The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is
pleased to announce the India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme for
Human and Technical Capacity Building. Building on DST’s Hydrogen and Fuel Cell
(HFC) initiatives, this programme aims to strengthen the skilled workforce and
technical expertise required to support the development and implementation of
India’s emerging hydrogen economy.
Need for this Call
At
COP26 in Glasgow (2021), India announced the Panchamrit strategy,
committing to:
- 500 GW
of non-fossil energy capacity by 2030,
- meeting
50% of energy requirements from renewable energy by 2030,
- reducing
projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030,
- lowering
the carbon intensity of the economy by 45% by 2030 (relative to 2005), and
- achieving
net-zero emissions by 2070.
In
parallel, India has set a goal of achieving energy independence by 2047, enabling a transition from fossil
fuels to clean and sustainable energy systems. Meeting these national
commitments requires rapid decarbonisation across the transport, chemical,
steel, and power sectors while ensuring long-term energy security. Owing to its
high energy density and versatility across production, storage, transport, and
end-use, hydrogen is a critical enabler
of this transformation.
To
realize this potential, India must develop a highly skilled workforce capable of designing, implementing, operating,
and maintaining hydrogen technologies across the full value chain.
Structured capacity-building and international exposure are crucial for
equipping India’s emerging hydrogen workforce with globally benchmarked
technical knowledge and operational expertise.
Successful skill development will also accelerate
indigenisation, technology development, and commercialisation of hydrogen
systems, enabling domestically developed solutions that directly contribute to
the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat.
This
Call therefore seeks to support advanced
training, collaborative research, and human resource development through
engagement with leading hydrogen research ecosystems in the Netherlands,
strengthening India’s readiness for a hydrogen-based economy.
