Clean Energy, Global Minds: Inside the New India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship

India has taken another important step towards clean energy leadership. On February 10, 2026, India and the Netherlands launched a new Hydrogen Fellowship Programme and expanded academic cooperation in green hydrogen research. The move highlights India’s focus on international collaboration to build skills, research capacity, and advanced knowledge in emerging hydrogen technologies, which are crucial for long-term energy security and climate goals.

About India-Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship

• The India–Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme was launched by Abhay Karandikar, Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology.
• The fellowship is designed as a national capacity-building initiative to train Indian researchers in advanced hydrogen ecosystems in the Netherlands.
• It reflects growing Indo-Dutch cooperation in clean energy and climate-focused research.

Who Can Apply and What the Fellowship Offers

• The fellowship is open to Indian doctoral scholars, postdoctoral researchers, and faculty members from recognized institutions.
• Participants will gain structured exposure to the Netherlands’ advanced hydrogen infrastructure.
• The aim is to strengthen India’s technical readiness for hydrogen deployment by learning from European best practices, especially in large-scale hydrogen systems and port-based energy models.

Key Focus Areas of the Hydrogen Fellowship

• The programme focuses on system integration, hydrogen safety standards, techno-economic analysis, life-cycle assessment, and indigenization pathways.
• These areas are critical for moving hydrogen technologies from laboratories to real-world use.
• According to DST, the fellowship is designed so that research outcomes directly support India’s clean energy needs, especially in hard-to-abate sectors like steel, cement, and heavy transport.

Academic MoU With University of Groningen and IITs

• Alongside the fellowship, DST facilitated the signing of a major academic MoU between University of Groningen and 19 Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
• The MoU creates a long-term framework for collaboration in hydrogen and green energy research.
• It enables faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, and structured knowledge sharing, without automatic financial commitments.

Why the Netherlands Is a Key Hydrogen Partner

• The Netherlands is a leading European hub for hydrogen infrastructure, port-based energy systems, and clean energy logistics
• . Its experience in integrating hydrogen into industrial clusters makes it a valuable partner for India.
• The collaboration allows Indian researchers to learn from real-world hydrogen deployment models, strengthening India’s ambition to become a global hydrogen production and export hub.

Alignment With India’s National Energy Targets

• The initiatives align closely with India’s National Green Hydrogen Mission, Energy Independence 2047, and Net-Zero 2070 goals.
• Dutch Deputy Ambassador Huib Mijnarends highlighted shared priorities in energy transition, while University of Groningen President Jouke de Vries stressed the importance of sustained academic partnerships for building a global hydrogen economy.

Question

Q. The India-Netherlands Hydrogen Fellowship Programme was launched under which Indian ministry?

A. Ministry of Power
B. Ministry of New and Renewable Energy
C. Department of Science and Technology
D. NITI Aayog