For Immediate Release
July 16 , 2025

econext has announced the formation of the Newfoundland and Labrador Hydrogen Innovation Partnership – HyIP.

The collaboration – featuring econext, College of the North Atlantic, Memorial University, Fisheries and Marine Institute, Miawpukek First Nation, and Qalipu First Nation – centralizes efforts to help econext advance strategic clean energy research and investment attraction for the province.

“We believe that Canada is primed to be a global leader in hydrogen production, and Newfoundland and Labrador is going to be central to transatlantic hydrogen trade with Europe,” said Kieran Hanley, econext’s CEO. “The purpose of our collaboration is to highlight the advantages that our province has in this regard, and to attract interest and investment to support targeted international research, development, and innovation.”

Hanley notes that HyIP is a unique collaboration between research institutions, industry, and Indigenous groups. Given the export-focused nature of the emerging industry, he says that a focus on innovation will help maximize local benefits.

“Central to our partnership is a commitment to do what we can together to ensure communities within our province contribute to – and benefit from – clean energy developments in our province,” he said.

The collaborators have launched a website (https://hy-ip.ca/) that describes the growing clean energy industry in Canada’s most eastern province and outlines its relevant R&D capabilities and assets.

HyIP will be hosting a hydrogen research and innovation conference on October 10, 2025 in St. John’s, NL directly following the econext annual conference on October 9.

“Our event will focus on the use of hydrogen and other clean fuels for the decarbonization of the marine transportation sector,” said Hanley, noting the importance of the sector in supporting the province’s oceans-based industries and transatlantic trade.

More information on the conference will be available soon on the HyIP website.

Media Contact:

Kieran Hanley

kieran@econext.ca

About econext

econext is a not-for-profit association with a mission to accelerate clean growth in Newfoundland and Labrador by: (1) stimulating research, development, and innovation; (2) preparing its workforce for a greening economy; and (3) acting as a catalyst for climate change action within its industries, businesses, and communities.

econext has been working for over 30 years on behalf of its members across many sectors to support environmentally sustainable economic development. More information can be found at https://econext.ca.

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