Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Conference to advance real-world hydrogen implementation
17th April 2026
The Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Conference, hosted by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) in partnership with the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), will take place on 14–15 October 2026 in Manchester, UK, bringing together a cross-section of the global energy community at a pivotal moment for the hydrogen economy.
Set against intensifying net zero commitments, the conference reflects a broader shift: hydrogen is moving from long term aspiration to an emerging – though still constrained – pillar of industrial decarbonisation. As global strategies mature and investment accelerates, the conference aims to move beyond vision-setting to practical implementation.
The event will bring together a broad cross‑section of the global energy community at a pivotal moment for the hydrogen economy. As net‑zero commitments intensify, hydrogen is shifting from a long‑term ambition to a developing, though still constrained, pillar of industrial decarbonisation.
With national strategies expanding and deployment challenges becoming clearer, the conference aims to move beyond high‑level vision and focus on practical, evidence‑based implementation grounded in today’s realities.
The event is expected to attract a diverse audience of leaders from industry and academia, policymakers, technology developers, and regulators, creating a multidisciplinary forum for collaboration. Attendees are expected to span the full hydrogen value chain – from production and storage to infrastructure and end-use applications – reflecting the complexity of deploying hydrogen at scale.
While the detailed agenda is still being finalised through the open call for content, the structure will combine keynote presentations, panel discussions, and technical sessions. The programme will be designed not only to showcase innovation but also to address the practical barriers to deployment – policy alignment, cost reduction, and infrastructure development among them.
The conference also builds on a relatively recent but rapidly growing collaboration between IChemE and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), reflecting hydrogen’s global significance. Previous iterations and related initiatives have laid the groundwork for an annual platform that connects engineering expertise with policy and investment communities, positioning the 2026 event as part of a longer-term effort to accelerate hydrogen adoption worldwide while acknowledging the gaps between ambition and delivery.
Importantly, the event is not purely technical. With sponsorship and exhibition opportunities available, it will also serve as a marketplace for ideas and partnerships, enabling companies to showcase emerging technologies and forge commercial relationships.
Steve Flynn, Steering Committee Chair said “Hydrogen will play an essential role in our future energy systems and now is the time to begin to home in on the critical roles and the roadblocks to implementation. This unique event looks to bring together industry, business, policy makers and innovators to share progress updates, international perspectives and the latest breakthroughs. But the aim is to do more than simply share – our goal is to drive progress and help shape policy to enable the transition to net zero.”
That ambition – to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation – sits at the core of the conference. By convening stakeholders across sectors and disciplines, the conference aims to catalyse the next phase of hydrogen deployment, helping translate policy commitments into engineered reality.
With Manchester as its host city – a historic hub of industrial innovation – the location is fitting for discussions that could shape the future of global energy systems.
Professionals across the hydrogen value chain are now invited to submit abstracts by 25 May 2026, register to attend and explore sponsorship or exhibition opportunities by visiting the IChemE conference website.
Links
Hydrogen Innovation and Technology Conference Website
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