City of Ghent, Ghent University and Daikin to partner for 2 years to advance heat pump innovations in Gent

Brussels, 7 July 2025 – The City of Ghent, Ghent University and Daikin Europe have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enter a 2-year partnership. Daikin is a market leader in residential and commercial low-carbon, heat pump technology-based heating and cooling solutions in Europe. The signing strengthens collaboration between government, academia, and industry to advance clean energy innovation.

Transition to heat pumps for a liveable city

The memorandum emphasizes the parties’ shared ambition to accelerate the transition to a climate-neutral, circular and liveable city through research, knowledge sharing and joint initiatives. They focus on energy efficiency, smart climate technology, sustainable urban development and social engagement. Specifically, they are together exploring pilot projects that involve:

Three pioneers in the energy transition

"Ghent is and will remain a pioneer in the energy transition. Thanks to this collaboration with Ghent University and Daikin, we can align knowledge, technology and policy and put innovative solutions into practice," says Filip Watteeuw, Alderman for Environment and Climate at the City of Ghent.

The partnership builds on previous joint projects. The City of Ghent and Ghent University previously collaborated on a fossil-free Muide-Meulestede and Mariakerke. Daikin and Ghent University, on the other hand, have already worked together on the financing of research into heat pumps in the Ghent region.

"As an international heating and cooling technology company with strong roots in Ghent, we want to actively contribute to a low-carbon city. The city will become a testing ground for innovation, and we will use our expertise in heat pump systems and components to make a difference in Ghent," says Wim De Schacht, Vice President Service & Solutions and Corporate Affairs at Daikin Europe.

"This triangle – city, university and company – is essential to achieve sustainability ambitions," says Ghent University Professor Michel De Paepe. "Together we can switch faster and more thoughtfully towards a climate-proof future."

The memorandum will run for two years and enables opportunities such as joint projects, knowledge exchange as well as establishing innovative applications across the city of Ghent.

About Daikin Europe N.V.

The Daikin Europe Group is a leading provider of heating, cooling, ventilation, air purification and refrigeration (HVAC-R) technology in Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Daikin Europe caters to a diverse customer base within this region by designing, manufacturing, and marketing an extensive range of products, maintenance services, and turnkey solutions tailored for residential, commercial, and industrial applications. The company employs over 13,800 employees through 58 subsidiaries and operates 15 manufacturing sites in Europe (12), Turkey (1) and the Middle East (2). Daikin’s refrigeration products are available under the Daikin, Tewis, Zanotti, Hubbard, and AHT brands. Headquartered in Ostend, Belgium, for over 50 years, the Daikin Europe group is a subsidiary of the global group Daikin Industries.

About Daikin Industries Ltd.

Daikin Industries (DIL) is a global leader in heat pump, air conditioning and air filtration technology. The company employes over 100,000 employees worldwide. Founded in Osaka in 1924, it is the only manufacturer in the world that develops and manufactures heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration equipment, as well as compressors and refrigerants in-house. Daikin was named one of the world’s top 100 most innovative companies by Clarivate (UK) and LexisNexis (USA), recognized for its leadership in technology research and intellectual property patents. For its fiscal year 2024 Daikin reported a record sales result of € 28,98 billion sales (1 April 2024 – 31 March 2025).

Read more on www.daikin.eu and www.daikin.com.