Dr. Stefan Kaufmann, a former Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen of the German government, will serve as an adviser to thyssenkrupp regarding all cross-business hydrogen activities and projects and represent the company nationally and internationally in all matters related to hydrogen.

thyssenkrupp believes that partnerships are the key to accelerating the energy transition and, thus, the success of the green transformation. thyssenkrupp’s multifaceted expertise in futuristic technologies and the various perspectives of hydrogen value chains have turned the company into a facilitator and driver of the green transformation. Dr. Kaufmann is an ideal addition to the company and its operations in key markets, an expert who can help it create international networks and accelerate the green transformation.

Martina Merz, the CEO of thyssenkrupp AG, said: “We at thyssenkrupp are ready to apply our technological expertise and provide a significant boost to efforts aimed at rapidly creating a national and international hydrogen economy. We have now added some additional expertise to help us do so. In Dr. Stefan Kaufmann, we have recruited a highly respected hydrogen expert. We are certain that his exceptional experience and knowledge will move us forward throughout the entire value – in terms of demand, supply and infrastructure.”

Kaufmann added: “I am really excited about this new job, and I would like to thank the company for putting its trust in me. The new geopolitical situation shows that we now must significantly speed up the pace of the green transformation. Hydrogen is a key element in this process. The rapid ramp-up of all levels of the hydrogen economy is a critically important element in efforts to create a sustainably strong industrial base in Germany and Europe. There is hardly any other company that is better suited to make a major contribution to the development of a hydrogen economy than thyssenkrupp. I am certain that thyssenkrupp will play a key role in the green transformation – particularly as a result of the wealth of technological expertise it possesses in the triangle of demand, supply and infrastructure. I want to play a major role in this transformation in my new role.”

Kaufmann, who was born in 1969, served as Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen at the German Ministry of Education and Research from June 2020 to July 2022. The position was created by the German Cabinet on June 10, 2020, as part of its national hydrogen strategy. In this position, he was a regular guest at the State Secretaries’ Committee for Hydrogen of the Participating Ministries as well as the National Hydrogen Council. Kaufmann served as a directly elected member of the German Parliament from 2009 to 2021.