On November 18th, 2025, Parallax Advanced Research and the Ohio Aerospace Institute (OAI) convened partners from government, academia, industry, and workforce organizations to examine what it will take to grow a hydrogen economy ready workforce in Ohio and Michigan. The well attended, all-day event was held at the OAI building in Cleveland and centered on one key takeaway: hydrogen activity is already underway in the region, and workforce preparation must keep pace.
Parallax/OAI is part of a coalition to execute a $3 million workforce development initiative aimed at preparing workers for the growing hydrogen economy. The effort positions Ohio and Michigan as leaders in hydrogen production, storage & transport, as well as usage regarding transportation, the electrical grid, and industrial processes. Hydrogen offers a clean, low-carbon alternative to sectors that are hard to decarbonize – like heavy industry, shipping, and aviation. Funded through congressionally directed spending by the U.S. Department of Energy, the project is led by the University of Toledo and supported by academic and industry partners, including Parallax/OAI, Case Western Reserve University, Cuyahoga Community College, Lorain County Community College, Northwest State Community College, Owens Community College and the Workforce Intelligence Network.
The event opened with remarks from Dr. Andrew Gyekenyesi, the Director of Research and Chief Scientist at OAI, who emphasized the importance of aligning education and training programs with real world industry needs and highlighted Parallax/OAI’s role in connecting research institutions, industry partners, and federal laboratories around emerging technologies.
Across multiple sessions, speakers reinforced that hydrogen workforce needs are immediate, not theoretical. Employers reported existing skills gaps and anticipated future shortages if training pathways do not scale. The discussion consistently emphasized that most hydrogen roles build on existing occupations. Engineers, technicians, safety professionals, and operators remain central, but require hydrogen-specific competencies related to safety, storage and handling, fuel cells, cryogenics, and regulatory compliance.
Workforce data presented during the event highlighted both strong regional momentum and persistent fragmentation. Dozens of organizations across Ohio and Michigan are engaged in hydrogen related activity, yet many remain weakly connected to one another and to education providers. Employers expressed strong interest in partnering with colleges and universities to co-design modular training, short credentials, and reskilling programs that can be deployed quickly and adapted over time.
Aviation, being one of the themes of the event, emerged as a highly visible use case for hydrogen adoption. Presentations on liquid hydrogen aircraft, airport fueling systems, and unmanned aerial platforms demonstrated how rapidly hydrogen technologies are moving toward operational deployment. These developments are creating new workforce demand in systems integration, ground operations, maintenance, and safety, while reinforcing the region’s relevance to hydrogen aviation.
For the project team, the event underscored the importance of coordinated, cross sector action. Building a hydrogen ready workforce will require sustained collaboration among industry, education, and government, along with flexible, safety centered training approaches grounded in regional strengths. By creating these conversations and supporting data informed program design, Parallax and OAI are helping position the region to meet the workforce demands of a growing hydrogen economy.
To learn more or get get engaged in the conversation, contact:
Dr. Andrew Gyekenyesi
andrew.gyekenyesi@parallaxresearch.org
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About Parallax Advanced Research & the Ohio Aerospace Institute
Parallax Advanced Research is an advanced research institute that tackles global challenges through strategic partnerships with government, industry, and academia. It accelerates innovation, addresses critical global issues, and develops groundbreaking ideas with its partners. In 2023, Parallax and the Ohio Aerospace Institute formed a collaborative affiliation to drive innovation and technological advancements across Ohio and the nation. The Ohio Aerospace Institute plays a pivotal role in advancing aerospace through collaboration, education, and workforce development.