Hydrogen Research Institute

What Hydrogen Research Institute does

The Hydrogen Research Institute (Institut de recherche sur l'hydrogène, IRH) is an academic research institute embedded within the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR), founded in 1994 and operating from the Tapan-K.-Bose Pavilion in Trois-Rivières, Quebec. Its stated mission is to accelerate the energy transition by mobilizing multidisciplinary expertise spanning fundamental sciences, applied sciences, and engineering to produce breakthrough innovations in advanced materials and energy technologies, with a particular focus on hydrogen.

The institute structures its work around three research programs: Materials and Processes for Energy; Intelligent Mobility and Transport Decarbonization; and Smart Grids and Renewable Energy Management. It maintains specialized laboratories for the conception, synthesis, and characterization of new materials for energy applications. In parallel, IRH delivers four graduate degree programs through UQTR — Master's and Doctorate in Energy and Materials Sciences, and Master's and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering — making human-capital development for the hydrogen and clean-energy economy an explicit core function alongside research. Outputs are disseminated through academic publications, the UQTR news platform (NÉO), and events such as the Pan-Canadian Autumn School.

IRH is a nonprofit research entity operating within Quebec's public university system. It does not have a commercial pricing model; research activities and academic programs are funded through government grants, university allocations, and research contracts. With 37 employees and a single-site footprint, the institute functions as a focused applied-research and graduate-training unit, with industry and government partners engaged through collaborative research and technology transfer rather than product sales.

Name

Hydrogen Research Institute

Legal name

Institut de recherche sur l'hydrogène

Website

https://irh.ca

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Hydrogen Research Institute (IRH) is a UQTR-affiliated academic research institute in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, conducting multidisciplinary research on advanced materials, hydrogen technologies, smart grids, and transport decarbonization while training graduate students through UQTR degree programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydrogen Energy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydrogen Energy Storage & Power-to-X Equipment (electrolyzers, storage, fuel cell systems) (IMAGAHAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Hydrogen (Industrial & Mobility) (IMAEACAB), Hydrogen Materials Compatibility, Safety & Integrity (Pipelines, Meters, Appliances) (EUAJAJAG), Energy Systems & Power Engineering Consulting (BPAHAIAG)

Keywords

• Hydrogen energy research
• Advanced materials engineering
• Clean energy transition
• Graduate energy programs
• Renewable energy management

Headquarters

HQ city

Trois-Rivières

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Hydrogen Research Institute (IRH) is an academic research institute that conducts multidisciplinary research on advanced materials and energy technologies for the hydrogen economy, operating three research programs (Materials and Processes for Energy, Intelligent Mobility and Transport Decarbonization, and Smart Grids and Renewable Energy Management) and supporting specialized laboratories for material conception, synthesis, and characterization. It also delivers graduate academic training through Master's and Doctorate programs in Energy and Materials Sciences and Electrical Engineering, offered via its host institution Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR).

