#Japan #Rotterdam #Hydrogen Summit #Basque Energy #Japan Trade

Strengthening BtoB Bonds at World Hydrogen Summit 2026

The much-anticipated World Hydrogen Summit & Exhibition 2026 (WHS2026) is set to take place in Rotterdam, Netherlands from May 19 to 21, featuring a unique BtoB matching event between Japanese and Basque enterprises. This event marks the second collaboration following an earlier successful initiative, aiming to bolster ongoing partnerships between the two regions in the promising hydrogen sector.

The Basque Region: A Hub of Innovation and Manufacturing

Located in northern Spain, the Basque Country is recognized as one of Europe's leading advanced regions renowned for its manufacturing prowess. Once reliant on steel mining and shipbuilding, the region has successfully transformed its industrial landscape since an economic crisis in the 1970s, embarking on comprehensive urban planning reforms that led to what is known today as the “Bilbao Effect”—a significant urban regeneration that garnered global attention. With a population of approximately 2.2 million and an area comparable to Miyagi Prefecture, the Basque Country has established itself as a vibrant center for sectors like automotive, energy, ICT, machinery tools, environmental technology, and biomedicine.

The industrial sector accounts for 24.1% of the region's GDP, a figure surpassing Japan’s approximately 20%. The Basque government has implemented strategic industrial policies promoting industrial clusters, skills development, investment incentives, and a robust innovation ecosystem. This focus has culminated in the Basque Country being classified as a "High Innovation Region" by the European Commission’s Regional Innovation Scoreboard 2025, earning recognition as a “pocket of excellence” within Spain.

Furthermore, the Basque Country boasts a high degree of autonomy under unique fiscal policies, allowing for tailored long-term industrial strategies that support sustainability and growth, particularly in the hydrogen industry through the development of the Basque Hydrogen Corridor (BH2C). This initiative seeks to establish a comprehensive hydrogen value chain encompassing production, storage, transport, and utilization, aligning with EU policies to position the region as a critical hydrogen supply hub within Europe.

Overview of WHS2026

The WHS2026 will bring together around 10,000 participants from 78 countries, with over 500 exhibiting companies and organizations. This global hydrogen event offers numerous conferences focused on the challenges and future opportunities for the hydrogen sector, alongside countless business matching opportunities among major international players, making it an invaluable occasion for Basque enterprises.

The Basque Trade & Investment office (BT&I), in collaboration with the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and the Basque Energy Cluster, organized the BtoB matching event to explore new business possibilities between companies in Japan and the Basque region.

During this year's event, 13 Japanese and 10 Basque companies participated, resulting in 23 business meetings where participants discussed shared interests in the European and Japanese markets, as well as potential collaboration opportunities. Japanese delegates expressed positive feedback, citing valuable connections made with Basque companies, highlighting insights into how partnerships may alleviate their engineering resource constraints.

The JETRO Madrid office noted that exhibitors from Japan demonstrated heightened interest in the hydrogen initiatives and key projects underway in the Basque Country. Many found the matching opportunities with the thriving Basque regional cluster particularly meaningful, and even firms already engaged in ongoing Basque projects expressed a desire to gather further insights on market trends and project developments.

Participating Basque Companies

Among the notable Basque companies participating in WHS2026 are:

• - ABC Compressors: Website
• - Basque Energy Cluster (BEC): Website
• - Basque Trade & Investment (BT&I): Website
• - Basque Hydrogen Corridor (BH2C): Website
• - Ente Vasco de la Energía (EVE): Website
• - EIA21 - Estudios e Ingeniería Aplicada XXI: Website
• - Ingeteam: Website
• - Gescsa Conductors: Website

As both Japanese and Basque businesses deepen their ties, the WHS2026 stands as a significant milestone towards fostering stronger international collaborations in the hydrogen sector. The outlook remains optimistic with continued demand for matching opportunities as industries invest in sustainable energy solutions.