Abu dhabi: Khalifa University of Science and Technology today announced Professor Lourdes Vega, Director of the Research and Innovation Centre on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH) and Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, has become one of only four women from the UAE included in the Women in Hydrogen 50 for 2025 global list’s Technology and Innovation category. Professor Vega’s selection highlights her extensive contributions to research and development in hydrogen production, storage, transport, and utilisation technologies.
According to Emirates News Agency, the global list was curated by Hydrogen Economist and H2Tech, in collaboration with the Women’s Global Leadership Conference in Energy (WGLC). It includes 50 leaders across five categories: ‘Projects and Partnerships,’ ‘Technology and Innovation,’ ‘Policy and Regulation,’ ‘Industrial Use and Switching,’ and ‘Rising Stars.’ Following a global nomination and review process, the list was published in June 2025, with formal celebrations set to take place in October this year.
Professor Vega’s inclusion in this year’s list underscores the UAE’s increasing relevance in shaping the clean energy transition. She was nominated by multiple industry leaders for her impact on hydrogen technology and her efforts in empowering the next generation of scientists. Professor Ahmed Al Durra, Associate Provost for Research at Khalifa University, remarked that this recognition is a proud moment for the scientific community and further affirms the University’s status as a hub for innovative research in the region.
Professor Vega expressed her honour in being recognised in the Women in Hydrogen 50 List among accomplished professionals. She emphasised that the recognition is a reflection of the collaborative environment at Khalifa University, which supports the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy and contributes to the global decarbonisation agenda. Her focus is on finding practical solutions for a sustainable energy future globally.
With over 30 years of experience across the US, Europe, and the Middle East, Professor Vega is recognised for her work in molecular modelling, hydrogen and its derivatives, CO2 capture and utilisation, alternative energy, sustainable refrigerants, and water treatment. In addition to her academic role, she serves as an Independent Member of the Board of Directors of Ercros and Canal de Isabel II water company. She is a scientific advisor to global research entities such as the Catalan Institute for Energy Research (IREC) and the ‘Frontier Engineering’ Centre for Nature-Inspired Engineering (CNIE).
A former member of the Emirates Scientist Council and the Lead of the Advisory Board on Engineering and Technology in the UAE, Professor Vega is also a member of the Clean Hydrogen Mission Innovation. Her honours include the Mohammed Bin Rashid Medal for Scientific Distinguishment and recent inclusion in both the TOP100 Women Leaders in Spain and Impactful Women in Sustainability in the Middle East (2024). She is also a member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain and a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.
The RICH Centre at Khalifa University addresses decarbonisation through innovative solutions, leading strategic collaborations across academia, government, and industry to accelerate the path from fundamental research to real-world deployment.