Stargate Hydrogen, a European-born deep-tech and green H₂ technologies manufacturer, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with RDI - Research, Development, and Innovation Authority of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The signing accelerates Stargate Hydrogen’s activities in the Middle East region as the company is setting up its regional headquarters in Riyadh.

This strategic partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a global hub for green H₂ and deep-tech innovation, aligning with the Kingdom’s broader Vision 2030 goals, a long-term national transformation plan announced in 2016, designed to diversify the economy and build a globally competitive society. 

"This partnership with Stargate Hydrogen underscores a shared commitment to advancing green H₂ technologies. By strengthening collaborative innovation between global leaders and local institutions, we help create shared opportunities that accelerate the Kingdom’s transition toward sustainability, while contributing to global progress in clean energy," said Dr. Yazeed, Executive Director of Institutional Funding, Acting Vice Governor for Ecosystem Development.

Under the terms of the signed MoU with RDI, the parties have agreed to collaborate on initiatives that will accelerate technology transfer and local innovation. Both parties will also explore opportunities to strengthen the regional H₂ value chain, drive industrial decarbonization, and position Saudi Arabia as a global hub for sustainable energy technologies. The key areas of cooperation of the MoU with RDI include:

• Launching Stargate Hydrogen KSA, a new regional headquarters for Stargate Hydrogen in Riyadh, dedicated to advancing deep-tech solutions for green H₂
• Localizing Stargate Hydrogen’s proprietary technologies for deployment in the Kingdom.
• Building partnerships with leading Saudi academic institutions, such as KAUST, to generate intellectual property within the Kingdom.
• Collaborating with Saudi manufacturers to develop local production capacity for electrolyzer technologies.

Marko Virkebau, CEO of Stargate Hydrogen, added, "Saudi Arabia offers a unique and globally competitive environment to scale transformative technologies. Through this partnership with RDI, Stargate Hydrogen will drive IP generation, support local talent, and contribute to the Kingdom’s ambition of becoming a global leader in clean energy.”

The MoU with RDI establishes a joint steering committee to oversee progress and guide the partnership, supported by dedicated teams of both partners managing daily operations. Regular workshops and stakeholder engagements will ensure alignment across government, industry, and academia. The co-operation was facilitated by Apex Ventures, under RDI’s Global Startups Attraction Program in collaboration with the Ministry of Investment, which directly supports the mission to localize technological capabilities and empower innovators.

By aligning Saudi Arabia’s long-term sustainability ambitions with Stargate Hydrogen´s technology and research expertise, the two partners set a new benchmark for international collaboration in advancing technology for green H₂ production.