Hydrogen is a central pillar of the future energy and industrial landscape, with its successful deployment strongly dependent on advances in functional materials and system-level integration. The 11th RUHR-Symposium 2026 Functional Materials for Hydrogen addresses this challenge along the hydrogen value chain, from strategic perspectives to specific material and process innovations. The symposium opens with a Hydrogen Roadmap, outlining technological, economic, and regulatory frameworks, followed by the role of hydrogen in direct reduction for steel production as a key pathway toward decarbonizing energy-intensive industries. Subsequent sessions focus on system integration and electrolyzers, highlighting the interplay between materials, components, and overall performance. Dedicated sessions on electrode manufacturing and membranes emphasize scalable fabrication, durability, and structure–property relationships. The program concludes with electrosynthesis, showcasing emerging hydrogen-based routes for sustainable chemical production. By uniting academia and industry, the RUHR-Symposium provides a platform for interdisciplinary exchange, fosters new collaborations, and accelerates the translation of materials research into viable hydrogen technologies.
