Press_Release_Daikin_Europe_opening_week_at_EDC
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Corporate news / Ghent, 14 October 2025 – Daikin has brought its Daikin Europe Research and Development Center (EDC) in Ghent, Belgium, into operation. This new R&D hub serves as Daikin’s Direct Expansion (DX) development centre for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and includes a dedicated team for refrigeration solutions. It is also the company group’s global R&D center for heat pump heating.
A purpose-built product testing facility featuring 23 advanced test chambers and a state-of-the-art office building form the 30,600 m² physical footprint of this hub for innovation. With this 140 million euro investment Daikin doubles its testing capacity in Belgium, as the existing test chambers in Ostende will also remain in use.
Great interest from over 50 journalists from across Europe at the Daikin Europe Research and Development Center Ghent (EDC) Media Tour 2025, Copyrights Daikin
A week of exclusive visits kicked-off a new era for sustainable heat pump and refrigeration innovation
Daikin Europe’s new Research and Development Center (EDC) in Ghent is fully operational. The opening at the Tech Lane Ghent Science Park at Campus Ardoyen was marked by an intensive week of visits from customers, business partners, and media representatives. Visitors saw firsthand Daikin’s advanced R&D facilities ranging from the electromagnetic compatibility test room, snow room, sound room or simulation boxes.
They also experienced the company’s clear commitment to sustainable technology that supports Europe’s shift from fossil fuels towards energy independence for heating and cooling. Daikin’s R&D focus at EDC lays on next-generation heating and climate solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings. The new R&D center doubles the group’s testing capacity in Europe and strengthens its position as development hub for Direct Expansion (DX) and cold chain solutions, serving markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
Global R&D activities for future-proof air-to-water heat pumps are being consolidated at the EDC as well. In doing so, Daikin is accelerating the achievement of EU climate targets and the heating transition through low-CO₂ heating solutions such as the Daikin Altherma 4 residential heat pump, which operates with R290 refrigerant. Recently the EDC-team also introduced the world’s first VRV system with CO₂ refrigerant.
During a testing facilities tour, journalists experienced Daikin’s R&D activities in action, among the sound room, Copyrights Daikin
Daikin Altherma 4 H heat pump tested in the EDC snow room, copyrights Daikin
Wim de Schacht, Vice President Daikin Europe
R&D location Ghent, in the heart of Europe
Tech Lane Ghent Science Park at Campus was selected for its thriving ecosystem for innovation and as strategic location in Europe. The city’s collaboration between local authorities, Ghent University, and vocational schools fosters urban development taking a rich historical building stock into account. It supports the adoption of heat pump technology in various urban environments, and helps addressing the shortage of skilled technicians and heat pump engineers. This proximity to talent, academia, influential stakeholders and EU decision makers in Brussels ensures Daikin can respond swiftly to market needs across Europe while reinforcing its commitment to a climate-neutral continent.
“With the opening of EDC in Ghent, we reaffirm Daikin’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and partnership. This new facility not only strengthens our R&D capabilities but also deepens our ties with the community and European stakeholders empowering us to deli ver the next generation of climate solutions for Europe and beyond,” said Wim De Schacht, Vice President of Daikin Europe.
Copyrights pictures: Daikin
About
100+ years Daikin
The story of Daikin has always been shaped by groundbreaking ideas, technological innovations, and dedicated people. It began in 1924 when the young Japanese engineer Akira Yamada founded an enterprise in Osaka to manufacture aircraft radiators with a 15-member team. More than 100 years later, the Daikin Industries group brings future-proof solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration (HVAC-R) to global markets. 103,500 employees in 173 countries continue the company's legacy of leading technologies to advance low carbon heating and cooling, while ensuring the highest level of comfort.
Read more on 100 Years Daikin
Daikin Industries Ltd.
Daikin Industries is a global leader in heat pump, air conditioning and air filtration technology, employing more than 103,500 people. Founded in Osaka in 1924, it is the only manufacturer in the world that develops and manufactures HVAC-R equipment, compressors and refrigerants in-house. Daikin has been recognized as one of the world’s top 100 most innovative companies by Clarivate (UK) and LexisNexis (USA) for its leadership in technology research and intellectual property patents. For its fiscal year 2024 (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025) Daikin reported a record sales result of 28,98 billion euro sales.
Read more on www.daikin.com
Daikin Europe N.V.
The Daikin Europe group is a leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration technology across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Daikin Europe caters to a diverse customer base within the region by designing, manufacturing, and marketing an extensive range of products, maintenance services, and turnkey solutions tailored for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The group employs over 13,800 people across more than 56 subsidiaries and operates 15 manufacturing sites in Europe (12), Turkey (1) and the Middle East (2). Refrigeration products from Daikin include the brands Daikin, Tewis, Zanotti, Hubbard, and AHT. Headquartered in Ostend, Belgium, for over 50 years, the Daikin Europe group is a subsidiary of Daikin Industries Ltd.
Read more on www.daikin.eu
Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe
Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe, founded in 1999 with its headquarters in Vienna, Austria, operates as a subsidiary of Daikin Europe. Its portfolio includes products and total solutions for heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification, and refrigeration in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. With over 700 employees and 3,400 partners, the company manages sales and service activities across 16 countries in Central and Eastern Europe, including Austria, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, and Slovenia.
With 'Your Daikin World' at the Vienna headquarters and the 'Daikin Inspiration Park' in Warsaw, the HVAC-R industry and the construction sector have access to two state-of-the-art B2B-experience centers for co-creating customized solutions for hotels, retail, offices, and large commercial applications. Daikin runs ten out of 141 B2B-training centers across the EMEA region in the CE-region. Consumers and homeowners receive consultations at four B2C-Experience centers in Vienna, Belgrade, Bratislava and Budapest.
Read more on www.daikin-ce.com
Media contact
Media contact Daikin Central Europe
Doris Passler
Manager Corporate Communications Central Europe
Daikin Airconditioning Central Europe HandelsgmbH
Lemböckgasse 59/1/1, 1230 Vienna, Austria
T: +43 (0) 664 24 56 444
M: passler.d@daikin.at
Media Contacts Daikin Europe N.V.
Sofie Sap – T.: +32 472 580482 Mail: sap.s@daikineurope.com
Daisuke Kakinaga – T.: +32 465 462321 Mail: kakinaga.d@bxl.daikineurope.com
