CENTER ODLICNOSTI NIZKOOGLJICNE TEHNOLOGIJE ZAVOD

Their core work

CO NOT (Center of Excellence for Low-Carbon Technologies) is a Slovenian research institute specialising in the science of electrocatalysts for hydrogen-based clean energy — specifically the platinum and platinum-alloy materials that power fuel cells and electrolyzers. Their core technical work involves designing nanostructured electrode materials, studying how they degrade under operating conditions, and developing advanced electrochemical characterisation methods to understand that degradation at a fundamental level. Beyond pure research, they have actively explored commercial translation: their ERC Proof of Concept project assessed the technical and business feasibility of bringing stable Pt-alloy catalysts to market, engaging with IP strategy and value-chain analysis. They operate at the intersection of materials science, electrochemistry, and clean hydrogen technology.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

CO NOT entered H2020 funding with a firmly fundamental research agenda: their first project (123STABLE, ERC Starting Grant) is about understanding electrocatalyst degradation mechanisms through electron microscopy and electrochemical methods — deep materials science with no commercial framing. By their second project (StableCat, 2021), the keyword set shifts dramatically: business development, commercialisation, IP, value-chain, and nanotechnology all appear alongside the technical core. This transition from characterisation-focused science to market feasibility assessment is precisely the trajectory ERC Proof of Concept grants are designed to support. The trend is unambiguous: a research group that built foundational expertise in catalyst stability is now actively testing whether that expertise can become a product.

CO NOT is moving from fundamental electrocatalysis research toward market-ready technology, making them a more relevant partner for companies or projects that need both deep scientific credibility and early-stage commercialisation experience in hydrogen fuel cell materials.

How they like to work

CO NOT has participated exclusively as a non-coordinating partner in both projects — a pattern consistent with a small, specialist research unit that contributes focused technical expertise within structures led by others. Their network is exceptionally tight: only 2 unique partners, all from a single country, reflecting the ERC grant model where the principal investigator's group is the primary beneficiary and broad consortium-building is not required. For a potential partner, this means engaging a highly specialised team with deep technical focus but limited prior experience managing large multi-partner consortia.

CO NOT has collaborated with only 2 unique partners, all based in Slovenia, giving them one of the smallest and most geographically concentrated networks in H2020. This reflects their ERC-centric funding history rather than a lack of capability, but it does mean they have minimal established cross-border consortium ties to date.

What sets them apart

CO NOT occupies a very specific niche: they are one of the few Slovenian research entities focused exclusively on the electrochemical performance and durability of platinum-group catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells, supported by ERC-level competitive grants that signal peer-recognised scientific excellence. What sets them apart is the combination of rigorous fundamental research capacity (ERC-STG) and a demonstrated willingness to bridge toward commercialisation (ERC-POC) — a combination that pure academic groups rarely pursue. For a consortium or company working on PEMFC stack development, membrane electrode assemblies, or green hydrogen electrolysis, they offer credible catalyst science with an eye on real-world deployment.

Highlights from their portfolio

• 123STABLE
  The anchor ERC Starting Grant (EUR 132,000 to CO NOT) that established their scientific identity — a multi-year programme on nanostructured electrocatalyst stability combining fuel cell, electrolyzer, and electron microscopy expertise.
• StableCat
  An ERC Proof of Concept grant that marks a deliberate pivot from science to market: CO NOT tested the commercial and IP feasibility of their Pt-alloy catalyst findings, a rare step for a small Slovenian research institute.