iL-CURRENT
November 5, 2024
Emilio Manrique from the Holst Center: "Working with the best"
Emilio Manrique is Business Development Manager at the TNO Holst Centre in Eindhoven and is dedicated to the interface between technology, politics and industry in order to transfer innovations from the laboratory to society. His aim is to develop solutions for key social challenges such as the energy transition. Ahead of the Clean Tech Innovation Day on November 11 (9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Heidelberg Congress Center), we from iL spoke to the high-tech manager for electrolyzers and batteries.
Emilio, what is your task as Business Development manager at Holst Center in Eindhoven?
Emilio Manrique: My role is to link our expertise in advanced battery technology and high-tech electrolysis technology with relevant knowledge and industry partners at home and abroad to enhance our knowledge portfolios and ensure that the innovations reach the industry and subsequently penetrate society.
Emilio Manrique from the Holst Center on iL: "I see our greatest similarity in the way we combine innovations from science with the industrial sector." Image: Holst Center
The history of the Holst Center and the InnovationLab is in the area the printed electronics closely interlinked linked. What makes this connection so special and what added value does this create?
Manrique: Both institutions have a common technological background in the field of printed electronics, but I see our greatest similarity in the way we combine innovation from science with the industrial sector. The common background and the common way of working make InnovationLab the best partner in Germany to explore collaboration in such a complex innovation/industrialization market as electrolysis. The challenge in electrolysis technology is not only to develop technologically optimal solutions, but also business-optimal solutions that are scalable and use materials that will be widely available in our European countries.
Your technological innovations are as highlights. Which type of partners are you looking for are you because in the TRLs 7 to 9?
Manrique: Our desired partners range from new companies looking to develop novel components for electrolyzer technologies to OEM or technology integrator companies looking to mass produce and assemble a complete electrolyzer stack to integrate third generation electrolyzer technology into the plants of the future.
What do you expect you from the upcoming event in Heidelberg?
Manrique: We at the Holst Center are very much looking forward to visiting our partners and learning more about developments in the Baden-Württemberg region.
Knowledge exchange in an open structure: The campus in Eindhoven combines wireless sensor technologies and flexible electronics under one roof - since the Holst Center was founded in 2006 by imec (Belgium) and TNO (Netherlands). Image: Holst Center
Why are international contacts in the clean techsector so important?
Manrique: The clean tech sector is not a regional or national sector, but a global one. To be the best, you have to work with the best, and these contacts are not always right next door.
Reduce costs, increase performance
Which key messages about innovative technologies of the Holst Center should the participants in the lecture your Holstcolleague Dr. Oscar Diaz Morales mediated be arranged?
Manrique: Attendees can expect more details on how thin film and microstructure technologies are transforming the field of electrolyzer technology by reducing the use of expensive exotic materials, lowering manufacturing costs, increasing electrochemical performance, lowering associated stack LCOH costs, and potentially reducing the footprint of electrolyzers, which could be critical for niche applications such as offshore.
The Holst Center is strongly in innovative coatingtechnologies and moves moves towards towards electrolysis 3.0. How important is it, products in these areas new to rethink?
Manrique: At TNO, we have conducted a number of studies on what a future hydrogen-dependent economy would look like, and it is clear that the current cost of hydrogen combined with the current production rate of electrolyzers and the consumption of exotic materials is unsustainable and unachievable. The technology needs to be radically improved to make hydrogen a success and make it affordable and accessible to the wider society, rather than leaving it as a novel technology that is only used in demonstration projects.
The third generation of electrolysis overcomes several technical limitations such as the use of iridium, low lifetime and low predictability of maintenance, PFAS dependency, etc. We are thinking of addressing key technical challenges to create new business models that will allow hydrogen to be used as a molecule in the future green society.
Where see do you see in near future need for optimization with H2-technologies in the near future?
Manrique: Every part of the technology can and should be optimized, as little to no development has taken place in the last 25 years. However, we see the biggest opportunities in the membrane electrode assemblies, in switching from membrane-based to electrode-based catalysts, in changing the way the bipolar plate architecture works, in optimizing components such as PTLs to promote better kinetics, etc.
Emilio, heartfelt thanks for this interview.
Overview of the High Tech Campus Eindhoven: the diverse facilities meet the highest standards. Image/graphic: Holst Center
About the person
As Business Development Manager for the TNO Holst Centre, Mexican-born Emilio Manrique explores the link between technology, policy and industry to bring innovations out of the lab and into society to improve our lives and address key societal challenges such as the energy transition. Emilio has worked in various roles at TNO over the past five years, from business and consultancy to academia, and the connection with industry represented at the Holst Center is the most exciting challenge for him so far.
His current role puts him in close proximity to policy makers, world-class scientists and business leaders, which helps Emilio understand the different perspectives a single challenge can have. Ultimately, he understands that progress can only be made when multiple perspectives are considered, rather than succumbing to tunnel vision and overlooking important opportunities.
About the Holst Center
With the founding of the Holst Centre in 2006 by imec (Belgium) and TNO (Netherlands), expertise in wireless sensor technologies and flexible electronics was brought together under one roof on the High Tech Campus Eindhoven. The exchange of specific knowledge in an open structure makes it possible to focus research and innovation on social issues in the fields of Health & Vitality, Energy & Climate and Mobility & Industry 5.0.
To help solve these societal challenges, the Holst Centre connects the Dutch Brainport region with a global ecosystem of industrial and academic partners. Using the expertise, knowledge and technologies of TNO and imec, technological innovations are developed so that the partner companies can bring them to market. The Holst Center now employs over 200 people.
Further Further information to the Holst Center is there under:
Contact: Emilio Manrique Ambriz, Business Development Manager, Holst Centre - High Tech Electrolysis, e-mail: emilio.manriqueambriz@tno.nl
Information on the "Clean Tech Innovation Day"
Note: Further information on the procedure and registration can be found on our website at
Registration ends on November 7, four days before the "Clean Tech Innovation Day" (November 11). Catering will be provided on St. Martin's Day at the Heidelberg Congress Center near the train station.
Joachim Klaehn
Head of Communications
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