HSL Technologies from France strengthens global hydrogen partnerships through EU Business Hub

As Asia accelerates its transition to clean energy, European innovators like HSL Technologies are stepping up to shape the future of hydrogen logistics. The French SME, known for its breakthrough silica-based hydrogen storage technology, has taken bold steps to expand its presence in Asia through the EU Business Hub.

In the course of just one year, the company joined two business missions – first to Japan for Smart Energy Week Spring 2025 in February 2025, and later to the Republic of Korea for the Green and Low-Carbon Technology business mission in June 2025. What began as a single exploratory trip quickly evolved into a long-term engagement with Asian markets, built on new confidence, connections, and insight.

Discovering Japan’s readiness for clean-hydrogen innovation

HSL Technologies is pioneering a safe and practical solution for hydrogen logistics. Its patented HydroSil® technology allows hydrogen to be stored and transported as a stable liquid at room temperature and pressure, eliminating the need for high-pressure or cryogenic systems.

When Belén Moreno, the company’s Account Executive, first heard about the EU Business Hub through a local public-sector partner, she didn’t expect it would transform how HSL approaches international growth.

“It wasn’t just another trade-fair invitation,” she recalls. “The EU Business Hub offered preparation, cultural insight, and personalised matchmaking – real support for a complex market like Japan.”

Before the visit, the EU Business Hub team provided tailored business coaching, market briefings, and cultural insight sessions, helping HSL fine-tune its value proposition for Japanese partners. At Smart Energy Week Spring 2025, the company presented HydroSil® at the EU Pavilion, attracting strong interest from energy companies, technology integrators, and government representatives.

Beyond the exhibition, participants also joined a dedicated matching event organised in collaboration with the European Japan Centre at the Global Innovation Sakura Deeptech Shibuya. This additional programme element gave HSL Technologies direct access to Japanese innovators, startups, and potential partners, further enriching their understanding of the country’s fast-evolving hydrogen ecosystem.

“It’s difficult to be disappointed after such a well-organised event.” Belén says. “We found excellent contacts, confirmed that the market is ready, and realised how much credibility the EU umbrella brings.”

The business mission resulted in numerous well-qualified meetings and at least 5 promising investment contacts – a particularly valuable outcome as HSL Technologies has just launched its Series B fundraising.

With continued guidance from the EU Business Hub team, the company is now following up on these leads and transforming initial connections into strategic partnerships. The positive experience left such a strong impression that HSL soon decided to join a second EU Business Hub initiative – this time in the Republic of Korea.

Expanding horizons in the Republic of Korea

Building on the success in Japan, HSL Technologies enrolled in the Green and Low-Carbon Tehonologies Korea 2025 business mission, in Seoul in June 2025. The focus on sustainable energy solutions provided a new opportunity to present HydroSil® to Korean industrial players, government agencies, and investors.

“Joining a second mission was an easy decision,” Belén explains. “Japan had shown us the value of structured EU support. Korea was a chance to deepen our understanding of Asia’s hydrogen ecosystem – and it exceeded expectations.”

Throughout the business mission, the EU Business Hub once again provided hands-on support: business coaching and B2B matchmaking, on-site interpretation and networking events. In Seoul, this included targeted meetings, thematic networking sessions, and visits to clean-energy facilities, giving HSL valuable insight into Korea’s rapidly evolving hydrogen strategy and opening discussions with potential industrial partners.

“These business missions gave us perspective,” Belén reflects. “We discovered how important continuity is – following up, showing presence, and being part of a collective European effort.” Taking part in a second mission with the EU Business Hub helped the company consolidate its internationalisation efforts, approach a new market with increased confidence, and apply lessons learned from Japan to the Korean context.

Both experiences also reshaped her view of international collaboration. “I arrived in Asia afraid of feeling alone,” she admits. “Instead, I met around 40 European companies as part of our delegation with the same goals. That sense of community and shared ambition was just as valuable as the business meetings.”

From connections to cooperation

Today, HSL Technologies continues discussions with partners in both Japan and the Republic of Korea, translating connections into ongoing cooperation. The company has also established strong links with fellow EU participants from the business missions and is now re-engaging with the potential investors met during both events to explore concrete collaboration and funding opportunities.

“The EU Business Hub didn’t just open doors.” Belén concludes. “It gave us the confidence and the network to walk through them.”

Through initiatives like the EU Business Hub, European SMEs and start-ups gain structured access to complex markets, sustained support before, during, and after the business missions, and a platform to scale their innovation globally – exactly as HSL Technologies has done.

Learn more

Discover our business missions: https://eubusinesshub.eu/missions-catalogue.

Explore more about the EU Business Hub programme and how we can help your company grow internationally: https://eubusinesshub.eu/about-programme.

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EU Business Hub – Japan and the Republic of Korea is an EU-funded programme launched in 2024 to support EU SMEs and start-ups in the Green and Low-Carbon, Digital, Healthcare and Medical Equipment sectors in expanding into the Japanese and Korean markets. Between 2024 and 2027, the programme is organising 20 sector-focused business missions – 10 in each market – with services including strategic coaching, matchmaking, local interpretation, and full logistical support. The EU Business Hub is the successor programme of the EU Business Avenues / EU Gateway to Japan.