Italian Consulate in Osaka leads mission to Daikin Tic - News from Embassies

A visit to the Daikin Technology and Innovation Center (TIC) took place on April 8 in Osaka, organized by the Consulate General of Italy as part of the activities of the Science & Technology Diplomatic Circle Kansai (S&TDC), a scientific diplomacy platform that brings together consular representatives, academic institutions, and industry players in the region.

The delegation was welcomed by the Center’s managers, who outlined the main development strategies of the Daikin Industries Group, a global leader in air conditioning, heating, and air purification systems with a presence in over 170 countries. In Europe, the group operates through a well-established industrial and commercial network, while Italy represents one of its key markets, particularly in light of investments and acquisitions made in recent years in the sector of solutions for environmental comfort and energy efficiency. The Technology and Innovation Center, inaugurated in 2015 in Settsu, serves as the group’s primary global research hub and employs over a thousand engineers dedicated to developing advanced technologies related to air quality and environmental sustainability. The Center adopts a “collaborative innovation” model, based on cooperation with universities, research centers, and industrial partners, including on an international scale. During the visit, the main research and development activities were presented, with a focus on energy efficiency solutions, the widespread adoption of heat pumps, and technologies aimed at reducing environmental impact. The delegation also had the opportunity to observe several applications and prototypes currently under development, including air quality control systems, climate comfort solutions, and integrated platforms for smart buildings. The initiative served as an opportunity for dialogue among the research community, industry, and diplomacy, helping to strengthen the dialogue between Italy and Japan on strategic issues such as the energy transition, technological innovation, and sustainability.