Episode 14 of the WHySE Creatures Stories
This post first appeared on LinkedIn on 16 July 2026.
“What do you learn in 25 years of hydrogen?”
asked Monkey, pointing at the sign in Dog’s paw.
It read: 25
Rat tilted her head.
“25 years? Then you know every answer.”
Dog smiled.
“More like the insightful questions.”
The creatures fell silent.
Dog looked out over the H₂ terrain.
Research. Projects. Facilities. Consortia. Europe.
Then Dog said:
“Three things have remained.”
First: A vision becomes reality when the end goal becomes clear.
A good question is more valuable than a quick answer.
And reflection takes time.
Dog learnt this early on:
In hydrogen research and in projects where a common goal had to emerge from ideas, facilities and operations.
Monkey nodded.
“Understand first, then get started.”
Dog smiled.
“Exactly.”
Second: Technology is the foundation. People are the spice.
An H₂ project can be technically sound.
If people talk at cross-purposes, it becomes expensive or grinds to a halt.
Dog remembered an industrial project.
The team had developed a specialised heat transfer system for a high-temperature fuel cell system.
Groundbreaking enough to warrant a patent application.
Then the solution was presented at a conference.
Too soon.
Without prior consultation.
The path to a patent was blocked.
Rat looked at Dog.
“That was a bitter pill to swallow.”
Dog nodded.
“Yes. And a learning experience.”
The coordination wasn’t as good as the technology.
Since then, Dog has known:
Confidentiality, roles, publications, trust and responsibilities need to be brought to the table early on.
Rat raised her eyebrows.
“So it is soul food after all?”
Dog laughed.
“Yes. Good projects are like good food. Ingredients, order and preparation matter. Above all, the people at the table matter.”
Third: direction and clear communication are the guardrails from idea to implementation.
In European negotiations, many perspectives sit around the same table.
Research. Industry. Associations. Countries. Programmes. Cultures. Languages.
Dog remembered a working group on hydrogen in the heating market.
The positions were further apart than they initially seemed.
Some saw it as an important path.
Others had different priorities.
The difference was one thing.
The belated discussion about it was another.
Dog learned from this:
What is desired in one’s own country often only finds support in Europe once others can understand and endorse the approach.
The creatures nodded.
Dog looked at his sign.
“For me, 25 years of H₂ mean: having experienced a great deal. Having become more reflective, clearer-minded and more engaged. And better guided myself.”
That is part of Dog’s Ikigai:
Providing guidance.