INSTITUT INTERNATIONAL DU FROID

Their core work

The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR/IIF) is the leading intergovernmental science and technology body dedicated to refrigeration, air conditioning, and cryogenics. Based in Paris, it serves as a global knowledge hub — aggregating expertise on cold chain technologies, energy-efficient cooling systems, and thermal processes across food, energy, and health sectors. In H2020 projects, they contribute domain authority on refrigeration science, facilitate knowledge exchange among industry and research actors, and provide technical guidance on reducing greenhouse gas emissions from cooling and cold storage systems.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2016–2019), the IIR focused on knowledge transfer and awareness-raising around energy-efficient supermarkets and cryogenic storage in warehouses — essentially helping European retail and logistics adopt better cooling practices. By 2021–2025, the focus shifted decisively toward quantifying and reducing GHG emissions across the entire food cold chain (transport, storage, retail) and toward off-grid refrigeration for healthcare in developing regions. This evolution shows a move from European retail energy efficiency toward global climate impact of cooling systems.

The IIR is moving toward global decarbonization of cold chains and off-grid cooling for underserved regions — expect future work at the intersection of food systems, climate, and development.

How they like to work

The IIR participates exclusively as a partner, never as coordinator — consistent with its role as an intergovernmental knowledge body rather than a research-executing institution. With 67 unique partners across 21 countries in just 4 projects, they bring exceptionally broad networks to every consortium they join. Their value lies in convening expertise and providing authoritative technical knowledge on refrigeration, making them an ideal partner for projects that need credibility and wide dissemination reach in the cold chain domain.

Remarkably wide network for their project count: 67 unique partners across 21 countries, averaging nearly 17 partners per project. This reflects their role as an international convening body with established connections across European and global refrigeration research and industry.

What sets them apart

The IIR is the world's only intergovernmental organization dedicated entirely to refrigeration and cold chain science — there is simply no equivalent body. For any EU consortium dealing with cooling, cold storage, or thermal efficiency, the IIR brings instant domain authority, a global membership network of refrigeration experts, and the credibility of a 100+ year institution. They are the partner you bring when your project needs recognized expertise on anything that must stay cold.

Highlights from their portfolio

• SophiA
  Largest IIR budget (EUR 461,875) and a significant geographic pivot — applying cold chain expertise to off-grid healthcare cooling in Africa.
• CryoHub
  Unusual intersection of cryogenic energy storage with refrigerated warehouses, connecting renewable energy integration to the cold chain.
• ENOUGH
  Ambitious scope targeting GHG emissions reduction across the entire European food supply chain through 2050, covering transport, storage, and retail.