The Federal Minister of Education and Research Bettina Stark-Watzinger appointed Till Mansmann, Member of the German Bundestag for the FDP, as the new Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Mansmann takes up his new post today and succeeds Dr Stefan Kaufmann who is pursuing new career opportunities outside politics.

Federal Education Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger says:

“I am very pleased to have Till Mansmann as our new Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen. With his international experience in development policy and his sharp eye which he developed during his time as a finance politician, he will contribute new ideas as to how we can achieve our ambitious goals. As a trained physicist he also has extensive knowledge when it comes to energy. Germany has to become a hydrogen nation. The current geopolitical turmoil and the situation on the energy markets are showing us clearly that there is no time to lose. Green hydrogen is quite literally the energy of the future, for it can help make us independent from fossil sources of energy. I am very much looking forward to working with Till Mansmann.

I would also like to thank his predecessor, Dr Stefan Kaufmann, for his trusting cooperation and the great and intensive work we did together. In his role as the first commissioner for green hydrogen he paved the way forward and set important priorities. I wish him all the best and every success in his future career!"

The new Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen, Till Mansmann, adds in his own words:

“A sustainable hydrogen-based economy offers many different opportunities for Germany, Europe and our international partners. I am very much looking forward to my new role as green hydrogen commissioner which will allow me to contribute to speeding up the development of carbon neutral technologies and market-ready innovations.”

The former Innovation Commissioner Dr Stefan Kaufmann explains:

“It was a privilege to work together with the motivated and committed staff of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and support two ministers in their efforts to help Germany take advantage of the enormous opportunities that a sustainable hydrogen economy has to offer. It is an issue which is developing great momentum. I would like to thank Federal Minister Stark-Watzinger for her trust and I wish Till Mansmann every success for this exciting and multifaceted task.”