Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation, has announced a strategic investment in Independence Hydrogen, a veteran-founded company based in Petersburg, Virginia, United States. Independence Hydrogen operates a decentralized hydrogen production facility focusing on smaller scale supply and transportation, providing fuel cell grade hydrogen to various sectors. This approach helps solve reliability and cost concerns while ensuring speed to market. The investment is part of Sumitomo's long-term commitment to hydrogen development. Independence Hydrogen's CEO, Dat Tran, expressed excitement about collaborating with Sumitomo, Suburban Propane, and Hivers & Strivers to accelerate the company's growth. The collaboration aims to expand the decentralized hydrogen market and leverage the expertise of the involved partners. A digital conference on chemical manufacturing is also scheduled, reflecting the industry's shift towards sustainability and scalability.