Indian and Singaporean start-up Hydgen has secured $1.5 million in funding to enhance its decentralized AEM green hydrogen production technology. The seed round, led by Cloudberry Pioneer Investments with participation from the National University of Singapore (NUS), TK & Partners, and angel investors, aims to scale production to meet the demand in small and mid-sized industries. The funding will be utilized to establish a 2MW manufacturing facility in India, develop a 25kW single-stack system, and expand operations across India and Southeast Asia. Hydgen's approach focuses on decentralized on-site production, aiming to eliminate transportation costs, storage risks, and emissions for industries, providing them with a self-sufficient alternative for hydrogen sourcing. The Chairman of Hydgen, Michael Gryseels, highlighted that their technology enables local, cost-effective, and scalable hydrogen production, empowering industries to manage their energy requirements efficiently. The AEM technology of Hydgen, supported by triple proprietary innovations, promises increased current density, enhanced stability, and reduced capital expenditure. While AEM is considered a promising electrolysis technology with the advantages of alkaline and PEM, its widespread adoption faces challenges related to durability. Hydgen, emerging from an NUS program, claims that its catalyst and coating designs significantly boost hydrogen production and reduce electricity consumption compared to existing AEM electrolyser systems. Mahir Sahin, Managing Partner of Cloudberry Pioneer Investments, praised the technology as a potential game-changer with the ability to drive affordable adoption in high-demand regions. This funding comes at a time when larger green hydrogen projects are encountering obstacles due to high costs and demand uncertainties, indicating a shift towards smaller-scale projects in the electrolysis market.