The Horizon Hydrogen Energy (H₂E) Program, which was initiated and is coordinated by Air Liquide, was first launched in October 2008. This very innovative program is being supported by OSEO (a French agency supporting innovation).

The goal of the H₂E program, which represents a global investment in research and technology of close to 200 million euros over a period of seven years, is to build a durable and competitive hydrogen energy market. Alongside Air Liquide, some twenty partners working in this new energy are also present, from industrial groups and small businesses to public research laboratories in France.

The research and development effort will focus on each one of the links in this chain. In particular, it will focus on the development of innovative technologies for the production of hydrogen from renewable energies, the storage of hydrogen, and the industrialization of fuel cells. H₂E will also contribute to the implementation of an adapted regulatory framework, and will include a program of demonstrations and educational initiatives to acquaint the general public with this new vector of clean energy.