• South Africa’s Vaal University launches hydrogen research hub with bank support.

• Morocco’s UM6P partners with global firms to build green hydrogen capacity.

• Both nations aim to reduce tech dependence and capture more industrial value.

South Africa’s Vaal University of Technology has opened a new Center of Excellence for Hydrogen Energy, backed by Standard Bank. The launch, held on September 5, underscores how African universities are moving to anchor the hydrogen economy by driving research before large-scale industrial projects and exports take off.

The new center fits into South Africa’s long-term strategy. Since 2008, the government’s Hydrogen South Africa (HySA) program has aimed to build local intellectual property, technology, skilled talent, and fuel cell products. A 2021 policy roadmap stressed that a competitive hydrogen value chain would require steady investment in research and development, supported by public-private partnerships to turn ideas into projects. The Vaal University initiative follows that model by combining academic expertise with financial backing.

In Morocco, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P) is playing a similar role. In February 2025, Oort Energy, Chariot, and UM6P brought online a 1 MW solar-powered electrolyzer in the UK, designed in partnership with the Moroccan institution. A year earlier, OCP and Australia’s Fortescue formed a joint venture to produce and market green hydrogen, ammonia, and fertilizers. The deal also includes a dedicated research center to be based at UM6P.

Both countries share the view that applied research and human capital are essential for capturing more value in the hydrogen supply chain. By developing skills, patents, and partnerships at home, Morocco and South Africa aim to cut reliance on imported technology and turn their natural resources into industrial leverage.

If these research hubs succeed, the two nations could position themselves not only as producers of hydrogen but also as exporters of technology and expertise. The key question now is whether this momentum will spread to other African countries seeking to claim a stake in the fast-growing hydrogen market.