The JRC will contribute to the JTI work programme through pre-normative research aimed at assessing the performance of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies in terms of their safety, reliability, efficiency and emissions. The JRC will also provide the services of reference laboratories, notably its hydrogen storage and fuel cell performance labs at the JRC Institute for Energy (IE), in Petten, the Netherlands.

At the same time, the JRC will seek to support the JTI's strategy formulation and implementation, helping to ensure that the European Commission plays a significant role in the research, development and demonstration of fuel cells and hydrogen projects in Europe.

JTIs are public-private partnerships and have been identified as a new strategy for the implementation of the Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7).

The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Technology Initiative should ensure that the jointly defined research programme will better match industry's needs and expectations, accelerating hydrogen and fuel cell technology acquisition and deployment.