En el centro: Antonio Blanco, Director General de KEYTER
A la derecha: José Luis Elejalde, Director de Transición Energética, Climática y Urbana de TECNALIA
• Both organisations have signed a collaboration agreement to accelerate the development of advanced heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC+R) technologies
• The partnership will promote the development of high-temperature heat pumps, data centre solutions and advanced digitalisation technologies
• The agreement reinforces KEYTER’s commitment to decarbonisation, energy efficiency and international competitiveness
27 October 2026. KEYTER, an industrial company specialising in heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC+R) solutions, and TECNALIA, the largest applied research and technological development centre in Spain and Southern Europe, have signed a strategic framework collaboration agreement to drive technological development in areas key to the future of the HVAC+R industry.
The agreement establishes a stable framework for cooperation aimed at accelerating the market introduction of more efficient, reliable and competitive climate control solutions, aligned with decarbonisation targets and European regulatory requirements on emissions reduction.
The collaboration will focus particularly on developing high-temperature heat pumps, data centre solutions such as chillers and terminal units, and advanced digitalisation applied to processes and equipment. The aim is to design and validate equipment that delivers higher energy efficiency and lower operating costs, meeting the growing demand for sustainable solutions in both industrial environments and residential buildings.
Strategic areas of collaboration
The agreement covers a broad range of areas for collaboration, including identifying technology trends and business opportunities in the HVAC sector; jointly defining and developing strategic research, development and innovation (R&D&I) projects; creating and leveraging intellectual property; strategic innovation consultancy services; laboratory testing to validate and verify equipment; technical advice on component design and selection; and specialist training and talent development.
The two organisations will also collaborate on technologies relating to advanced manufacturing, new materials for high-temperature heat exchangers and corrosive environments, hydrogen-related heating and cooling solutions, district heating and cooling technologies, thermal energy storage, and applications in large-scale agricultural processes.
Innovation supporting decarbonisation
The agreement is particularly relevant against a backdrop of strong growth in the European market for heat pumps and HVAC+R technologies, driven by European energy policies, the electrification of thermal energy demand, and the need to reduce emissions from buildings and industry.
TECNALIA will work with KEYTER to identify new technological opportunities, design strategic R&D&I projects, experimentally validate solutions and develop specialised talent, thereby strengthening KEYTER’s capacity for innovation and industrial implementation.
This partnership will strengthen KEYTER’s international competitiveness, foster new technology-driven lines of business and position both organisations as leaders in the development of sustainable, high-value-added HVAC+R solutions.
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