The event “Cool Intelligence: Smart Cooling for Our Future” was successfully held on Thursday, 18 June 2026, at the Energy Center of Politecnico di Torino, organised by Centro Studi Galileo, the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians (ATF) and Politecnico di Torino on the occasion of World Refrigeration Day.
The initiative, which welcomed dozens of participants, brought together representatives from academia, institutions and industry to explore the increasingly strategic role of refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps in contemporary society. Although often invisible to the general public, these technologies are essential for food safety, healthcare, indoor comfort, air quality, energy efficiency, digital infrastructure and the environmental transition.
The conference opened with institutional greetings from Patrizia Lombardi, Vice Rector for Sustainable Campus and Living Lab at Politecnico di Torino; Alberto Tenconi, Director of the Department of Energy at Politecnico di Torino; Federico Riboldi, Regional Minister for Health of the Piedmont Region; Marco Boggero, Senior Economist – World Bank, United Nations; and Marco Buoni, Secretary General of the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians. The opening remarks highlighted the importance of cooperation between universities, companies, technicians and institutions in addressing the challenges of sustainability, decarbonisation and the development of green skills.
The first session, “Cool Intelligence: Technology, Data and Sustainability”, focused on the “invisible cold” and its real impact on everyday life. Moderated by Marco Buoni, AREA Board Member for International Affairs, Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians and Centro Studi Galileo, the session addressed key topics such as the cold chain, food safety, indoor air quality, digital infrastructure, control systems, continuous monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Speakers included Stefano Trabucchi, System Engineering Group Manager at Epta Refrigeration, with a presentation on cold chain and sustainability; Alessandro Poppi, Business Developer HVAC Project & Dealers, Italian Branch, CAREL Industries, who explored control systems for indoor air quality; Francesco Papa, Sales Engineer at Modine, who presented cooling as the invisible engine of innovation, from supermarkets to data centres; and Giulia Gaudino, Sales & Marketing Manager at Gaudino, who illustrated the role of intelligent maintenance in improving performance and reducing costs in industrial refrigeration systems.
The second session, moderated by Enrico Fabrizio, Full Professor at Politecnico di Torino, addressed “The Future of Cooling: Cities, Climate and New Technologies”, with particular attention to energy efficiency, environmental impact reduction, urban cooling, heat pumps, natural and reclaimed refrigerants, and the contribution of the sector to the energy transition.
The session featured presentations by Enrico Fabrizio, who provided a historical perspective on responsible cooling; Giovan Battista Donato, Key Account Manager at Embraco Nidec, with a presentation on efficiency, innovation and energy savings in the everyday role of the refrigerator; Stefania Evangelista, Technical and R&D Engineer at Teon, who presented the use of high-temperature heat pumps as an alternative to boilers; and Matteo Mangiarotti, Head of Rapid Recovery at A-GAS Italy, with a contribution on reclaimed refrigerant as a support for a sustainable transition for both the economy and the environment.
The event confirmed the central role of the RACHP sector – refrigeration, air conditioning and heat pumps – in a context marked by rising urban temperatures, growing cooling demand and the need to reduce energy consumption and emissions. World Refrigeration Day once again provided a concrete opportunity to bring professionals, students, citizens and institutions closer to technologies that are essential for daily wellbeing and for the sustainability of energy systems.
The final discussion with the audience highlighted the importance of continuing to invest in training, technical skills, proper design, qualified installation and advanced system maintenance. In this framework, Centro Studi Galileo and the Italian Association of Refrigeration Technicians reaffirm their commitment to promoting technical culture, professional updating and cooperation among all stakeholders in the cooling sector.
This article is offered by Centro Studi Galileo, the most authoritative Training Center in Europe, considered one of the first in the world, for training (Courses) and information (European Conference) in the fields of refrigeration and air conditioning.
Founded in 1975, it has trained approximately 60,000 Technicians and has always collaborated with international entities, developing high-level partnerships with the United Nations, the International Institute of Refrigeration, and the European Commission. The United Nations has chosen Centro Studi Galileo for the training of Technicians in developing countries.
It is the Publisher of Industria&Formazione, the first Italian magazine in the sector.
From Centro Studi Galileo, receiving European and national directives, the European Refrigeration Technician License and the Italian Refrigeration Technician License were born—certifications that allowed Italian Cold Technicians to compete against low-cost rivals and to give full dignity to a profession that deserved recognition by offering a License to Technicians who operate with technical skills, without risks, and with zero impact. For information, write to corsi@centrogalileo.it.