The aim of this study is to provide a nuanced understanding of the evolving trends in hydrogen technology, focusing on innovation both globally and within Sweden, and to assess Sweden's competitive position in this landscape. The primary focus is on analysing patents to evaluate the current state-of-the-art in hydrogen technology.The study reveals a significant increase in hydrogen technology patents worldwide after 2020, paralleling the rise in national hydrogen strategies and global investments. Fuel cell patents notably dominate this sector.
The United States, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and France emerge as the top countries in hydrogen technology. Assessing China's position is challenging due to distinct challenges associated with analysing Chinese patents related to patent standards and national strategies.Sweden shares a patent distribution profile similar to Japan and South Korea across hydrogen production, storage & distribution, and application domains, with a strong presence in the application domain (fuel cells). While the application domain remains dominant in terms of absolute patent numbers in Sweden, there has been a relative increase in patents within the production domain. This suggests a growing focus, possibly linked to Sweden's ambitions for carbon-free steel production that is based on hydrogen. Despite holding a modest share of global hydrogen technology patents relative to its economic size compared to leading countries, Sweden exhibits a competitive edge comparable to France in fuel cell technology. To sustain and enhance this advantage in the expanding hydrogen economy, Sweden must maintain its leadership in fuel cell technology while striving to strengthen capabili-ties in electrolysis and hydrogen production from biomass.
These efforts are aligned with ambitious plans for investing in hydrogen production infrastructure.Unlike some leading countries where larger industry leaders dominate, Sweden's hydrogen technology sector has traditionally been supported by smaller, specialized actors. However, there has been a noticeable shift in recent years. This shift has to be sustained. To drive significant advancements, Sweden should engage established industry leaders to leverage their market influence and operational scale. This collaboration, coupled with strategic investments in key technological domains, can position Sweden at the forefront of the hydrogen economy.