The article contains examples about hydrogen research and development progress in different countries: Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Russia and Ukraine. Each chapter describes a specific situation for a country and one of them describes some aspects from Germany for comparison with one of international leaders. The examples described into articles are not aleatory. The intention of the authors is to give to the reader the possibility to understand the concrete examples about what means the state of hydrogen and fuel cell research and innovation in the Central and Eastern European countries. The chapters dedicated to Czech Republic, Poland, and Romania, reveal the commitment of these countries in this adventure, often viewed today as a subject of very advanced countries. The specific situation in the Russia Federation describes a strong background, an uncertain present and a questionable future for the hydrogen and fuel cell technology. Development of hydrogen technologies and fuel cells in Ukraine have a long history, also. All of that, in the EU context, by voice of the main stakeholders, considered the hydrogen and fuel cell a decisive issue, with economic and societal ramifications. (C) 2018 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.