Turning research into solutions: HI ERN PhD student awarded for innovative entrepreneurial venture
Jülich, 27 September 2023 – For his transfer project "Clean H2eat - the future of safe and efficient heat supply", HI ERN PhD student Simon Hahn was chosen as one of the three best by the expert jury at the end of this year's Jülich Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate Program (JUICE) of Forschungszentrum Jülich. The aim of the tailor-made JUICE programme is to support young scientists in turning their research into concrete solutions.
A total of nine teams, including four young scientists from HI ERN, competed in this year's Innovation Contest of Forschungszentrum Jülich and presented their transfer projects that have the potential to solve future challenges.
The pitch was preceded by months of development and preparation in a customised training for the young researchers. The analysis of potential target markets and competitors, interviews with stakeholders and the development of application-oriented business models were part of the intensive preparation.
Focus on decarbonising the industrial sector
HI ERN doctoral student Simon Hahn convinced the expert jury: his transfer project "Clean H2eat - the future of safe and efficient heat supply" was awarded 3rd place.
The Clean H2eat project aims to enable a safe, efficient and emission-free heat supply of the future for industrial processes. In this way, the developed and already patented technology can support the industrial sector in decarbonisation. Currently, more than 50 % of industrial greenhouse gas emissions come from the combustion of fossil fuels to provide process heat. Thus, the use of the emission-free "Clean H2eat" technology offers great leverage in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the program is not the conclusion of an innovation development, but an important step towards commercial implementation: in the future, Simon Hahn will now increasingly dedicate itself to the applicability of this sustainable technology in order to be able to make a positive contribution to the energy transition by reducing climate-damaging emissions.
Simon Hahn studied chemical and bioengineering at Friedrich-Alexander Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU). Since 2020, he has been conducting research as a PhD student in the department "Chemical Hydrogen Storage" which is headed by Prof. Peter Wasserscheid. The focus of his work is the development of an innovative process for the flameless combustion of hydrogen.
About JUICE
The Jülich Innovation and Entrepreneurship Certificate Program (JUICE) is a training program of Forschungszentrum Jülich for young scientists who want to test and prepare entrepreneurial or social projects based on their research. They solve important problems by turning their research into solutions. Participation is free of charge and open to scientists from Forschungszentrum Jülich or RWTH Aachen University. An own project idea is not required. The work can be done alone or in interdisciplinary teams.
HI ERN is a branch of Forschungszentrum Jülich.