NEMa: The new technological core that connects Finland and Magallanes to boost green hydrogen
The initiative, coordinated by the Fundación Chile and co-executed with the Finnish research center VTT. With this new name, NEMa aims to establish itself as a space for articulating knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation.
The Green Hydrogen Technological Center in Magallanes took a key step in its development by presenting its new name: NEMa, Technological Core for the Development of New Energies in Magallanes.
The initiative, coordinated by Fundación Chile and co-executed with the Finnish research center VTT, gathered in Punta Arenas and Santiago international experts, local actors, universities and companies to define strategic goals and project the social, economic and environmental impacts of the emerging green hydrogen industry in the region.
During the sessions, the impact leadership methodology from VTT, was applied, integrating long-term vision, data usage, and a systemic approach to design more effective policies and decisions. According to Kirsi Hyytinen, senior researcher at VTT, the challenge is to ensure that "the benefits for local citizens, jobs, training and skills development, are at the heart of industry development".
Ignacio Covacevich, executive director of NEMa, highlighted the active participation of academic, public, and private sectors, "all want to contribute to the development of the industry as a driving force for regional progress and a solution to territory challenges".
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The general manager of Fundación Chile, Hernán Araneda, indicated that "working with VTT reflects the value of international cooperation in stimulating regional development. In Magallanes, we've found a great interest and alignment with the purpose of NEMa: coordinating public and private efforts so that the green hydrogen industry can become a motor of local progress and wellbeing for people".
The official launch took place at the University of Magallanes with the open meeting Lessons from Finland for Regional Development and Innovation in Magallanes, which included panels with representatives from Corfo, the H2V Magallanes Association, and academics from UMAG.
"Seeing different regional actors conversing with international researchers showed that NEMa is not just green hydrogen, but a space to address all the new energies that contribute to regional development and the global energy transition. In addition, having an ally like VTT, with many years of experience generating visible and innovative results, where they have transformed their research into commercial products, gives solidity and projection to this work," emphasized the regional director of Corfo, María José Navajas.
With the new name, NEMa aims to position itself as a space for articulating knowledge, innovation, and international cooperation, with the goal of turning Magallanes into a strategic player in the global energy transition.
NEMa is coordinated by Fundación Chile, funded by Corfo, and co-executed by the Finnish Applied Research Center, VTT Research; the Hub Fpyme Magallanes, the University of Chile, the Adolfo Ibáñez University and the Energy Sustainability Agency.
The companies Enap, HNH Energy, HIF, Edelmag, Consorcio Austral, EDF, and TEG Chile, as well as the Regional Government and Corfo, play a key role in ensuring that the initiative meets the requirements of productive and social development in the region. In 2025, UMAG also joined the initiative.
NEMa is supported by the Sustainable Productive Development Program (DPS), led by the Ministry of Economy, Development and Tourism.
PHOTOS: Fundación Chile