https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/06/from-asteroid-mining-to-democratizing-quantum-world-economic-forum-announces-2025-technology-pioneers-leading-new-wave-of-global-innovation/
Why Now: Hydrogen’s Critical Role in the Global Energy Transition
As the world approaches climate tipping points, the need to scale clean energy technologies is more urgent than ever. While renewable electricity sources such as solar and wind continue to expand, they alone cannot decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, shipping, and long-haul transport. These industries require high energy density solutions—ones that are portable, efficient, and scalable.
Hydrogen is widely recognized as a key pillar of net-zero ambitions. According to the International Energy Agency, hydrogen could meet up to 20% of global energy demand by 2050 However, its most common form—compressed gaseous hydrogen—presents major logistical challenges related to storage, transportation, and energy efficiency. (https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-hydrogen)
This is where liquid hydrogen comes into play. By cooling hydrogen to -253°C, we can store and transport it with far greater efficiency—unlocking new possibilities in mobility, aerospace, and infrastructure.
Hylium Industries is playing a major role in accelerating this transition by actively expanding the global hydrogen ecosystem through a growing number of real-world reference projects. In South Korea, the company supplies bulk liquid hydrogen storage tanks through its partnership with industrial gas leader AirFirst. In Europe, Hylium collaborates with aerospace institutions such as ISAE-SUPAERO to advance LH₂ integration in aviation. In the United States, its cryogenic tanks are under review for urban air mobility platforms, including air taxis developed by Alaka’i Technologies. Meanwhile in China, Hylium is supporting early-stage deployment of liquid hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks for zero-emission freight transport. (https://hydromotionteam.nl/)
These initiatives reflect not only the technical maturity of Hylium’s technologies, but also their adaptability across regions, industries, and applications.
A Global Recognition: 2025 WEF Technology Pioneer
Hylium Industries has been officially selected as a 2025 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum (WEF)—a recognition awarded to 100 companies globally that are developing groundbreaking innovations with the potential to positively shape society and industry. As a Technology Pioneer, Hylium joins a distinguished network of global leaders in clean tech, AI, health, and digital infrastructure. Over the next two years, Hylium will contribute to WEF initiatives related to climate action, energy transition, and public-private innovation, engaging with business, academic, and policy leaders worldwide. This selection is not just a celebration of innovation—it is a call to collaborate, act, and scale solutions that move us closer to a carbon-neutral world.
From Lab to Market: Liquid Hydrogen in Action
Founded in 2014, Hylium Industries became the first company in South Korea to successfully commercialize liquid hydrogen technology. Our core expertise lies in cryogenic liquefaction, insulated storage, and mobile hydrogen systems. Today, our products are used across multiple applications, including: - Hydrogen-powered drones for long-endurance aerial missions - Liquid hydrogen mobility tanks for land and air transport - Portable hydrogen refueling stations for field and defense operations - Mobile hydrogen liquefiers for decentralized energy systems These innovations support the decarbonization of sectors that have historically depended on fossil fuels. For instance, our UAV platforms demonstrated a 4.8x increase in flight time compared to conventional battery drones in a field test conducted in 2024 (https://www.hylium-industries.com/products/drone). We are also expanding our presence in Europe, North America, China, and the Middle East, where liquid hydrogen is being integrated into next-generation aerospace, automotive, and space exploration programs. In 2023, Hylium partnered with aerospace institutes in France and Korea for a liquid hydrogen workshop focused on aviation decarbonization (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hylium-industries).
A Mission for the Future: Clean Hydrogen for All
Hylium’s long-term vision is rooted in the belief that hydrogen should be safe, accessible, and scalable. Our slogan—“From a small hydrogen tank to the future of space”—reflects both our technical ambition and our global mission. Liquid hydrogen has already been used for decades by major space agencies like NASA and ESA, yet only now are we seeing a convergence of market readiness, infrastructure development, and public policy support that allows broader adoption. In this critical decade of climate action, we believe small startups can have a big impact. By working across ecosystems—from R&D labs to field deployments—we aim to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation.
CEO Perspective
"Hydrogen technology is standing at the forefront of global initiatives as the green energy technology of the future. Hylium Industries’ liquid hydrogen technologies are representative of the global move toward hydrogen energy. We aim to provide safe hydrogen technologies that bring people closer to clean and sustainable energy. Being named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum affirms the value of our vision and technology on the international stage. Guided by our mission, Hylium is committed to becoming a global leader in the hydrogen industry." — Dr. Seo Young Kim, CEO, Hylium Industries
About Hylium Industries
Hylium Industries is a South Korea-based hydrogen technology company specializing in liquid hydrogen liquefaction, storage, transport, and application systems. Since its founding in 2014, Hylium has developed and commercialized proprietary cryogenic platforms that are now being adopted by aerospace, defense, mobility, and clean energy sectors. Hylium’s patented solutions include small-scale mobile liquefiers, hydrogen drone powerpacks, and high-performance storage tanks optimized for extreme conditions. The company holds multiple international patents and has participated in strategic collaborations across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Learn more at
https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/06/from-asteroid-mining-to-democratizing-quantum-world-economic-forum-announces-2025-technology-pioneers-leading-new-wave-of-global-innovation/
https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/06/from-asteroid-mining-to-democratizing-quantum-world-economic-forum-announces-2025-technology-pioneers-leading-new-wave-of-global-innovation/
Why Now: Hydrogen’s Critical Role in the Global Energy Transition
As the world approaches climate tipping points, the need to scale clean energy technologies is more urgent than ever. While renewable electricity sources such as solar and wind continue to expand, they alone cannot decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like aviation, shipping, and long-haul transport. These industries require high energy density solutions—ones that are portable, efficient, and scalable.
