Knowledge and technology transfer via publications, patents, standards: Exploring the hydrogen technological innovation system

Clean technologies play a crucial role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the climate. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier and fuel that can be used in many applications. We explore the global hydrogen technological innovation system (TIS) by analyzing the three knowledge and technology transfer channels of publications, patents, and standards. Since the adoption of hydrogen technologies requires trust in their safety, this study specifically also focuses on hydrogen safety. Our results show that general and hydrogen safety research has increased significantly while patenting experienced stagnation. An analysis of the non-patent literature in safety patents shows little recognition of scientific publications. Similarly, publications are under-represented in the analyzed 75 international hydrogen and fuel cell standards. This limited transfer of knowledge from published research to standards points to the necessity for greater involvement of researchers in stan-dardization. We further derive implications for the hydrogen TIS and recommendations for a better and more impactful alignment of the three transfer channels.

Automated summary

Clean technologies are important for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the climate. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier and fuel, but there is a need for greater involvement of researchers in standardization to ensure trust in its safety. Research on hydrogen safety has increased significantly, but patenting has stagnated. There is little recognition of scientific publications in safety patents, and publications are under-represented in international hydrogen and fuel cell standards.