On June 3, 2025, we were pleased to welcome two members of the Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität (RPTU) in Kaiserslautern, Germany. This meeting was part of the LeonAR project, supported by the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, and helped strengthen ties with the state of Rhineland-Palatinate around technological innovation in the field of hydrogen.

Today’s two guests were Prof. Michael Günthner, director of the LAF chair specializing in vehicle propulsion systems, and Mr. Marc-Alexandre Favier, a former UTBM student who is now a researcher in digital agriculture at the RPTU.  

The day began with a visit to H2SYS, a Belfort-based company specializing in hydrogen energy and fuel cell systems. We would like to extend our warmest thanks to Mr. Thomas Brulport for his hospitality and presentation. The two guests then toured the Crunch Lab facilities and learned about the innovation ecosystem fostered by UTBM.

Following a discussion with the Office of International Relations and Internationalization, the day continued with a focus on hydrogen energy at FCLAB. Prof. Günthner led a presentation outlining the RPTU’s research areas related to hydrogen energy, with a particular emphasis on innovative materials and hydrogen-powered internal combustion engines. This interdisciplinary research spans computer science, natural sciences, and engineering to develop lighter and more durable materials using innovative manufacturing processes. The lecture concluded with a tour of the laboratory.

Thank you to Dr. Daniela CHRENKO, associate professor; Dr. Pierre SAENGER, research engineer at FCLAB; Prof. Franck GECHTER, director of International Relations; and Ms. Natallia Bolle, staff mobility coordinator, for organizing and facilitating this event. It was a wonderful opportunity for France and Germany to exchange ideas and share insights on common energy challenges.