Hydrogen is widely recognized as a key pillar of net-zero ambitions. According to the International Energy Agency, hydrogen could meet up to 20% of global energy demand by 2050 However, its most common form—compressed gaseous hydrogen—presents major logistical challenges related to storage, transportation, and energy efficiency. (https://www.iea.org/reports/the-future-of-hydrogen)
This is where liquid hydrogen comes into play. By cooling hydrogen to -253°C, we can store and transport it with far greater efficiency—unlocking new possibilities in mobility, aerospace, and infrastructure.
Hylium Industries is playing a major role in accelerating this transition by actively expanding the global hydrogen ecosystem through a growing number of real-world reference projects. In South Korea, the company supplies bulk liquid hydrogen storage tanks through its partnership with industrial gas leader AirFirst. In Europe, Hylium collaborates with aerospace institutions such as ISAE-SUPAERO to advance LH₂ integration in aviation. In the United States, its cryogenic tanks are under review for urban air mobility platforms, including air taxis developed by Alaka’i Technologies. Meanwhile in China, Hylium is supporting early-stage deployment of liquid hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks for zero-emission freight transport. (https://hydromotionteam.nl/)
These initiatives reflect not only the technical maturity of Hylium’s technologies, but also their adaptability across regions, industries, and applications.
A Global Recognition: 2025 WEF Technology Pioneer
Hylium Industries has been officially selected as a 2025 Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum (WEF)—a recognition awarded to 100 companies globally that are developing groundbreaking innovations with the potential to positively shape society and industry. As a Technology Pioneer, Hylium joins a distinguished network of global leaders in clean tech, AI, health, and digital infrastructure. Over the next two years, Hylium will contribute to WEF initiatives related to climate action, energy transition, and public-private innovation, engaging with business, academic, and policy leaders worldwide. This selection is not just a celebration of innovation—it is a call to collaborate, act, and scale solutions that move us closer to a carbon-neutral world.
From Lab to Market: Liquid Hydrogen in Action
Founded in 2014, Hylium Industries became the first company in South Korea to successfully commercialize liquid hydrogen technology. Our core expertise lies in cryogenic liquefaction, insulated storage, and mobile hydrogen systems. Today, our products are used across multiple applications, including: - Hydrogen-powered drones for long-endurance aerial missions - Liquid hydrogen mobility tanks for land and air transport - Portable hydrogen refueling stations for field and defense operations - Mobile hydrogen liquefiers for decentralized energy systems These innovations support the decarbonization of sectors that have historically depended on fossil fuels. For instance, our UAV platforms demonstrated a 4.8x increase in flight time compared to conventional battery drones in a field test conducted in 2024 (https://www.hylium-industries.com/products/drone). We are also expanding our presence in Europe, North America, China, and the Middle East, where liquid hydrogen is being integrated into next-generation aerospace, automotive, and space exploration programs. In 2023, Hylium partnered with aerospace institutes in France and Korea for a liquid hydrogen workshop focused on aviation decarbonization (https://www.linkedin.com/company/hylium-industries).
A Mission for the Future: Clean Hydrogen for All
Hylium’s long-term vision is rooted in the belief that hydrogen should be safe, accessible, and scalable. Our slogan—“From a small hydrogen tank to the future of space”—reflects both our technical ambition and our global mission. Liquid hydrogen has already been used for decades by major space agencies like NASA and ESA, yet only now are we seeing a convergence of market readiness, infrastructure development, and public policy support that allows broader adoption. In this critical decade of climate action, we believe small startups can have a big impact. By working across ecosystems—from R&D labs to field deployments—we aim to bridge the gap between innovation and implementation.
CEO Perspective
"Hydrogen technology is standing at the forefront of global initiatives as the green energy technology of the future. Hylium Industries’ liquid hydrogen technologies are representative of the global move toward hydrogen energy. We aim to provide safe hydrogen technologies that bring people closer to clean and sustainable energy. Being named a Technology Pioneer by the World Economic Forum affirms the value of our vision and technology on the international stage. Guided by our mission, Hylium is committed to becoming a global leader in the hydrogen industry." — Dr. Seo Young Kim, CEO, Hylium Industries
About Hylium Industries
Hylium Industries is a South Korea-based hydrogen technology company specializing in liquid hydrogen liquefaction, storage, transport, and application systems. Since its founding in 2014, Hylium has developed and commercialized proprietary cryogenic platforms that are now being adopted by aerospace, defense, mobility, and clean energy sectors. Hylium’s patented solutions include small-scale mobile liquefiers, hydrogen drone powerpacks, and high-performance storage tanks optimized for extreme conditions. The company holds multiple international patents and has participated in strategic collaborations across Asia, Europe, and the United States. Learn more at
https://www.weforum.org/press/2025/06/from-asteroid-mining-to-democratizing-quantum-world-economic-forum-announces-2025-technology-pioneers-leading-new-wave-of-global-innovation/