Bekaert, a company with over 20 years of experience in the hydrogen sector, has been awarded a significant grant of up to €23.6 million from the EU Innovation Fund for its GRAND PIANO project. This project, focused on strengthening the green hydrogen value chain in Europe, emphasizes essential product and process innovations for electrolysis stacks, which are key components of green hydrogen production systems. Bekaert is a leader in metal fiber media, specifically with its Currento® technology used as a porous transport layer in electrolyzers. With GRAND PIANO, the company aims to expand its product portfolio by developing next-generation solutions for green hydrogen production in Belgium. This project encompasses both product and manufacturing process innovations, with a particular focus on Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) and Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) porous transport layers. The introduction of breakthrough technology for Membrane Electrode Assembly (MEA) is expected to significantly reduce iridium usage in PEM electrolyzers, enhancing cost-competitiveness and reducing vulnerability to supply chain disruptions. The ultimate goal of the project is to establish a GW-scale production line and transition towards offering integrated solutions rather than just components. If successful, the GRAND PIANO project could enable the deployment of up to 39 GW for PEM and AEM technologies, leading to the avoidance of 11.7 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions. Bekaert's Vice President of Hydrogen, Edouard d’Autume, expressed gratitude for the EU Innovation Fund support, highlighting the acceleration of their contribution to competitive green hydrogen production. The company envisions securing clean tech manufacturing in Europe and aims to drive faster adoption of green hydrogen solutions in the market. Overall, Bekaert's GRAND PIANO project represents a significant step towards advancing green hydrogen production in Europe, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation, and market competitiveness.