H-2 and synthesis gas have been extensively utilised for more that 70 years in chemical and refinery industries. Their uses are becoming today more complex being influenced by strategic, political, economic and sustainability considerations. Issues that would benefit from innovations in the synthesis gas production concern the: (a) clean fuel production and the heavy residues utilisation, (b) the gas to liquid initiatives and (c) the desired but not yet accomplished electric energy production with fuel cells. The technological needs will be examined and their accomplishment will be discussed considering the utilisation of the short contact time-catalytic partial oxidation technologies. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.