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DAC and the EIC Accelerator: Cooling With Air Instead of Refrigerants

September 29, 2026728 words4 min

DAC wants to produce cold without the refrigerant gases used in conventional cooling. DAC, a company registered in 2019 in Elbląg, Poland, develops Dynamic Air Cooling, which produces cold using air alone, with "zero refrigerants", for buildings, food storage and vehicles.

The European Innovation Council granted €2,287,720 towards a €3.27 million project that ran from July 2022 to January 2025. According to the CORDIS report, it built three industrial prototypes, 85% complete at the end, and cut their noise from 114 to 80 decibels. No third-party certification was completed and no customer is named. DAC remains an active VAT taxpayer in the Polish register, but the web address in its EIC record no longer resolves.

€2.29MEIC grant, 70% of a €3.27M project
3Industrial prototypes built
85%Prototyping completion at project end
0Certifications or named customers

Company file

Legal entity
DAC sp. z o.o., KRS 0000800067, NIP 5783138302, Elbląg, Poland
Registered
September 2019
Technology
Dynamic Air Cooling, refrigerant-free cold generation
Applications
HVAC, food storage, automotive
Status
Active VAT taxpayer, September 2026
Website
airenergy.inf.ua, not resolving
EIC project
DAC, 1 Jul 2022 to 31 Jan 2025
EIC funding
Grant first

What We Could Find

The Polish Ministry of Finance's taxpayer register lists DAC as an active VAT payer at an address in Elbląg in September 2026. The website given in its EIC record, on a Ukrainian domain, did not respond. We found no product launch, customer, certification or funding announcement after the project.

The Technology: Cold From Air

DAC says its system works without a refrigerant. According to the CORDIS report, it is "more energy-efficient than traditional vapor compression cooling", could cost up to 30% less to build because of a simpler design, and produces no HFC emissions. Tests "demonstrated stable cooling capacity, reduced operational costs, and improved environmental performance in enclosed industrial spaces", but no efficiency figures are given.

"Tests demonstrated stable cooling capacity, reduced operational costs, and improved environmental performance in enclosed industrial spaces."

DAC report, CORDIS

What the EIC Project Promised, and What CORDIS Shows

The project promised a "breakthrough cold generation technology for efficient & environmentally-friendly cooling". CORDIS reports three prototypes adapted for HVAC, food storage and vehicles, prototyping 85% complete, and says further performance testing was planned for 2025 and third-party certification is needed before the market will adopt it.

  1. Industrial prototypesPartialThree built, 85% complete.
  2. Measured efficiency advantageNot shownNo figures published.
  3. CertificationMissedNone completed.
  4. CustomersNot shownNone named.

What Has Happened Since the Award

The Money

The award was "grant first"; we found no EIC Fund investment or private round. DAC's accounts were not accessible for this article.

What cannot be checked

How efficient DAC's cooling actually is, whether the 2025 tests and certification happened, and whether the company has any product or customer are not public.

Why Europe Should Care

The EU's F-gas regulation is phasing down fluorinated refrigerants, so cooling without them has a policy tailwind. The EIC funded a novel approach. The public record shows prototypes but none of the independent test data that would show whether it works better than existing alternatives.

What the project promised

Breakthrough cold generation for efficient, environmentally friendly cooling.

What the record shows

Three uncertified prototypes, no efficiency data, no customers and an offline website.

The Verdict

Prototypes, not proof

The EIC grant produced three prototypes and quieter machines. It did not produce the certified, measured product the company said the market needs, and there is no public sign of DAC since the project ended.

DAC could not be contacted through the website in its EIC record. This article is based on EU project data and the Polish taxpayer register, linked throughout.

Start with the EIC Accelerator

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Eureka Network

Eureka Network offers multiple international collaborative R&D programs including Network Projects, Clusters, Eurostars, Globalstars, and Innowwide, with funding ranging from €50K to €6.75M per project depending on the specific program. The network focuses on market-driven innovation and deep-tech development across diverse technology sectors including ICT/Digital, Industrial/Manufacturing, Bio/Medical Technologies, Energy/Environment, Quantum, AI, and Circular Economy. Applicants include SMEs, large enterprises, research organizations, universities, and startups, with Eurostars specifically targeting R&D-performing SMEs.

EIC Transition

EIC Transition provides up to €2.5 million in funding to bridge the 'valley of death' between laboratory research and market deployment, focusing on technology maturation and validation. The program supports single legal entities or small consortia of 2-5 partners including SMEs, start-ups, spin-offs, and research organizations. Technology areas include Health/Medical Technologies, Green/Environmental Innovation, Digital/Microelectronics, Quantum Technologies, and AI/Robotics.

