will never attempt to disaggregate data collected through Google Analytics or data reported in aggregate form by Google Analytics. 

While this eventuality is not anticipated, should it be contemplated, the company will obtain consent prior to any such processing. 

For more information on Google Analytics’ privacy policy, which includes details of how to opt out, please see the following website: https://policies.google.com/privacy 

Research Staff, Operational Staff, and Associates 

Personal data relating to H2start’s research staff, operational staff, and associates may be published on H2start’s website. 

Personal data related to recruitment and hiring 

As part of any recruitment process, H2start collects and processes personal data relating to job applicants. The organization is committed to transparency regarding its data collection and utilization practices, in accordance with the principles established by the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). 

The underlying objective of this processing is to facilitate the execution of recruitment procedures, with the aim of hiring personnel across diverse categories. Additionally, the processing serves to manage applications through various stages of the selection process. H2start’s processing of personal data during the recruitment process is deemed legitimate, as is the maintenance of records related to the aforementioned process. The processing of data from job applicants enables the management of the recruitment process, the assessment and confirmation of the suitability of candidates for employment, and the determination of those to be offered employment. Moreover, the processing of data from job applicants may be necessary for the purpose of responding to and defending against legal claims. 

The dissemination of this data will be strictly limited to the recruitment process’s involved parties, including the HR department, interviewers, research group leaders, and the Director. Additionally, IT personnel will have access to data solely to the extent necessary for the performance of their duties. It is imperative to note that data will not be disseminated to third parties. 

The storage of data will occur in various locations, including within the applicant’s application file, within HR systems, and in other IT systems, such as email. H2start has implemented generally accepted security standards to protect personal data. The transfer of personal data outside the European Union will only occur with the explicit consent of the individual concerned. 

H2start will retain personal data for as long as necessary to comply with legal obligations or for six months following the conclusion of the recruitment process. Following the expiration of this period or the withdrawal of consent, the relevant personal data will be deleted. H2start undertakes an annual review of its personal data to ascertain the continued legality of its processing. In the event that the determination is made that the right to process the personal data in question is no longer valid, the processing of said data will be suspended, with the exception of its archival form, in order to ensure compliance with any extant legal obligations. 

Personal Data and Rights 

Under Articles 15-22 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), individuals possess a number of rights. 

These rights are as follows: 

The right to have your data used in accordance with data protection regulations. 

The right to information about your personal data. 

The right to access your personal data. 

The right to know if your personal data is being stored. 

The right to amend or remove your data. 

The right to prevent the use of one’s personal data is also recognized. 

Additionally, the right to remove one’s data from a direct marketing list is recognized. 

The right to object to the use of personal data for marketing purposes is also recognized. 

Additionally, the right to freedom from automated decision-making processes is recognized. 

The right to refuse direct marketing calls or mail. 

Consent for the processing of personal data can be withdrawn at any time under Articles 6(1) and 9(2) of the GDPR without any consequences. Individuals have the right to request information from their local supervisory authority regarding the exercise of their rights under Article 57(e) of the GDPR. 

This statement elucidates the Internet Privacy Policy that H2start has adopted for its website. However, it is important to note that, from a legal perspective, this statement should not be construed as a contractual obligation. H2start and its Partners reserve the right to review and amend this statement at any time without notice. 

Contact Information 

If you have any questions about H2start and the use of your information, please contact us at h2start@h2start.eu 

Last updated: Monday, April 14, 2025 Version 1.0_2025