Product overview

The Hydrogen Research Institute (Institut de recherche sur l'hydrogène, IRH) is an academic research institute at Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) focused on accelerating the energy transition through multidisciplinary expertise in hydrogen and advanced materials. The institute operates three interconnected research programs: Materials and Processes for Energy, Intelligent Mobility and Transport Decarbonization, and Smart Grids and Renewable Energy Management. IRH offers academic training through four graduate programs (Master's and Doctorate in Energy and Materials Sciences, Master's and Doctorate in Electrical Engineering) and maintains specialized laboratories for materials synthesis and characterization. The institute's offerings form an integrated ecosystem spanning fundamental science, applied research, and human capital development for the hydrogen economy.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Materials and Processes for Energy (Matériaux et procédés pour l'énergie) Research program focused on the design, synthesis, and characterization of new materials for energy applications, particularly hydrogen. Targeted at industry and government research partners and graduate researchers.
• Intelligent Mobility and Transport Decarbonization (Mobilité intelligente et décarbonation des transports) Research program dedicated to intelligent mobility solutions and decarbonization of transportation systems. Targeted at industry and government partners working on clean transportation.
• Smart Grids and Renewable Energy Management (Réseaux intelligents et gestion des énergies renouvelables) Research program focusing on smart grids and the management of renewable energy networks. Targeted at utilities, grid operators, and clean-energy industry partners.
• Master's in Energy and Materials Sciences (Maîtrise en sciences de l'énergie et des matériaux) Master's degree program offered through the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) in Energy and Materials Sciences, focusing on hydrogen and advanced materials research. Targeted at prospective graduate students.
• Doctorate in Energy and Materials Sciences (Doctorat en sciences de l'énergie et des matériaux) Doctoral program in Energy and Materials Sciences offered through UQTR for advanced research in hydrogen technologies. Targeted at prospective doctoral researchers.
• Master's in Electrical Engineering with Thesis (Maîtrise en génie électrique avec mémoire) Master's program in Electrical Engineering with thesis offered through UQTR for research in energy systems. Targeted at prospective graduate students.
• Doctorate in Electrical Engineering (Doctorat en génie électrique) Doctoral program in Electrical Engineering offered through UQTR for advanced research in electrical energy systems. Targeted at prospective doctoral researchers.
• IRH Laboratories (Laboratoires de l'IRH) Specialized laboratory facilities for the design, synthesis, and characterization of new materials for energy applications, particularly hydrogen. Used by IRH researchers, graduate students, and industry collaborators.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIRH is an integral research institute of UQTR, hosting the university's hydrogen and energy research activities. The institute offers graduate programs (Master's and Doctorate) under UQTR's academic umbrella in energy and materials sciences and electrical engineering. UQTR provides institutional infrastructure, administrative support, and academic governance.

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Technology and Advanced Materials (IFAM): Fraunhofer IFAM specializes in materials science, including hydrogen-related materials and surface technologies for energy applications. Directly comparable to IRH's materials synthesis and characterization focus within a publicly funded applied research framework.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): NREL is a U.S. national laboratory conducting applied research in renewable energy and energy efficiency, with a major hydrogen and fuel cell research portfolio. It is directly comparable to IRH as a publicly funded research institute focused on hydrogen materials, production, and storage technologies.
• Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems (ISE): Fraunhofer ISE is a German applied research institute specializing in solar energy, hydrogen technologies, and energy systems. It is directly comparable as a publicly funded applied research organization with hydrogen production, storage, and materials research programs aligned with IRH's mission.
• Hydro-Québec Research Institute (IREQ): IREQ is Hydro-Québec's centralized research institute, also based in Québec, conducting R&D in energy materials, grid systems, and clean energy. It is a direct peer given geographic co-location in Québec, public utility affiliation, and overlapping focus on energy materials and smart grids.

Broad incumbents

• Argonne National Laboratory: Argonne is a major U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory conducting extensive hydrogen and fuel cell research alongside its broader energy and materials science portfolio. Comparable to IRH in hydrogen R&D focus but operates at significantly larger scale across multiple scientific disciplines.
• Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL): CNL is a Canadian nuclear science and technology laboratory conducting research in clean energy including hydrogen production and storage. Comparable as a Canadian publicly funded research entity with energy transition focus, though anchored in nuclear technology rather than hydrogen as primary domain.
• National Research Council of Canada (NRC): NRC is Canada's largest federal research organization with programs spanning energy, materials, and emerging technologies including hydrogen. Comparable to IRH as a Canadian publicly funded research entity, though operating at much greater scale and scope across multiple research domains.

Regional players

• Korea Institute of Energy Research (KIER): KIER is a South Korean government-funded energy research institute conducting hydrogen production, storage, and fuel cell research. Comparable as a publicly funded energy research organization with hydrogen specialization, though geographically focused on the Asian market.
• Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS): INRS is a Québec-based graduate research university within the Université du Québec network (the same network as UQTR), with active energy and materials science research programs. Highly comparable as a regional peer with similar institutional affiliation, graduate education model, and energy materials research scope.
• CEA-Liten (France): CEA-Liten is the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission's institute for renewable energy systems, with major hydrogen and fuel cell research programs. Comparable to IRH as a publicly funded European research institute with hydrogen materials and systems research, though operating outside North America.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat2 records

Key risks3 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/camerauqtr
• Facebookfacebook.com/uqtr.ca
• Instagraminstagram.com/uqtr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irhuqtr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Hydrogen Research Institute