Daikin opens new European Research Centre in Ghent
Japanese climate technology giant Daikin has opened its new European Development Centre (EDC) in Ghent, Belgium. Located on the Tech Lane Science Park campus of Ghent University, the 140 million euro facility will serve as the group’s European innovation hub for sustainable heating and cooling solutions.
The 30,600 m² complex will double Daikin’s testing capacity in Belgium and will include 23 test chambers and 12 floors of office space. Once fully operational, the site will employ 600–700 engineers, researchers, and technicians.
According to Wim De Schacht, Daikin Europe’s vice-president and a Daikin Industries board member, the centre’s expanded testing capacity is essential for accelerating product development. Research will primarily focus on air-to-water heat pumps for the residential market and air-to-air systems for homes, commercial buildings, and industrial use.
Ghent was selected for its strong academic ecosystem, its proximity to EU policymakers in Brussels and its pool of technical talent. The site will host collaborative projects with Ghent University, which will lease part of the building for joint research purposes. "Within Belgium, this is the ideal location to combine close academic cooperation with access to top engineers and researchers," said De Schacht.
The EDC consolidates Daikin’s European R&D activities in Belgium, where the company has been manufacturing for over five decades. The new facility will reinforce Belgium’s role as a strategic centre for Daikin’s operations across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Daikin aims to accelerate innovation and support the EU’s climate goals, with the aspiration that heat pumps will become the European standard for heating and cooling by 2030.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO JONAS D'HOLLANDER
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