EIC STEP Scale-Up

EIC STEP Scale-Up offers substantial equity investments of €10-30 million for established deep-tech companies ready for hyper-growth and large-scale expansion. The program targets SMEs or small mid-caps with up to 499 employees who have secured pre-commitment from qualified investors. Focus areas include Digital & Deep Tech (Semiconductors, AI, Quantum), Clean Technologies for Net-Zero goals, and Biotechnologies.

EIC Pre-Accelerator

EIC Pre-Accelerator is a pilot program providing €300,000-€500,000 in funding for early-stage deep-tech development and preparation for the EIC Accelerator program. The initiative is exclusively available to single SMEs or small mid-caps from 'Widening countries' to support regional innovation development. The program covers deep-tech innovations across physical, biological, and digital domains.

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges

EIC Advanced Innovation Challenges is a new pilot program offering €300,000 (Stage 1) and up to €2.5 million (Stage 2) for breakthrough deep-tech solutions through ARPA-style staged funding with demand-side integration. The program targets single entities or small consortia (2-3 partners) including SMEs, start-ups, and research organizations. Focus areas include Physical AI for autonomous robotics and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for animal-free biomedical testing, requiring TRL 4 entry with end-user commitment.

EIC Pathfinder

EIC Pathfinder offers up to €3 million for Open calls and up to €4 million for Challenge-based calls to support early-stage research and development with proof-of-principle validation. The program requires research consortia with a minimum of 3 partners from 3 different countries, including universities, research organizations, and SMEs. Technology focus areas include Health/Medical, Quantum Technologies, AI, Environmental/Energy, and Advanced Materials.

EIC Accelerator

EIC Accelerator provides flexible funding options including blended finance (€2.5M grant + €0.5M-€10M equity), grant-only (up to €2.5M), or equity-only arrangements for scale-up and market deployment of breakthrough innovations. The program targets SMEs, start-ups, and small mid-caps with up to 499 employees, with MedTech/Healthcare representing 35% of funded projects. Other technology areas include Biopharma, Energy, AI, Quantum, Aerospace, Advanced Materials, and Semiconductors.

Innovation Partnership

Innovation Partnership facilitates collaborative innovation between public and private sectors with typical funding of €1-5 million per project. The program supports cross-sectoral strategic technologies through public-private partnerships and consortia. Projects focus on addressing societal challenges through collaborative innovation approaches.

Innovation Fund

The EU Innovation Fund provides substantial funding of €7.5 million to €300 million for large-scale demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. The program targets clean energy, carbon capture, renewable energy, and energy storage technologies to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy. Applicants include large companies, consortia, and public entities capable of implementing large-scale demonstration projects.

Innovate UK

Innovate UK offers various programs with funding ranging from £25K to £10M depending on the specific initiative, supporting business-led innovation, collaborative R&D, and knowledge transfer. The organization funds projects across all sectors with particular focus on emerging technologies and supports UK-based businesses, research organizations, and universities. Programs are designed to drive economic growth through innovation and technology commercialization.

Industrial Partnership

Industrial Partnership provides €2-10 million in funding for industrial research and innovation partnerships focusing on manufacturing, industrial technologies, and digital transformation. The program supports industrial consortia and research organizations in developing collaborative solutions for industrial challenges. Projects aim to strengthen European industrial competitiveness through strategic partnerships.

Eurostars

Eurostars is a joint EU-Eureka program offering €50K-€500K for international R&D collaboration specifically led by SMEs. The program takes a bottom-up approach, accepting projects from all technology fields without predefined thematic restrictions. R&D-performing SMEs must lead the consortium and demonstrate significant R&D activities.

LIFE Programme

The LIFE Programme provides €1-10 million in funding for environmental protection, climate action, and nature conservation projects across the European Union. The program supports environmental technologies, climate adaptation strategies, and biodiversity conservation initiatives. Applicants include public authorities, private companies, NGOs, and research institutions working on environmental and climate challenges.

Neotec

Neotec is a Spanish program offering €250K-€1M in funding for technology-based business creation and development, supporting the growth of innovative Spanish SMEs and start-ups. The program covers all technology sectors and aims to strengthen Spain's technology ecosystem. Funding is specifically targeted at Spanish technology-based SMEs and start-ups to enhance their competitiveness and market presence.

Thematic Priorities

EU Thematic Priorities encompass various programs aligned with EU strategic priorities including green transition, digital transformation, health, and security initiatives. Funding amounts vary based on the specific program and call requirements, with projects designed to address key European challenges. Applicant eligibility varies by specific program and call, with different requirements for different thematic areas.
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