H2FUTURE´s NRI 2026-2027 projects have been selected: funding for wireless sensors using mm-wave, green hydrogen production and hydrogen-assisted fatigue in steels
H2FUTURE research programme´s New Research Initiative winning projects have been selected for the years 2026-2027. Each of the three projects conducted at the University of Oulu will receive funding of €50,000 to support their research, to be utilised by the end of 2027.
The winning NRI projects funded for 2026-2027 are:
• Unprecedented wireless room-temperature H₂ sensors based on diffractive mm-wave components, by Professor Krisztian Kordas, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Microelectronics Research Unit.
• Advanced Image Processing for Real-Time Monitoring and Optimization in Green Hydrogen Production Processes, by Associate Professor Mehdi Rasti, Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, Centre for Wireless Communications, CWC-Networks and Systems.
• Exploring and Combating Hydrogen-Assisted Fatigue in Advanced Steels: Experiments and Simulations for Enhanced Safety (ECHO-SAFE), by Senior Research Fellow Sumit Ghosh, Faculty of Technology, Materials and Mechanical Engineering Research Unit.
H2FUTURE programme and Kvantum Insititute congratulate the selected researchers for their outstanding work. The programme received a total 19 high-quality applications, reflecting the innovative research community within our university.
“The decision was challenging due to the exceptional quality of the submissions, and many projects demonstrated significant potential. We appreciate the time and dedication invested in preparing the applications and the commitment to advancing hydrogen research. We encourage to continue the excellent work and consider applying for future NRI calls within the H2FUTURE programme”, the evaluation board says.
The call sought innovative ideas that could contribute to significant advancements in hydrogen technology and interdisciplinary topics linking hydrogen research with other fields, demonstrating potential for high scientific and societal impact. The evaluation was carried out using the Research Council of Finland´s review criteria in collaboration with University of Oulu´s Kvantum Institute and the Scientific Advisory Board of the H2FUTURE programme.