Novacium-led consortium secures €1 million for METAGENE hydrogen project
A consortium led by Novacium has received €1 million in state funding from French defense agencies to develop a solid-fuel hydrogen production system.
A consortium consisting of Novacium, Axel’One, and AD-VENTA has secured €1 million in funding through the French RAPID program. The grant, provided by the Defence Innovation Agency (AID) and the Directorate General of Armaments (DGA), supports the METAGENE project, which aims to develop an autonomous system for green hydrogen production.
The project utilizes a solid metallic fuel to generate hydrogen at the point of use without the need for electricity. With a total budget of €1.2 million, the 30-month initiative is 80% subsidized by public funds. The project began on September 1, 2026, with the objective of advancing the technology’s readiness level from TRL 3 to TRL 5–6.
RAPID funding is reserved for dual-use technologies, meaning the METAGENE process is evaluated for both civilian and military applications. The selection for this grant highlights the technical viability of the solid-fuel hydrogen approach.
HPQ Silicium Inc. remains a strategic partner to Novacium. The funding was finalized in mid-2026, and the project is currently in the development phase.