The 7th International Conference on Hydrogen Technologies took place in Prague in mid-July 2017. The first idea to bring the Conference to Prague occurred already in 2009, when the relatively newly established Czech Hydrogen Technology Platform (HYTEP) granted the auspices for the candidacy. Professor Dr. Ing. Karel Bouzek became the local ambassador of the seventh edition of the Conference. Professor Bouzek was then awarded for bringing the event to Prague at the Ambassador Awards Evening held annually by Prague Convention Bureau.
Although it may appear a surprising fact, with regard to the content of previous text, the history of hydrogen technology research has had a long tradition in the Czech Republic. Already in the 1960s, the development of alkaline fuel cells had been conducted, but later on, the activity was silenced in this field, and the renaissance occurred only with the beginning of the new millennium. “It is worth pointing out that in the Czech Republic, as in the first country of the post-communist block, a bus powered by a hydrogen fuel cell was developed and put into operation, and a hydrogen filling station was installed. And other projects followed. The last years are characterized by an increase in interest from both commercial and public spheres,” commented Professor Bouzek.
The organization of the 7th International Conference on Hydrogen Technologies brought an international recognition to Prague and the Czech Republic as the destination developed enough in the field of hydrogen technologies to host one of the world’s most important scientific conferences exclusively dedicated to this topic. It has undoubtedly contributed to the level that hydrogen technology has achieved in that time period. We asked Professor Bouzek, how the delegates perceived the conference: “The program consisted of a number of parallel sections covering a wide range of topics. Plenary lectures delivered by prominent personalities from the field of hydrogen technologies were received positively, and a concurrent exhibition awoke a great interest among participants and guests as well. Last but not least, it was a gala dinner held in Hergetova cihelna. The surroundings overlooking the Old Town were magnificent. Personally, I consider the biggest surprise to be the representation of participants from Japan, who were the most powerful national group. This tells a lot about how much attention Japan puts into the hydrogen technologies.”
