TOKYO, JAPAN — The Hydrogen Energy Research Center (HERC) of National Central University (NCU) officially entered into a Strategic Partnership with the Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Association of Singapore (HFCAS) on March 17. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the “SMART ENERGY WEEK 2026” at Tokyo Big Sight, marking a significant milestone in cross-border collaboration for clean energy.
The agreement was signed by Professor Chung-Jen Tseng, Director of HERC, and Mr. Noel Chin, President of HFCAS. The partnership aims to establish an all-encompassing strategic framework between Taiwan and Singapore, focusing on hydrogen technology, international supply chains, and practical demonstration projects.
Four Pillars of Strategic Cooperation
The collaboration is designed to move beyond theoretical research into substantive application, focusing on four key areas:
- Cross-Sector Decarbonization: Developing value chains to provide technical support and integrated solutions for “hard-to-abate” industries.
- Clean Hydrogen and Hydrogen-Based Fuels: Deepening R&D and market promotion for green fuels, including e-methanol and e-methane.
- Intercontinental Transport Models: Advancing mid-to-long distance storage and transport technologies such as Liquid Hydrogen (LH2), Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs), metal hydrides, and cryo-compressed hydrogen.
- Commercialization and Scaling: Accelerating field validation and market entry to help Taiwanese and Singaporean enterprises expand their footprint across the Asia-Pacific and global markets.
Strengthening Regional Ties
The signing ceremony was attended by a distinguished delegation of academic and industry leaders. Representing the Taiwan side were HERC Deputy Directors Professor Wei-Hsuan Hung and Dr. Meg Jo-Chen Lin (also VP of Quaser/Winbro), alongside Professor Sheng-Wei Lee and Professor Chen-Yu Chen.
Key industrial and research partners from Taiwan also joined the event, including representatives from the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), the Taiwan Institute of Economic Research (TIER), Linde LienHwa, Asia Hydrogen Energy Corp., Taiwan Ammonia Power Corp., hiPower H2 Technology Co., Ltd., Hephas Energy Corp., and U-Hydrogen Corp. Special recognition was given to Dr. Wen-Sheng Chang, Division Director at ITRI’s Green Energy and Environment Research Laboratories, for his pivotal role in providing strategic resources to facilitate this bilateral cooperation.
The Singaporean delegation, led by HFCAS President Noel Chin, included core representatives from JTC Corporation, the Energy Research Institute at Nanyang Technological University (ERI@N), Bird & Bird ATMD LLP, and various private sector leaders in the hydrogen supply chain.
Vision for a Resilient Ecosystem
Since its establishment in 2025, the Hydrogen Energy Research Center has been proactive in aligning with international technical standards,” said Director Chung-Jen Tseng. “By forming this alliance with Singapore’s HFCAS, we are effectively integrating Taiwan’s R&D capabilities with Singapore’s status as a global trade hub. Together, we will build a more resilient hydrogen ecosystem in the Asia-Pacific and provide the critical momentum needed to achieve 2050 Net-Zero targets.
Source: 中央大學與新加坡氫能與燃料電池協會合作 深化亞太氫能價值鏈