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International research collaboration for a greener planet

Maastricht University and the Worldwide Universities Network

As countries seek cleaner energy solutions, green hydrogen has emerged as a key factor in the transition to a sustainable future. Recognising the need for effective policies to support this shift, Maastricht University has taken a leading role in a collaborative research project funded by the Worldwide Universities Network. The project, led by Dr Rasmus Lema from UNU-MERIT, brings together perspectives from four continents on policies that will guide the development towards the green hydrogen economy.

It was a no-brainer. Applying for funding from the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN) was the natural step for a scientist at UNU-MERIT, an international joint venture between the United Nations and Maastricht University. “As an institute with a global perspective and a mandate to advance UN policies, including on sustainable development, it was the obvious choice,” explains Dr Lema. 

Likewise, granting the funding to this project wasn’t a difficult decision, says WUN Secretary-General Dr Mike Hasenmueller. “Maastricht University has been the recipient of many WUN Research Development Fund awards, including three for UNU-MERIT. This project is an excellent example of what distinguishes WUN as a global network – the ability to assemble a constellation of research talent that reflects the geographic and cultural diversity of our membership.”

Funding international research

WUN is a consortium of 24 universities dedicated to tackling global challenges through collaborative research. Its Research Development Fund (RDF) provides seed funding for projects that benefit from international cooperation, bringing together diverse perspectives to address pressing issues. The green hydrogen policy project is one such initiative, with Maastricht University collaborating with the University of Cape Town and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil. The goal: to explore ways of helping different countries design policies for integrating green hydrogen into their industrial development.

WUN's funding supports partnerships across borders and disciplines, offering researchers the flexibility to focus on early-stage work that larger grants might overlook. Lema explains that this flexibility has been crucial: “The funding enabled us to bring together people from different universities who wouldn’t otherwise meet and think about these issues collectively.”
 

Policy focus

What sets this particular research project apart is its focus on policy rather than technical aspects of green hydrogen. According to Lema, this approach is critical for shaping the broader framework within which the hydrogen economy will develop. "The hydrogen agenda is new but increasingly important globally, and we saw this as the perfect opportunity to explore the role of policy in supporting this transition," he says. UNU-MERIT researcher Fabianna Bacil adds that “The project also allowed us to give a focus on emerging economies, focusing on their unique challenges and approaches to overcome them and develop the sector”. 

The project’s main activity so far was a workshop held in Maastricht, where participants from all partner universities compared national policy data. The aim was to understand how different countries are preparing for the green hydrogen economy, and to develop an analytical framework for evaluating these policies. 
 

International collaboration - challenges and benefits

Apart from opportunities, international collaborations also bring challenges. One major hurdle for this project was coordinating across multiple countries with different policy landscapes. As Lema explains, "The differences in industrial policies between South Africa, Brazil, and the Netherlands made it difficult to create a unified approach. But these differences also enriched our discussions and allowed us to explore a range of strategies." In the words of Fabianna Bacil: “They pushed us to reflect more on both the shared challenges that arise but also how to tailor industrial policies to each specific context”. 

The logistical challenges were also significant. Data collection across continents and languages slowed the project initially, but things started to speed up when a dedicated research assistant applied machine learning tools to analyse green energy policies in multiple languages

All in all, the project benefitted greatly from the cross-border exchange of ideas. "The brainstorming sessions and collective insights were invaluable," says Lema. "This type of seed funding allows for the kind of intellectual exchange that can lead to real progress."

Dr Mike Hasenmueller, Secretary-General Worldwide Universities Network (WUN)
Dr Mike Hasenmueller, Secretary-General Worldwide Universities Network (WUN)

The way forward: from research to policy

As the project moves forward, its researchers aim to translate their findings into practical policy recommendations. The team expects to release its first report by the end of the year, followed by at least one journal article and policy briefs aimed at both national and international audiences. The ultimate goal is to provide policymakers across the world with the tools they need to support green hydrogen development in different contexts.

WUN Secretary-General Mike Hasenmueller highlights the value of this kind of research, noting that projects like Lema’s benefit from WUN’s global reach. "This project is making the most of what we call the ‘WUN advantage’ in that it presents opportunities for comparative analysis and draws from the richness of a truly global network to confront shared challenges," he says.

Meanwhile, Maastricht University’s role in coordinating this WUN-funded project demonstrates the importance of international collaboration in addressing global challenges. By focusing on the policy dimensions of green hydrogen, the project offers new insights into how countries can prepare policies for a sustainable energy future and a greener world.

Workshop at UNU-MERIT
Workshop at UNU-MERIT, with Rasmus Lema on the right and Fabianna Bacil front row second from left

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