IIR Launches Call for Publication Chair, Lead Authors and Contributors for the Global Refrigeration Outlook

Paris, February 9th, 2026 – The International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) announces the launch of a global call for a Publication Chair, Lead Authors, and Contributors for its forthcoming flagship science-to-policy report, the Global Refrigeration Outlook (GRO 2027). 

 

The Global Refrigeration Outlook is a new, high-level publication series designed to assess the state, trajectory, and systemic transformation of refrigeration across the full temperature spectrum, from cryogenics to high-temperature heat pumps. The first edition of the new quadrennial IIR report, GRO 2027, will provide evidence-based analysis and forward-looking scenarios to inform decision-makers in government, industry, finance, and academia. 

 

A Science-to-Policy Flagship Publication 

Positioned at the interface between research and policy, GRO reflects the IIR’s mission as an independent, intergovernmental knowledge broker compiling and synthesising scientific and technical expertise for the public good. 

 

Unlike refrigerant-specific assessments, the Global Refrigeration Outlook will adopt a systems perspective. It will evaluate technology integration, energy efficiency pathways, emissions mitigation strategies, digitalisation, and equitable access to refrigeration. 

 

Through this science-based and policy-relevant approach, the GRO will: 

  • Assess refrigeration’s role in climate mitigation and adaptation 
  • Examine decarbonisation pathways across all temperature ranges 
  • Address access gaps in food, health, and energy systems 
  • Highlight innovation frontiers, including cryogenics, AI-enabled optimisation, and high-temperature heat pumps 
  • Provide actionable recommendations for governments, industry, and academia 

 

Mobilising the IIR’s Global Scientific and Technology Council Network 

The Global Refrigeration Outlook 2027 will be developed through the IIR’s unique Scientific and Technical Council (STC), which brings together leading scientists and experts across five sections: 

  • Cryogenics and Liquefied Gases 
  • Thermodynamics, Equipment and Systems 
  • Biology and Food Technology 
  • Storage and Transport 
  • Air Conditioning, Heat Pumps and Energy Recovery 

 

In addition, IIR Working Groups, covering areas such as emissions data (CREED), food cold chain modelling (FRISBEE International), refrigeration safety, solid-state cooling, and cold chains in hot climates, will contribute specialised expertise to the GRO. 

 

This broad, multidisciplinary scientific network ensures that the GRO 2027 reflects the latest peer-reviewed knowledge, data-driven modelling, and practical experience from both developed and developing economies. 

 

Call for Leadership and Contributions 

The IIR invites interested parties to submit applications and nominations for: 

  • Publication Chair – to provide scientific leadership and strategic direction 
  • Lead Authors – to coordinate thematic chapters and ensure analytical coherence 
  • Contributors and Reviewers – to provide technical input, data, modelling expertise, and regional perspectives 

 

Selected experts will work in close collaboration with the IIR Secretariat and STC over the full development cycle, including research, drafting, review, and the dissemination phases. Authors’ meetings will be organised online and during major IIR conferences. 

 

From Knowledge to Action 

Refrigeration underpins food security, healthcare delivery, industrial productivity, urban resilience, and the global energy transition. Yet it also accounts for a significant share of global electricity use and greenhouse gas emissions. As demand for cooling rises worldwide, coherent science-based guidance is urgently needed. 

 

With the Global Refrigeration Outlook, the IIR aims to provide a reference publication that bridges science and policy, strengthens international cooperation, and supports a sustainable and equitable refrigeration transition worldwide. 

 

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About the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) 

Founded in 1908, the International Institute of Refrigeration (IIR) is an independent intergovernmental organisation advancing refrigeration science and technology for a sustainable future. By building knowledge on refrigeration and heat pump technologies, the IIR helps tackle food security, healthcare, and climate change. Through its international network, expert commissions, and scientific initiatives, the IIR bridges the gap between knowledge and action, highlighting refrigeration’s critical role for all life forms on our planet.