Corporate_news_Daikin_named_Clarivate_Top_100_Global_Innovator_2026
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Corporate news / Brussels, 22 January 2026 – Daikin has been selected among the Top 100 Global Innovators 2026 by global information services provider Clarivate Plc (London, UK). This marks the 11th time Clarivate has honoured Daikin since 2012, based on an extensive patent data analysis of companies and research institutions worldwide.
Access to patents for refrigerants with low global warming potential
As a global leader in HVAC-R technologies, Daikin allows the use of select patents by other companies to help reduce greenhouse gases across the entire industry. Since December 2019, Daikin has joined forces with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO)*, the clearinghouse arm of the UN agency specialized in intellectual property. They’re working together to lower the environmental impact of refrigerants around the world and promote the widespread use of air conditioners that use R-32, a refrigerant with a low global warming potential. WIPO GREEN is the organisation’s online platform that enables the sharing and mutual utilisation of sustainable technologies around the world. Daikin has registered a total of 419 patents related to R-32 air conditioners on WIPO GREEN.
Partnering with industry and academia
Working with startups, industry, government, and academia, Daikin is creating new intellectual property by building incentive-driven models that support innovation on all sides. These efforts have enabled mutually beneficial relationships with multiple universities and research institutes. The number of patent applications based on active technological development through external collaborations has increased significantly both in Japan and internationally. Going forward, Daikin will continue to protect and leverage intellectual property that drives international business growth, while contributing to a more sustainable society.
“Daikin has been working to strengthen research and development on a global scale to achieve the growth strategy themes that it set out in its strategic management plan Fusion25. These include ‘Challenge to achieve carbon neutrality,’ ‘Promotion of Solutions business connected with customers,’ and ‘Creating value with air. In addition to acquiring IP intellectual property rights and avoiding IP infringement with other companies, Daikin will continue to promote IP activities that contribute to its business by focusing on creating intellectual property through industry-industry and industry-academia collaborations and building relationships through free access to patents.”
Takeo Abe, General Manager, Intellectual Property Department of Daikin Industries, Ltd.
Reference:
*The United Nations’ World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) wants to accelerate the adoption of solutions to address environmental issues. As part of its mission, it operates WIPO GREEN, an interactive marketplace that connects technology and service providers with those seeking innovative solutions. www3.wipo.int/wipogreen/en/aboutus
Further information:
About Clarivate Top 100 Global Innovators 2026:
www.clarivate.com/top-100-innovators
Copyrights pictures: Clarivate
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
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
