Cres is becoming an investment destination for the energy transition
How can an island become a frontrunner in the energy transition, attract investment and turn hydrogen innovation into practical solutions for local communities? This question shaped the HE Access to Finance event, held on 26th May 2026 at Moise Palace in Cres, Croatia.
Organised within the Hydrogen Ecosystem North Adriatic, the event brought together stakeholders from NAHV, NACHIP and NASCHA, together with SMEs, public institutions, research organisations and innovation actors. The focus was on connecting strategic hydrogen initiatives with concrete implementation pathways: financing instruments, SME Open Calls, pilot activities and Smart Communities of Practice.
The event opened with presentations of the three key initiatives of the ecosystem. Mitja Tašler presented NAHV as the wider hydrogen valley framework supporting the development of hydrogen across Slovenia, Croatia and Friuli Venezia Giulia. Matija Pavlovčič introduced NACHIP as an investment platform focused on hydrogen-related technologies and value chains, while Alberto Soraci presented NASCHA as an accelerator connecting hydrogen innovation with Smart Communities of Practice and investor readiness.
Mitja Tašler, HSE
Setting the funding context, Maja Ferlinc from EISMEA presented the I3 Programme and its role in supporting interregional innovation, SME scaling and market deployment across Europe. Her contribution highlighted why access to finance, investment readiness and cross-border cooperation are essential for hydrogen solutions to move beyond pilot stages.
The programme continued with “Imagining futures on renewables”, connected to the ECUBES internship programme 2026 with students of the United World College Adriatic. The session involved Steven Libbrecht, Stefan Kanya, Abdullah Al Balushi and Rawane Loutfi, linking hydrogen education, future renewable energy scenarios and global partnerships with the role of new generations in shaping the energy transition.
A central part of the event focused on the Cres Hydrogen Ecosystem, presented by Ugo Toić from OTRA. He positioned Cres not only as a pilot location, but as an island with a long-term vision for energy independence, sustainable mobility and green hydrogen-based development: “Cres is becoming an investment destination for the energy transition, enabled by green hydrogen. Thanks to the NAHV and NASCHA initiatives, we are implementing our long-sighted vision for our island and the entire archipelago to become the frontrunner in the energy transition.”
This local perspective was further developed through the presentation by Fabrizia Salvi from Area Science Park, who focused on hydrogen value chains arising around Smart Communities of Practice. NASCHA’s approach shows how local ecosystems can bring together municipalities, SMEs, research organisations, technology providers and citizens around shared green transition challenges. Within this framework, Cres is one of three Smart Communities of Practice, alongside Ajdovščina and Celje, and focuses on a hydrogen-supported island energy community, sustainable transport and public services.
The connection between NAHV, NASCHA and the Cres pilot was presented by Steven Libbrecht from ECUBES. The session highlighted how Cres can serve as a practical demonstration environment for sustainable island energy systems, including solar energy, hydrogen production, storage and fuel cells. The pilot aims to support year-round energy supply, local transport and emergency needs, while positioning Cres as a replicable model for other European islands.
The programme also addressed the broader regional context. Sanjin Vranković presented an overview of the renewable energy transition and urban areas, while Josip Dujmović focused on maritime transport driven by the energy transition. His presentation addressed hydrogen for ship propulsion, current technology pathways, regulatory challenges, safety, storage and infrastructure needs, pointing to the relevance of hydrogen for future maritime decarbonisation in the Adriatic.
A key part of the event was dedicated to opportunities for SMEs. Lorenzo Barabani from META Group presented Open Calls and integration into the hydrogen value chains of NACHIP and NASCHA. Through Financial Support to Third Parties, companies will be able to test, validate and integrate hydrogen-related solutions into pilot environments. Within NACHIP, SMEs can receive grants of up to €60,000 per legal entity, with projects lasting up to six months. The presentation also outlined the direction of NASCHA Open Calls, including pilots in Ajdovščina, Celje and Cres, as well as cross-cutting solutions linked to hydrogen refuelling and storage.
The event concluded with thoughts from Ewald Wahlmüller from HyCentA Research.
The Cres edition of HE Access to Finance showed how NAHV, NACHIP and NASCHA can jointly support the transition from strategy to implementation. For SMEs and innovators, the event offered insight into upcoming funding opportunities and ways to engage with hydrogen value chains. For public institutions and local communities, it demonstrated how Smart Communities of Practice can connect local needs with European innovation and investment instruments. For the wider ecosystem, Cres confirmed the importance of place-based pilots in building hydrogen solutions that are investable, scalable and relevant for real territories.
Further HE Access to Finance activities are planned in 2026, with the main meeting taking place during the Hydrogen Ecosystem North Adriatic Conference, held from 10th to 12th November 2026 in Nova Gorica and Gorizia.
For more information visit:
Hydrogen Ecosystem North Adriatic: www.hydrogen-ecosystem.eu
North Adriatic Hydrogen Valley – NAHV: www.nahv.eu
North Adriatic Clean Hydrogen Investment Platform – NACHIP: www.nachip.eu
North Adriatic Smart Communities Hydrogen Accelerator – NASCHA: www.nascha.eu
