With the inauguration of the new industrial and technological hub of UFI Hydrogen in Serravalle di Ala on September 25, the UFI Group further strengthens its diversification and innovation journey in the fields of hydrogen and electrochemistry.
Established in 2023, UFI Hydrogen is the natural evolution of the research and development activities launched in 2017 by the UFI Innovation Center, bringing to full industrial scale today the expertise and technologies developed through years of innovation, supported by investments of approximately €50 million by 2029 and workforce growth to around 100 employees.
Operational since the first quarter of 2025, the new hub brings together research and development, testing, prototyping, industrialization, production, and a technology showroom within a single site covering 14,000 sqm, including 6,000 sqm of indoor facilities.
UFI and UFI Hydrogen: a journey of innovation towards tomorrow’s energy
UFI Hydrogen represents the natural evolution of the expertise developed by the UFI Group. Building on more than 50 years of industrial experience, the company is now extending its know-how to electrochemical systems and hydrogen technologies, contributing to the development of next-generation energy solutions.
Today, UFI Hydrogen is among the few companies worldwide specialized in the development and industrialization of MEAs and CCMs (Catalyst Coated Membranes), key components for the electrochemical processes underpinning multiple hydrogen-related applications.
The company’s technology platform focuses on four main areas: hydrogen production through electrolysis, power generation through fuel cells, electrochemical CO₂ conversion for e-fuels synthesis, and electrochemical hydrogen compression for storage and transportation.
Its ability to develop and industrialize these technologies positions UFI Hydrogen within a highly specialized market segment where expertise is concentrated among a limited number of international players.
UFI Hydrogen is also the only Italian company selected for the European IPCEI Hy2Move program dedicated to hydrogen mobility. Through the R2RMEA project, the company has secured funding of up to €22 million for the development and industrialization of next-generation fuel cell MEAs.
Where hydrogen meets the new energy challenges
The technologies developed by UFI Hydrogen address multiple application areas, ranging from hard-to-abate industries and heavy-duty transportation to energy storage, while also responding to the growing energy needs of data centers, artificial intelligence, robotics, and drones.
In these markets, fuel cells and electrochemical systems can provide solutions complementary to the power grid, helping ensure greater availability of low-emission energy.
A Trentino ecosystem for hydrogen innovation
Just a few kilometers from the UFI Hydrogen hub, construction has begun on the new Trentino Hydrogen Hub, a scientific and technological infrastructure promoted by the Autonomous Province of Trento and developed together with Fondazione Bruno Kessler (FBK) and Trentino Sviluppo. The facility will span approximately 25,000 sqm, supported by an investment of around €50 million.
The Hub has been conceived in line with the Province of Trento’s strategy for the energy transition and the development of innovative industrial value chains, leveraging the region’s scientific expertise and fostering collaboration between institutions, research organizations, and businesses.
The infrastructure is designed to accelerate the transition from research to industrial deployment of hydrogen, battery, and electrochemical technologies, strengthening strategic industrial value chains and enhancing industrial competitiveness.
