Collaboration between governments is laying the foundation for the development of an international hydrogen economy. One such example is the International Partnership for the Hydrogen Economy (IPHE), which is a consortium of 17 countries worldwide that are working to focus international research, development, demonstration and commercial utilization activities related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies. The ultimate goal of the IPHE will be to enable Partner countries' consumers to have by 2020 the practical option of purchasing a competitively priced hydrogen-powered vehicle that can be refueled conveniently. Worldwide advances towards a hydrogen economy include:

• The European Union has committed up to 2 billion Euros over five years to conduct research and development of renewable and hydrogen energy technologies. This effort is complemented by a hydrogen fuel cell bus demonstration program know as the CUTE (Clean Urban Transport for Europe) project in nine cities.
• Australia, Canada, Iceland, Italy, the United Kingdom and Singapore have programs focused on hydrogen energy technology.
• China has organized a program that intends to build and operate fuel cell vehicles.
• India has initiated work on a hydrogen energy technology roadmap.
• Japan’s Hydrogen & Fuel Cell Demonstration Project (JHFC) benefits from the support of the Ministry of Economy, Japan Automobile Research Institute, and the Engineering Advancement Association of Japan. Japan is also home to major auto manufacturers who are leaders in developing hydrogen powered fuel cell vehicles