Privacy policy

Hydrogen Europe Research AISBL (“HER”, “we”, “us”, or “our”), with its registered office at Avenue Marnix 23, 1000 Brussels, Belgium, is committed to protecting your personal data and respecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR, Regulation (EU) 2016/679) and the Belgian Law of 30 July 2018.

1. Data Controller and Contact Information

Hydrogen Europe Research AISBL is the data controller for the processing activities described in this policy. For any questions, requests, or to exercise your rights, please contact our dedicated privacy team:

2. Categories of Personal Data Collected

We collect only the data necessary to fulfil our mission and organisational activities:

  • Identity and Contact Data: name, professional email address, telephone number, and organisational affiliation.

  • Professional Data: role, function, department, and area of expertise.

  • Visual Material: images, videos, or visual material submitted by members or captured during events/initiatives.

  • Technical Data: IP addresses, browser types, and usage data collected through our website for security and analytical purposes.

  • Interaction Data: information provided during social media interactions or through our member communication platforms.

3. Purposes and Legal Bases for Processing

We process personal data under the following legal grounds:

  • Performance of a Contract (Art. 6(1)(b) GDPR): to manage memberships, facilitate participation in research working groups, and provide services defined in membership agreements.

  • Legitimate Interest (Art. 6(1)(f) GDPR): to ensure the proper functioning of the organisation, promote hydrogen-related research, and secure our digital infrastructure.

  • Legal Obligation (Art. 6(1)(c) GDPR): to comply with Belgian accounting, tax, and corporate transparency laws.

  • Consent (Art. 6(1)(a) GDPR): for specific marketing communications, newsletters, and the use of identifiable images on public-facing websites or social media.

4. Cookies and Web Tracking

Our website uses cookies to enhance user experience and analyse traffic.

  • Essential Cookies: required for the website to function securely.

  • Analytical Cookies: used (with your consent) to understand how visitors interact with our content (e.g., Google Analytics).

  • Users can manage their cookie preferences through their browser settings or our dedicated cookie banner.

5. Social Media and Communication

HER utilises social media platforms (e.g., LinkedIn) to promote its activities. When you interact with us on these platforms, we may process publicly available data from your profile to respond to your inquiries or track the impact of our communications.

6. Data Sharing and International Transfers

  • Service Providers: we may share data with trusted partners (e.g., IT hosting, event management platforms) only when necessary and under appropriate data protection safeguards.

  • No Commercial Sharing: personal data is never sold or shared with third parties for commercial purposes.

  • International Transfers: if personal data is transferred to a country outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place, such as Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) approved by the European Commission.

7. Storage and Retention Periods

Personal data is kept only for as long as necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, or as required by law:

  • Membership Data: retained for the duration of the membership and up to 10 years after termination for legal and historical records.

  • Financial Records: retained for 7 years to comply with Belgian tax law.

  • Visual Materials: used for the duration of the specific communication campaign or until consent is withdrawn.

  • Data that is no longer needed is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Your Data Protection Rights

Under the GDPR, you have the following rights:

  • Right of Access: obtain a copy of your data.

  • Right to Rectification: correct inaccurate data.

  • Right to Erasure ("Right to be Forgotten"): request deletion of your data.

  • Right to Restriction & Objection: limit or object to how we process your data.

  • Right to Data Portability: request that your data be transferred to you or another controller in a structured format.

  • Right to Withdraw Consent: at any time where processing is based on consent.

Response Timeline: We will respond to your requests without undue delay and, at the latest, within one month of receipt.

9. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organisational measures (e.g., encryption, access controls) to protect your data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse (Article 32 GDPR).

10. Complaints

If you believe your data has been handled incorrectly, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the Belgian Data Protection Authority (Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit / Autorité de protection des données) or your local national authority.

11. Updates to this Notice

This Privacy Notice is reviewed periodically. The most recent version will always be available through our official communication channels.

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