10th Tartu Hydrogen Days to bring together leading experts, a Hydrogen EXPO and hydrogen hackathon

The 10th Tartu Hydrogen Days will take place on 8–9 October in Tartu, Estonia. The anniversary conference, “From Molecules to Markets”, will bring together international and Estonian experts and offer an opportunity to explore an indoor and outdoor Hydrogen EXPO. The event will also feature a hydrogen hackathon where students will develop solutions to future societal challenges. 

Held at the University of Tartu’s Physicum and Library, the conference will examine the development of the hydrogen sector through the lens of the past, present and future: which scientific achievements and pilot projects have shaped its development, how new solutions reach industry and the market, and which technologies, investments and partnerships are needed for the next stage. 

According to Priit Ilomets, Head of the Hydrogen Technologies Unit at Metrosert, Estonia’s hydrogen sector has increasingly progressed from world-class research to practical applications and industrial projects over the past decade. 

“The structure of the anniversary conference reflects this progress: alongside presentations by leading experts, the EXPO showcases solutions that have moved from the laboratory into real-world use, while students at the hackathon will seek fresh answers to challenges that will shape the sector’s next stage of development. A functioning hydrogen economy requires knowledge, technology, viable business models and people capable of bringing them together,” Ilomets said. 

Conference speakers include Academician Enn Lust, who will discuss the development of hydrogen research in Estonia; entrepreneur Enn Õunpuu, who will share the growth story of the world-class technology company Elcogen; Adwin Martens, founder of WaterstofNet, who will present lessons from building the Benelux hydrogen ecosystem; Aivars Starikovs, Board Member of Hydrogen Europe, who will discuss bringing scientific achievements to market; University of Tartu researcher Ove Oll, who will introduce future technologies; and strategic communications expert Elo Ellermaa, who will focus on community engagement and the adoption of new technologies. 

On Friday, 9 October, the wider public will also have an opportunity to experience hydrogen innovation. A Hydrogen EXPO will open at the University of Tartu Library, with hydrogen-powered vehicles and equipment displayed outside the building, including the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo passenger cars, a Caetano H2 CityGold hydrogen bus, a Hycon truck and a hydrogen trailer. 

The Tartu Hydrogen Days will also feature the hydrogen hackathon “Hackers and Visionaries”, where 32 students from different universities and disciplines will develop technological, infrastructure, logistics and business solutions to Estonia’s hydrogen storage and transport challenges for 2040. The best teams will present their ideas in the conference final on 9 October. 

The conference will take place on 8–9 October at the University of Tartu’s Physicum and Library. The conference can also be attended online. Livestream access details will be sent to registered participants before the event.

View the programme and register at: https://hve.ee/en/tartu-hydrogen-days-2026/

The Tartu Hydrogen Days are organised by Metrosert, Estonia’s applied research centre and national metrology institute, in cooperation with the University of Tartu, TalTech Virumaa College, Tartu Vocational College VOCO, Alexela, the Port of Tallinn and the Latvian Hydrogen Association.