Hydrogen Energy R&D Program

Hydrogen Energy R&D

Supports Korean hydrogen energy research spanning production, storage, and infrastructure innovation for cleaner systems.

The Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning (KETEP) issues annual competitive R&D grants for hydrogen energy technology under the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE). KETEP, established in 2009 and managing approximately USD $826 million in energy R&D in 2025, treats hydrogen as one of its six core program areas. The Hydrogen Energy R&D program covers the full value chain: production (water electrolysis powered by renewables and extraction from natural gas and ammonia), storage and transportation (high-pressure gaseous and liquid hydrogen, refueling station infrastructure), utilization (fuel cells in buildings and distributed power; mobility applications across land, marine, and aviation sectors), and energy safety (hydrogen ecosystem reliability using IoT and ICT-integrated electrical safety systems). A 50MW-scale green hydrogen initiative has been highlighted as a flagship project within the program.

Korean universities, research institutes, and for-profit companies are eligible applicants. Applications are submitted through the IRIS portal. Annual solicitation documents specify award amounts in Korean Won, submission deadlines, match-funding requirements, and evaluation criteria; these details vary by call year and are not fixed at the program level. International partners may participate as co-investigators on projects led by a Korean institution, providing a pathway for non-Korean organizations to access KETEP funding through a local partner. KETEP's total managed R&D budget of approximately USD $826 million in 2025 reflects the scale of Korea's public investment in clean energy technology.

The program's alignment with Korea's national hydrogen roadmap and carbon-neutrality commitments makes it a high-priority funding stream. Applicants with technology addressing electrolysis scale-up, hydrogen storage safety, or fuel-cell system integration in transport applications are well-positioned. Organizations outside Korea should identify a Korean lead institution partner and engage before the annual call opens, as the IRIS submission requires a registered Korean applicant entity. Call announcements are published on the KETEP website and the IRIS portal.